After nearly three decades, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has solved a 1997 cold case.
On February 1, 1997, Stephen Edenfield was found stabbed and beaten inside his Tampa home, with evidence of a violent struggle but no forced entry. The word "Greed" was also written in blood on his bedroom wall. Despite initial efforts, the case remained unsolved for years.
In 2022, the HCSO Cold Case Unit reopened the investigation, utilizing advanced DNA testing through Othram Labs, funded by a Bureau of Justice Assistance grant as well as testing by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. In 2024, forensic analysis identified a previously unknown DNA profile, linking the case to an unsolved 2005 sexual assault in Illinois.
The suspect, now living in Tampa, was arrested on an unrelated warrant out of Illinois in February of 2025. Following that arrest, our Cold Case investigators interviewed Brandon Gliha, 47, who confessed to Edenfield's murder.
On February 24, 2025, after consultation with the State Attorney's Office, Gliha, who was still in custody, was charged with Murder in the First Degree with a Weapon (Premeditated) and Robbery with a Deadly Weapon Less than $750.
"For 28 years, Stephen Edenfield's family has waited for answers. Today, we can finally give them some measure of peace," said Sheriff Chad Chronister. "No family should have to endure this kind of pain for so long. While nothing can erase the loss they have suffered, we hope knowing that justice has been served brings them comfort."
The Public Affairs Office featured this case on our podcast Unfinished Business. You can view this podcast by following this link: https://www.teamhcso.com/Podcast
This is an ongoing investigation, and any additional information will come from the Public Affairs Office.