What started as a chilling murder‑for‑hire proposal in Montgomery County ended with an arrest at the curb, as a Dresher man was taken into custody while getting into an Uber that police say was headed straight to his ex‑girlfriend’s home in upstate New York.
Prosecutors say 41‑year‑old Eric Berkowitz of Dresher in Upper Dublin Township tried to hire a hitman to kill his former girlfriend and two men in New York, but the alleged plot fell apart when the person he approached went directly to law enforcement. That tipster then worked with detectives, who moved in before anyone was hurt.
Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele publicly praised the cooperation, saying the informant “ultimately saved the lives of three innocent people,” according to Daily Voice. Charges were filed after investigators say they corroborated key details of the alleged scheme.
How Investigators Say the Plot Unfolded
According to court filings, Upper Dublin resident Steven Luker told police that Berkowitz offered him $5,000 to kill three people in New York and supplied him with a Mac‑11 style firearm and a “burner” cellphone, as reported by Patch. Detectives then worked with Luker to secretly record a conversation in which Berkowitz allegedly confirmed plans to travel to New York and said he would “take care of the girl himself,” officials said.
That recorded conversation became the backbone of the case, giving investigators a look at both the alleged payment offer and Berkowitz’s reported intent to personally confront his ex‑girlfriend.
Arrest and Evidence Recovered
Berkowitz’s arrest came after officers watched him leave his Dresher home and get into an Uber. The driver told police the destination was Endicott, New York, which authorities say is the address of Berkowitz’s former girlfriend, according to Daily Voice.
Investigators say they searched a duffel bag and found a black Masterpiece Arms “Grim Reaper” firearm with a loaded 23‑round magazine, a quantity of cocaine and a large amount of cash. Prosecutors are pointing to that haul as physical evidence that backed up what they heard on the recordings.
Charges and Court Date
Berkowitz is charged with three counts each of criminal solicitation for murder and attempted murder, three counts of recklessly endangering another person and one count of person not to possess a firearm, Patch reports. Magisterial District Judge Christopher J. Cierski declined to set bail, and Berkowitz was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. next Thursday, Feb. 20, before Magisterial District Judge Doug Lavenberg.
Authorities say the case is a textbook example of how quick reporting and cooperation with police can stop violence before it crosses state lines. Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office or Upper Dublin Township Police.
