A Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, man has been charged in an alleged murder-for-hire plot in which prosecutors say he tried to recruit an acquaintance to help kill his former girlfriend and two men she dated after their relationship ended.
Eric Berkowitz, 41, of Dresher in Upper Dublin Township, faces multiple felony charges after police say the alleged plan was reported to authorities by the person Berkowitz contacted and was then recorded as investigators moved to stop the plot, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.
Berkowitz murder-for-hire allegations center on messages and a recorded meeting
Prosecutors said the case began on Feb. 10, 2026, when Upper Dublin resident Steven Luker reported that Berkowitz contacted him and offered $5,000 to participate in the killings in New York.
Investigators said Luker agreed to meet Berkowitz while cooperating with law enforcement. During the meeting, prosecutors allege Berkowitz provided a firearm and a “burner” phone and discussed plans to travel to New York, including meeting near one of the intended targets’ homes.
Arrest made as prosecutors say suspect prepared to travel to New York
Berkowitz was arrested on Feb. 11 as he was getting into an Uber outside his residence, police said. Authorities alleged he was headed toward his former girlfriend’s address in Endicott, New York, about 175 miles away.
Police said he was carrying a duffel bag containing a loaded gun, ammunition, cocaine and cash at the time of the arrest, according to 6abc, which cited investigators.
Charges filed and court date set
Berkowitz has been charged with three counts of criminal solicitation for murder, three counts of attempted murder, three counts of terroristic threats with intent to terrorize another, and three counts of recklessly endangering another person, along with additional firearms- and drug-related offenses, prosecutors said.
A judge ordered Berkowitz held without bail, and he is scheduled to appear in court next on Feb. 20, authorities said. The intended victims have not been publicly identified.