Suspect In San Jose Murder Case Claims He Was Drugged And Framed
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) -- As family members of a man South Bay police believe was murdered continued to search for the victim's body Monday, the man police arrested for homicide told KPIX 5 he believes he was drugged and framed in the case.
Family and friends of 28-year-old Kyle Myrick conducted several searches in Mountain View and the Stephens Creek Reservoir. Myrick was last seen Friday at the motorcycle shop where he works.
Police arrested a suspect in the case – 39-year-old Steve Hlebo of Los Altos -- over the weekend. Police recovered Hlebo's pick-up truck and believe it may have been used in the alleged crime.
In a one-on-one jailhouse interview, murder suspect Hlebo professed his innocence.
"I feel I'm being framed here," said Hlebo. "And I know that sounds so cliché, but there's a lot that's going on behind the scenes here."
He told KPIX 5 he had nothing to do with the disappearance of his co-worker Kyle Myrick, who police believe he murdered.
"I really have nothing against him, so I wouldn't do anything to him," explained Hlebo. "I also want to state that I hope he's OK."
Investigators said they were called Friday to the motorcycle shop where Kyle worked after he mysteriously disappeared. Authorities soon found evidence of a crime, but no body.
Hlebo said he believes his co-workers have been drugging his coffee and that he is the victim of an elaborate frame-up.
When asked why he thought he was being drugged, Hlebo replied: "I couldn't sleep for two days straight. I had horrible insomnia. And it just kept getting worse and worse."
Hlebo said he has no proof he was drugged, but claimed it simply didn't make sense that he would kill a co-worker with whom he had no problems.
He also denied any history of mental illness.
"I've had no mental illness in my life. This is not me," insisted Hlebo. "I don't know if you know this, but there are some bad dudes in here. Murderers. And I'm not one of them."
