On May 27, 2024, 46-year-old Steven Mark Hilton was fatally shot in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. The incident occurred in the early morning hours at a residence on Dellwood Road, across from High Country Furniture. Authorities responded to a report of a "suspicious situation" and discovered Hilton deceased at the scene.
Hilton, a native of Buncombe County born on April 17, 1978, was a custom home builder and the owner of a construction company that had recently relocated from
Hendersonville to Haywood County. He was known for his friendly demeanor, always having a smile on his face, and his dedication to his work and family. He is survived by his mother, Vicky Howell Hilton; his daughters, Kimberly and Hannah Hilton; and his grandchildren, Adylee King, Kendall, and Hayes Hilton.
The suspect, 42-year-old Eriberto Exiga Cardena of Hendersonville, was arrested and charged with Hilton's murder. Court proceedings revealed that Cardena was an employee and close friend of Hilton. In addition to the murder charge, Cardena faced charges of possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of a controlled substance on jail premises. He was booked into the Haywood County Detention Center without bond, with a bond hearing scheduled for June 5, 2024.
Hilton's daughters, Kimberly and Hannah, expressed their grief and the challenges they faced following their father's sudden death. They remembered him as a hardworking individual who would give the shirt off his back to help others and always made the best of any situation. In the wake of the tragedy, they set up a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral expenses.
The Maggie Valley Police Department assured the public that this was an isolated incident and that there was no ongoing threat to the community. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Hilton's death remained ongoing at the time.
