11 talks exclusively to Myrtle Beach woman who called 911 on Pitt murder suspect

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — When Eva Barber called police to report a suspicious man in her Myrtle Beach apartment complex, she had no idea it was accused murderer Matthew Darby, on the run from Pittsburgh since Sunday.

“I didn't know it until Wednesday afternoon,” said Barber, 78. “I was watching the news and said, ‘Oh my gosh, that looks like the man that was here.’”

RELATED COVERAGE: 

• Pitt student murdered: Timeline of suspect Matthew Darby's past
• Pitt student murdered: 11 things to know about ex-boyfriend Matthew Darby
• Pitt student murder: 5 things to know about Alina Sheykhet
• RAW VIDEO: Student found murdered in Oakland
• Pitt student's death prompts homicide investigation
• Attorney: Murder suspect Darby's parents stand with him, urge him to surrender

It all began early Wednesday morning. Barber says she had trouble sleeping, got up and looked out her window just before 1 a.m., and noticed a strange man.

“I stood there frozen and thought, ‘Oh no,’” she said.

WEB EXTRA: Extradition paperwork from South Carolina

Barber says she spotted the man coming out of the woods. She says he checked a window at a neighboring apartment and then headed to her home.

“He was standing here, reaching up at the window,” she said.

Channel 11 asked if the man tried to open her window.

“Yes. … I ran to get the gun,” she said. “And I was not lucky enough to find the gun at that time.”

Frightened, Barber then called 911.

“I ran out of the bedroom and ran over and grabbed the phone,” she said. “(The operator) said, ‘Stay on the phone, we've got three officers coming.’ I said, ‘He's still here somewhere, he's trying to get in my window.’”

Police arrived quickly and found Matthew Darby nearby and took him into custody.

After all of this, Barber discovered a personal connection to the case. Her son has a friend in Pittsburgh who is helping the Alina Sheykhet’s family raise money through a GoFundMe page.

Barber says she's just glad she could help get him off the street. She says her son offered his thanks, too.

“He said, ‘Mom, you’re a hero. He said they were so excited.”

Cox Media Group