[7] He worked at a hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania prior to relocating with his family to Tucson in the late '90s. Where is Lloyd Averys Killer Kevin Roby Now? Leo Stragaj awaits trial as the only person charged. They waited as Kyle went in and killed Robert and drove away with him after that. "Yeah, a large kitchen knife," Stragaj affirmed. A surgeon and the father-in-law of Asaduddin Owaisis second daughter, Mazharuddin Ali Khan, died by suicide on Monday in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. "A kitchen knife -- a large kitchen knife?" WebDuring the past 10 years, Dr. Ernst von Schwarz developed a stem cell anti-aging system for facial, body and hair rejuvenation as evidenced by clinical studies, which is used worldwide by thousands of patients treated by Dr. von Schwarz. Phillip Dyer, who drove Schwartz to the scene, but backed out before the crime, There's speculation that she wanted her husband dead so she could collect on his many millions," Van Sant noted. Clara had spent a lot of time talking about how her father, Robert, was an abusive man who tried to kill her by poisoning her meals. He had been strangled, shot and stabbed. Doctor Schwartz had a thriving practice as a kidney specialist in Tampa, Florida. [3], Prosecuting attorney Sylvia Lafferty pointed to Schwartz's cell phone records, which showed that he received calls from a payphone at a Denny's across the street from Stidham's office. Throughout his trial, Schwartz never took the stand. The sudden murder of a prominent scientist at his secluded farmhouse led the authorities on a complex murder investigation. "Yes, sir. His friend and medical partner, Dr. Robert Patton, admired him greatly. I admit I was there, but I didn't kill Dr. Schwartz," he said. 911 Operator: Tarpon Springs Police may I help you? 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. "And he provided work for me. I said, 'That's impossible.' A year after Dr. Steven Schwartz was found shot stabbed and strangled in his waterfront mansion, Leo Stragaj sits in jail. When police arrived at his apartment, he was found naked with a woman. Dr. Schwartz was a well-known DNA sequencing researcher. She continues to work as a paralegal. "And I quickly grew more depressed and decided that I was going to end my life, that I couldn't stand the pain anymore," said Meredith. Although she was instructed not to discuss their interview with Schwartz, she told Schwartz about the investigation and interview within the following 24 hours. "This looks really bad, though. Clara had pointed him to a chapter in a book about herbal poisons, wanting to make Roberts death look natural. ", "Ultimately, I think Becky's motive was to buy -- into our family," Meredith said. [3] Stidham officially served as Schwartz's associate until October 2002,[17] when Schwartz was indicted on drug fraud charges. Stragaj says he immediately knew Becky was behind the killing because, he claims, six months earlier, she asked if he could arrange to have her husband killed. by 2Paragraphs in Culture | February 11, 2017, Dr. Steven Schwartz with his wife Becky (48 Hours/CBS image), The 48 Hours episode The Strange Life of Dr. Schwartz investigates the murder of Dr. Steven Schwartz, a 74-year-olda wealthy doctor who was brutally murderedin his Florida mansion. [3][18] Schwartz was the case's primary suspect from October 6 onward, the day after Stidham's murder. Robert was thought to have been murdered two days before he was discovered. [3][5] Stidham began attending Harvard Medical School in 1990 and graduated in 1993. Kyle, Michael, and Katherine had been apprehended by February 2002. Peter Van Sant asked. But I did notice her, you know, being-- a somewhat of a stressed type of thing, you know, putting her head -- hands on her knees. The wrongful death lawsuit claims their stepmother and Stragaj conspired to murder Schwartz, whose estate is worth at least $10 million, for financial gain. The lawsuit also claims that Becky Schwartz was embezzling funds from her husbands medical practice. But one thing, I didn't kill their father. So, I had to go and buy materials or dump a trailer. They also argued that Robert Schwartz abused his daughter. She stated in one of the messages that she didnt want the murder to be linked to her if Kyle was the perpetrator. "I thought always thought a lot of him, and I want that gun. "She goes, 'Listen, I want I I -- I want you to find somebody to kill Carter Schwartz --" said Stragaj. [3][4], Stidham was born and raised in Longview, Texas, the son of Mack and Joyce Stidham. WebIn 2016, Schwartzs adult children filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Rebecca Schwartz and Stragaj, claiming they conspired to kill the doctor. LARGO, FL While Anton Stragaj awaits trial in the 2014 murder of Tarpon Springs Dr. Steven Schwartz, his wife is now behind bars in the very same jail on unrelated charges. On Claras computer, the authorities discovered instant communications between her and Kyle in which they plotted murdering Robert. In an extraordinary moment, Dana, who had remained silent publicly for two years, turns on her own mother-in-law, reading a text message she sent a friend not long after Dr. Schwartz's murder: Dana Nichols (reading aloud in court): "It's crazy how so much of what Becky did all adds up now. "Was there blood on the knife?" "From the house. [8] Early on, Storts suggested that the attorney-client relationship between Schwartz and Lopez precluded the case from going to trial. Ten months after the murder Leo Stragaj was arrested, but police kept looking for evidence. WebBut all that family turmoil was hidden, and to most who knew him, Dr. Schwartz seemed to have a beautiful life until the evening of May 28, 2014, when Becky Schwartz came home "One of, if not the worst moment of my life," said Carter. I didn't kill their father. He discovered a scientist who had been brutally murdered inside. [7] Schwartz initially pleaded guilty to the drug charges in 2003; however, the plea was withdrawn in early 2004. Quiet is not a word a Wisconsin woman named Meredith would use to describe her former best friend, Becky. While Patrick never went through with it, she soon found Kyle Hulbert, a man with a history of mental illness, to help her with the plan. The 37-year-old was arrested in March 2015 on first-degree murder charges in connection with Schwartzs murder. [3] Stidham told friends that his partner (Schwartz) had been acting "weird" and that he needed to remove himself from the situation. Used, Florin theorizes, by Becky Schwartz to blackmail her own husband for millions. "I just -- think he was just a great gentleman.". Katherine received a one-year prison sentence after being convicted guilty of a murder conspiracy. But he was very good at his job, and paid more than $100,000 a year by Dr. Schwartz. "It turned out Rebecca had canceled any services, any ceremonies, any remembrances for my father. "There's some folks who think that his past was being used against him," said Florin. "Your DNA was on the victim. You can follow his daily exploits on Twitter and Instagram. If not, here's a few bucks a month for your phone bill.'". DeVlaming says this case is about greed, but it's the greed of the Schwartz children in trying to pin the murder on Becky so they can get their father's money instead of her. [2], In June 2003, Schwartz and Lopez were involved in a domestic altercation which resulted in an amendment to the conditions for their release, prohibiting them from having contact with each other. "That changed my whole life, right there in that point in time," he said. Stragaj says he has an alibi and insists he is not the killer. [7][12] A Phoenix-based ophthalmology group had hired Schwartz to open an office in Tucson. Clara allegedly used Kyle to do her will, according to the prosecution. "A grieving widow is standing on a doorstep of the police department every morning, saying, 'Have you made any progress finding out who violently shot strangled and stabbed my husband?'" 2017 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Then, in August 2001, she began dating Patrick House, who later testified against her at trial. I was with people with alibi all day. Handyman, Anton Stragaj, I don't know how, but I know one of the two of them or both are involved,'" Carter told Van Sant. One of them, Katherine Inglis, provided extensive information regarding Claras involvement with the slaying. WebThats until the beloved doctor, 74-year-old Steven Schwartz, was found murdered in the couple's sprawling waterfront Tarpon Springs home. "And her boat name was 'Exit Strategy.' "My guess is because I was finding this information out that she had kept hidden for years," he replied. But later, she changed her mind, saying, I want to go straight. That that's how his DNA got there. Stragaj claims Becky threatened to withhold $75,000 he had invested in real estate with her. Stragaj is not the only one suspicious of Becky Schwartz. I want-- I-- I know it looks bad," said Stragaj. While Dyer walked away from his car, Schwartz went ahead with his plan. WebThe 48 Hours episode The Strange Life of Dr. Schwartz investigates the murder of Dr. Steven Schwartz, a 74-year-old a wealthy doctor who was brutally murdered in his [4] Over a two-month period during the summer of 2001, Lopez allowed Schwartz to use her name to fraudulently obtain prescriptions for the controlled substance hydrocodone. "And is there still a possibility there could be an arrest?" Becky and Dr. Schwartz had met in the late 1990s through a dating service, and were a committed couple. Many individuals took the stand, including ex-girlfriends, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances, many of whom confirmed that Schwartz often talked about his hatred for Stidham. Lola Stragaj is accused of befriending an elderly woman with cognitive disabilities and then bilking her out of nearly $100,000. At the time of the incident, she was a computer science major at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. "I don't think he was a badass kid at all. According to Patrick, Clara asked him to kill Old Guy, and he initially thought it was only game-related. But sadly, I don't think anyone matters to her but herself.". [3][7] In October 2001, two DEA agents interviewed Lopez as part of a criminal investigation involving Schwartz. And she said, 'No, I'll say it when I'm sober.' He says his relationship with her was "always uneasy.". "The only one that can really answer that question is Dr. Schwartz himself," said Wil Florin. Schwartz had recruited Dyer to drive him to and from the dentist's office. [5] Schwartz and Goldberg were eating at a Thai restaurant in Tucson shortly after the murder occurred. "Yeah, that was definitely not normal," said Olive. " Minutes later Schwartz, driving the car, pulled up to Dyer on the street. Contact Dr. Robert G. Schwartz, MD, for an appointment. [3] They also arrested Schwartz the same night. [7][14] In November 2003, Schwartz was placed on five years' probation by the Arizona Medical Board for "unprofessional conduct. Call (586) 939 -1122. [29] The events of the murder were also covered in an episode of Forensic Files titled "Office Visit", which aired on January 22, 2010, on truTV.[30]. "Quite a life," Van Sant remarked. Becky got five years probation and had to pay back the money she stole. "I didn't know," Stragaj said. But still, I can't see Leo hurting Dr. Schwartz. Claras companion, Katherine Inglis, said Clara was involved in her fathers murder just a day or two after Robert was apprehended. 2012-2023, 2paragraphs Productions, LLC. Investigators later learned that Michael, then 21, and Katherine, then 19, drove Kyle to Roberts house on December 8, 2001. And that something is her involvement in the murder," said Florin. "He was my doctor and my wife's doctor. Victim Brian Stidham left behind Her son, Eric, even got a Verizon store to run in Wisconsin. "Basically, 'if you get better, call me. "He was beloved in many ways, was he not?" [5] He was killed in his 1992 white Lexus SC400[19] and dragged from his car to make it look like a robbery. I turned around and look at him, and his eyes are just bloodshot," said Dyer. "I know it was bad. Dyer wasn't even sure Schwartz was really going go through with it, until he pulled out a gun. "I was there. Booking photos courtesy of the Pinellas County Jail. But Becky is not saying anything. "And what he described to me -- he said, 'I shot the man between the eyes,' and he did this," Dyer said, pointing between his eyes. [23], Schwartz has repeatedly made headlines since his imprisonment. "Early on, I didn't like dislike 'em, but that faded pretty quickly," he replied. Florin and Tom Roebig are top civil attorneys in Florida, who represented Carter and his family in a wrongful death lawsuit. [3] Earlier in the day, When the authorities learned of Roberts brutal murder, they spoke to Clara and her friends. "And if you cross her then, you know, you're basically gone," Patrick Olive said. While the homicide investigation document listed Becky Schwartz as a suspect, she has never been charged with anything related to her husband's murder. WebOur Office. This looks bad," Van Sant pointed out. "I never saw Becky grieving for her husband or her loss," said Meredith.