Millions and millions of dollars worth of money," said Becky's attorney, Denis deVlaming. Michael earned 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder. I get permits. Cecil said. Besides his medical practice, he owned a vast array of rental properties and lived in an expensive waterfront home with his second wife, Becky. "Quite a life," Van Sant remarked. "A knife," Stragaj replied. From jail, Schwartz pleaded with Lourdes Lopez, his former lover, to be his attorney, but she refused. [24][25] Another inmate was convicted of aggravated assault for beating up Schwartz. According to Leo Stragaj, Becky even wanted Carter out of the picture. 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. Soon, the police went about chasing every lead possible. Bigger's defense attorney, Jill Thorpe, tried to prove that it was Schwartz who had actually physically committed the murder. She planned it for a long time," Stragaj replied. Welcome.' There's no way in the world that she could have shot, stabbed and strangled somebody that big," he said. She continues to work as a paralegal. Robert was quite well known in the scientific community, spearheading research in the fields of biometrics and DNA. During questioning, Clara initially claimed she thought Kyle was joking when he talked about killing Robert. The authorities believed Robert was killed about two days before being found. The series, created Carolyn Wiger From Survivor 44 -CBS has debuted the 44th season of the renowned reality television series "Survivor" Diverse strangers attempt to survive in Contestant Carson Garrett From Survivor 44 -Since its launch in 2000, the CBS reality competition series 'Survivor,' developed by Charlie Parsons, has been a Where is Kevin Roby Now? Van Sant asked. I was scared," he said. That's what brothers do. Kyle was found guilty of his part in the crime in the end. "From the house. I'm sure she planned it for a long time.". [11] Some of Schwartz's patients went to Stidham's new practice, many of whom stayed with Stidham even when Schwartz had started practicing again. Claras companion, Katherine Inglis, said Clara was involved in her fathers murder just a day or two after Robert was apprehended. Doctor Schwartz had a thriving practice as a kidney specialist in Tampa, Florida. Patrick Olive and April Cox say that around 9 a.m., Becky unexpectedly showed up at their house. In September 2003, he was sentenced to life behind bars. "Steve was your classic gentle giant a guy who had the heart of a bear," Dr. Patton said. Contact Dr. Robert G. Schwartz, MD, for an appointment. [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. I was with people with alibi all day. "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?'" [20], Attorneys for Schwartz and Bigger filed appeals almost immediately after sentencing. And then -- and did the rest in a crazy, violent rage, unless Leo helped her finish the job. "I said to them, 'Please, do not overlook anyone in this family just because they're related.". [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. A Loudoun County After all was said and done, Kyle was convicted guilty of his role in the crime. Schwartz, a prominent local nephrologist, was found dead in his Tarpon Springs mansion in May 2014 after his wife Rebecca Schwartz reported a robbery. Even as a young child, I could see she wasn't there because she loved him," he said. He said that Clara created a fantasy role-playing game called Underworld, where he played an assassin and a bard. Stragaj is also believed to have moved the victim's money to new accounts and is suspected of spending the victims money on herself, filing fraudulent tax returns in the victim's name, as well as pawning and selling the victim's deceased husband's jewelry, the email said. "and now he's gonna pay for it.". "'And if you say anything, you're never gonna see a house or you're never gonna see a penny,'" said Stragaj. And her son goes, 'Mom, are you crazy? "Is she worried or afraid that she'll be arrested for the murder of her husband? Your own children will learn that you are a murderer,'" Van Sant asked Florin. "48 Hours" brought Dyer back to New Mexico to tell the story of that day in 1961 with Schwartz, who was 21 and a college dropout. "'Analysis of cell phone activity failed to support his alibi,' -- your alibi. "I said, 'What did you do,' right away. "And greedy, just greedy to the point of it being absurd almost," said Carter Schwartz. [7] Stidham was officially hired in November 2001 partly as a way to provide added support to Schwartz's booming business. And, deVlaming points out, even Stragaj's alibi was shot down by police, who checked his cell phone records. "It all points to her. "It was feeling numb when people describe it. "This is a woman whose son was killed by a drunk driver. "How I knew he was dead?". And there were bizarre behaviors after Dr. Schwartz's death that fed speculation about Becky's involvement. Today, Dyer is an adjunct professor of criminal justice at Youngstown State University in Ohio. Carter says he often needed money. "Patients, colleagues -- a great career," Van Sant noted. Stragaj is not the only one suspicious of Becky Schwartz. "Becky took his extended family on an Alaskan cruise that lasted a couple weeks with Dr. Schwartz's money. They looked into his family first and soon learned of his youngest [3], The investigation eventually revealed that Schwartz hired Bigger for $10,000 to help him murder Stidham. "she asked me to find someone to kill Dr. "I know I went down and grabbed him and shook 'Hey Dr. Schwartz, you OK?'". David Brian Stidham (August 13, 1967 October 5, 2004)[1] was a pediatric ophthalmologist stabbed to death in Catalina Foothills, Arizona as the result of a murder-for-hire plot that stemmed from a colleague's professional jealousy. After months of testing, investigators made a damning discovery: Stragaj's DNA was on several parts of Dr. Schwartz's clothing. said Dr. Patton. "I wasn't there when he did it, but I can't imagine why, having sober judgment, anyone would do that.". What the authorities found out next was a shocking tale of manipulation and fantasy. Stragaj also felt close to Steven Schwartz. He says his relationship with her was "always uneasy.". And she said, 'You know why I did it,'" said Stragaj. "I kept telling him -- I said, 'it's like you've checked out of our marriage and I don't understand. Schwartz had Carter and two other children from his previous relationships. I mean -- he was intelligent. "I've never seen him move so quickly and he was a man who he could have the biggest argument in the world with you but he was very professional," Carter replied. Although she was instructed not to discuss their interview with Schwartz, she told Schwartz about the investigation and interview within the following 24 hours. Lola Stragaj is accused of befriending an elderly woman with cognitive disabilities and then bilking her out of nearly $100,000. [6], Because of the indictment, Schwartz lost his medical license[3] and entered into rehab. At the time of the incident, she was a computer science major at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Robert was a well-known scientist who pioneered biometrics and DNA studies. So, lets find out what happened to her then, shall we? She is into money like you and I are into breathing air," he replied. Nor did she understand what she learned about Becky from a Google search. Carter went to medical school, following in his father's footsteps. [4] In addition to local media outlets, Court TV and CBS's 48 Hours provided coverage to a national audience. I think he did everything he could to pay back society," he said. Prosecutor Owen Basham urged the jury Tuesday to recommend a stiff sentence. In one of the messages, she said that if Kyle committed the murder, she didnt want it to be traced back to her. The trial ended up painting Schwartz as an extremely manipulative individual, causing the jury to feel sympathy for Bigger. "[15] Under the terms of the probation, Schwartz was barred from writing prescriptions for narcotics, required to check in with the board each day, and subject to random drug tests. 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. Furthermore, deVlaming says, Stragaj's story of being in the house to retrieve Becky's purse makes no sense. "The only one that can really answer that question is Dr. Schwartz himself," said Wil Florin. Investigators later learned that Michael, then 21, and Katherine, then 19, drove Kyle to Roberts house on December 8, 2001. By the time he landed back in the States, Carter called his uncle -- certain he knew who killed his father, because it struck him that to Becky, Dr. Schwartz was worth more dead than alive. "As I read these stories, you know, he didn't want to give 'em his money," Cecil explained. "Leo is the killer," deVlaming said. Van Sant asked. Spiky TV's senior news writer is Stephan Gibbs. Defense attorneys said they would appeal, arguing that the jury did not spend enough time going through the evidence. That," he replied. Michael pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received 18 years in prison. They also argued that Robert Schwartz abused his daughter. "I mean, you're just outta the picture.". Where is Lloyd Averys Killer Kevin Roby Now? [3][4][18] A.J. The nature of the phone discussions had changed over the course of the night. "I loved Dr. Schwartz," he told Van Sant. Where did it go?" "Every single night, seven days a week, we were together.". And as time went on, Meredith felt Becky was becoming a little too close to her own husband. "I'd see him on the street from time to time and he'd always ask me, 'How you doin'? Ben is not named in the lawsuit and there have been no criminal charges filed against him in the murder. How's your teeth doin'?'" "My client is five foot three. 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 He faces a charge of first-degree murder in the slaying of Dr. Steven Patlin Schwartz, a 74-year-old doctor found dead inside his Tarpon Springs mansion in 2014. "He was beloved in many ways, was he not?" And I made two runs because I'm -- I'm in construction site job, $125,000 job. "Why would he do that?" Van Sant asked. "I think you'd have to be willfully ignorant not to see it," he replied. Defense attorneys said the game was only an escape for a girl with a sad social life. To say Steven Schwartz's life was extraordinary, as his son, Carter, does, is an understatement. [5][21] Schwartz was with his girlfriend in a public restaurant but there are cell phone records linking Schwartz's cell phone to a convenience store pay phone, where Bigger allegedly visited that evening, and to Bigger's hotel, which was paid for by Schwartz. As Meredith lay recovering in the hospital from her suicide attempt with prescription drugs, she had a surprise visitor: Becky. [6] The couple moved to Indianapolis where Stidham undertook a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus at Indiana University. [3], On October 15, police captured Bigger who was hiding just outside Tucson. So I bought it at the auction," he said. And if she had somebody else helping her," Stragaj replied. But her one-time friends, April Cox and Patrick Olive, who helped her manage the Schwartz properties, say Becky could also be a tough cookie. A hold is also been placed on her by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. [14] He also became addicted to Ritalin. I didn't call the police that day. And according to a video deposition conducted by attorneys Florin and Roebig in the wrongful death lawsuit, Becky allegedly came to deliver a cruel message. Kyle, who was 18 at the time, had a history of mental illness and had previously spent time in psychiatric facilities. [5] He was killed in his 1992 white Lexus SC400[19] and dragged from his car to make it look like a robbery. Patrick House, a former boyfriend, testified Oct. 8 that he and Schwartz were the primary characters in an elaborate role-playing game she invented called Underworld. "Basically, 'if you get better, call me. "It turned out Rebecca had canceled any services, any ceremonies, any remembrances for my father. He felt compelled to defend Clara when she informed him of her fathers alleged abuse. WebDaughter Gets 48 Years In Slaying of Her Father By Maria Glod February 11, 2003 Clara Jane Schwartz, a former college student obsessed by vampires, assassins and magic, "I seen, like, jewelry boxes and one knife on the bag," said Stragaj. Wil Florin: When did you first start -- this is her own son you're -- and that -- that you're concerned -- your husband -- that his mother is setting him up for the murder? So, if youre wondering what happened, weve got you covered. "And -- if Dr. Schwartz was outta the picture that perhaps Rebecca Schwartz would keep him on.". So, if youre wondering what happened, weve got you covered. I wouldn't put anything past her. I want the people responsible for this to be held both criminally and civilly liable," Carter Schwartz said. Its hard enough it was my father, but on top of that to have my sister committing such a horrible crime. In February 2003, then 20 years old, Clara was sentenced to serve 48 years behind bars. Deposition attorney: She walked over to Meredith and leaned down and whispered in her ear, "I wish you would have died.". They gotta show her as somebody that would participate in the murder, because that's the only way they're gonna profit in this case," he said. Van Sant asked Dr. Patton. "I told him-- I said, 'I want nothin' to do with this. She fit into our lives so perfectly," Meredith explained. Schwartz.". -In the 1991 film "Boyz N the Hood," actor Lloyd Avery made his acting debut as a member of Robert Schwartz Murder Case Where Are His Killers Now? -- that we've ever seen," Cox continued. World Expert But Becky is not saying anything. Prosecutors allege that Hulbert wasnt the only person Schwartz asked to kill her father. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. [3] Stidham officially served as Schwartz's associate until October 2002,[17] when Schwartz was indicted on drug fraud charges. [3] Other reports suggest that Schwartz was planning to open a plastic surgery practice[8] or, at least, another office on the north side of the city. I build from scratch," he explained. Robert Schwartzs untimely death was ultimately the result of a cunning plot to have him killed. Stragaj says he has an alibi and insists he is not the killer. Van Sant asked. Bigger's trials would not begin until the following March. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. [27], According to Bonnie Booth of the American Medical News, the rarity of physician-on-physician crime was the likely reason that the trial drew so much media attention. [3][18] Schwartz was the case's primary suspect from October 6 onward, the day after Stidham's murder. But the hard drive had been removed. This spurred Stidham to create his own Tucson-area practice. [14] Schwartz also wrote prescriptions to his office manager, Laurie Espinoza, who would retrieve the medication and give it to Schwartz. On Wednesday, December 12th the Washington Post reported: When Clara told him about her fathers alleged abusive behavior, he believed he had to protect her. Robert has an X engraved on his back after being stabbed and slashed more than thirty times. "But is the suggestion -- the possibility that Rebecca Schwartz may have said to him, 'If you don't transfer everything in the estate over to me, I will make this deep dark secret public.