88.218.193.20 I mean, I don't think any of us were, really," said Dyer. "And he said, 'Let me borrow $300 outta your paycheck.' '", "Becky has lied about her children," Meredith said. Lafferty also brought up the fact that Schwartz harbored a well-known grudge against Stidham. [14] In December 2001, DEA agents raided Schwartz's office. A sample of DNA linked to Bigger was found on the radio knob of Stidham's car. A Loudoun County But Stragaj insists he didn't do itthat Becky was the culprit. [22] Bruce Bigger's attorneys felt that the trial should have been moved out of Pima County due to the publicity the case received. The 81-year-old victim, an email from police said, gave Lola Stragaj power of attorney over her estate and then added her into her will. "Why would he do that?" "A knife," Stragaj replied. "I know it was bad. 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. "They've got to trash her. WebThe murder of Robert Schwartz occurred on December 8, 2001, in Leesburg, Virginia. Stragaj, who is from Albania, was working in the U.S. without proper legal status. 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 according to a video deposition conducted by attorneys Florin and Roebig in the wrongful death lawsuit, Becky allegedly came to deliver a cruel message. He says that confrontation was more than 10 hours before Becky called police to the house that night to report an alleged burglary. While in Dallas, he met and began dating his neighbor, Daphne Herding,[5] whom he eventually married in a garden ceremony in 1997. Who else besides you would know that that hard drive was there?" "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. "He was my doctor. "Oh, I imagine he had maybe $1,000 or more at the time on him," Cecil said. [18] The victim, identified as Stidham, had been stabbed 15 times[6] and had incurred a skull fracture. Pima County paid the entire amount on behalf of Paul Skitzki. "He never lost sight of paying back his debt to society. "And the first words outta my mouth on that phone call were: 'It's Becky, Ben or a combination thereof. "Patients, colleagues -- a great career," Van Sant noted. Stragaj says he has an alibi and insists he is not the killer. Van Sant asked. She's about five standard deviations off the left side," said Patton. So I had no hate for him. "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. [3][20] Bigger's appeal suggested that he was not afforded a fair trial on account of the copious amount of media coverage surrounding the case. And then -- and did the rest in a crazy, violent rage, unless Leo helped her finish the job. A pre-trial hearing in Anton Stragajs case is set for Jan. 12, 2017, according to Pinellas County court records. The authorities believed Robert was killed about two days before being found. "'And if you say anything, you're never gonna see a house or you're never gonna see a penny,'" said Stragaj. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Review: A reimagined Secret Garden fails to flower anew at the Ahmanson Theatre, A $150,000 executive protection dog? "And he said, 'I'm moving into Becky's.'". "My theory is that Dr. Schwartz was gonna retire. The trial ended up painting Schwartz as an extremely manipulative individual, causing the jury to feel sympathy for Bigger. Police arrested two of Clara Schwartzs friends and found the murder weapon in one of their homes. WebContact Dr. Robert G. Schwartz, MD, for an appointment. [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. "I think I was preyed on by the most calculated, malicious, vindictive, pathological liar of a woman I have ever met in my entire life," she said. "What does the DNA evidence tell you?" According to Patrick, Clara asked him to kill Old Guy, and he initially thought it was only game-related. Van Sant asked. [3] Schwartz's trial lasted two months, and it took the jury five days to deliver a verdict. 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. There's no way in the world that she could have shot, stabbed and strangled somebody that big," he said. "And I'm thinkin', 'He couldn't have done anything. Spiky TV's senior news writer is Stephan Gibbs. WebThe Perfect Murder examines the brutal and bizarre killing of scientist Robert Schwartz, who was murdered in his own home. He felt compelled to defend Clara when she informed him of her fathers alleged abuse. [13] While Stidham was still under Schwartz's employ, Schwartz instructed his parents to fire Stidham. He is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, who has achieved a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Surgery of the Hand issued by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons. A complaint was filed against her by the Arizona State Bar as a result of her involvement with Bradley Schwartz's drug fraud. Stragaj said, "I think she murdered him.". In 2011, Ben was arrested and convicted of stealing jewelry from the Schwartz home. 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. "I had nothing against the man. "One of, if not the worst moment of my life," said Carter. Clara created a roleplaying game called Underworld while she was a student at a university in Virginia, and she and Kyle became friends because of their shared interest in witchcraft and the occult. Stragaj also felt close to Steven Schwartz. Clara was convicted of first-degree murder in her father's death. Furthermore, Clara had also told Kyle that she was going on a trip to the Virgin Islands for Christmas with her father. "And why in the world would she want her husband dead?" The Perfect Murder examines the brutal and bizarre killing of scientist Robert Schwartz, who was murdered in his own home. Police looked at Dr. Schwartz's inner circle. Wreck Season 1 Ending Explained -Ryan J. Stragaj is not the only one suspicious of Becky Schwartz. He is obsessed with movies, comic books, and television shows, and he spends much too much money on collectibles. Clara was sentenced to serve 48 years in prison on February 10, 2003. Within a day or so after Robert was located, Claras friend, Katherine Inglis, claimed Clara was involved with her fathers murder. And as time went on, Meredith felt Becky was becoming a little too close to her own husband. A former college student was found guilty Tuesday of first-degree murder for enlisting a friend to kill her scientist father with a sword. What individual would tell somebody that could turn them in, to go pick up the murder weapon that could be turned into the police to get your DNA, (laughs) your fingerprints? "And he provided work for me. Besides his medical practice, he owned a vast array of rental properties and lived in an expensive waterfront home with his second wife, Becky. "Early on, I didn't like dislike 'em, but that faded pretty quickly," he replied. Inside, he found the scientist brutally murdered. WebRobert was thought to have been murdered two days before he was discovered. Dana says Ben has gotten past his drug problems and the two of them have settled down with their daughter, Kendall. But could that murder 55 years ago, which had been a closely-guarded secret, have somehow played a role in the murder of Dr. Schwartz? But Schwartz never did take care of it. He was sharp. WebOn the night of the murder, Schwartz was with Lisa Goldberg, a girlfriend he had recently begun seeing after meeting her on an online dating service. But they live in fear, as she told her friend in another text: Dana Nichols (reading aloud in court): I said, "I am scared to talk to the detectives and -- and police I would hope if Becky came after me or sent someone after me, she wouldn't hurt Kendall. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Wil Florin: What -- did you mean to say she'd planned for a long time? She planned it. "It was well-known that he liked to gamble quite a bit," said Dyer. They stood there and watched as Kyle went in and killed Robert before driving away with him. But her attorneys make the case that she is innocent, and Leo Stragaj had a strong motive to kill Dr. Schwartz alone. Samuel Booth Murder Case Where Is James Thomas Wood today? Please enter valid email address to continue. "Iwell, I told you I don't -- I know what I did. 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. The two sides settled out of court with the Phoenix group characterizing his behavior as "obscene, abusive, and belligerent. In my heart of hearts, I knew that [Kyle] was going there to kill [my father]. At Claras trial in October 2002, the defense claimed Kyle was not supposed to take Claras words literally because they were part of the game. He sustained injuries to his eye sockets and tear ducts and suffered nasal damage and facial fractures that required plastic surgery. He provided food for my family.". But absurd took on a new meaning with Becky after a tragic car accident 30 years ago that killed her 2-year-old son, Christopher. They started with his family, and Clara Schwartz, his youngest daughter, was discovered quickly. Drug abuse, DEA investigation, and indictment, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, University of Rochester School of Medicine, "Doctor Charged in Ordering Hit on Fellow MD", "An Eye for an Eye A Beloved Doctor Is Murdered In Cold Blood", "Murder conspiracy case grabs media glare", "Longtime friend remembers slain Dr. Stidham", "Forward Motion Schwartz's defense goes on the offensive while prosecutors claim he was seeking a hired killer last year", "Schwartz's parents say son OK'd firing Stidham", "Who is Dr. Bradley Schwartz? "If I had to describe her, very energetic, southern charm, hospitality, 'Come in. Deposition attorney: She walked over to Meredith and leaned down and whispered in her ear, "I wish you would have died.". You know, 'I gotta pay this guy. So, lets find out what happened to her then, shall we? WebBack to the United States, and on December 10th, Dr. Robert M. Schwartz was found murdered in Leesberg, Virginia. Nevertheless, the jury found Bigger guilty of both conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and first-degree murder itself. "Dad was always a role model to me and what I've always told everyone, 'If I could be half the physician he was, that would be a successful life," Carter Schwartz told "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant. Schwartz began to reassure Bigger that he had his money. Robert was quite well known in the scientific community, spearheading research in the fields of biometrics and DNA. [5][6] In 1998, they returned to Texas when Stidham joined the faculty at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Youve been asked to look at the photographs and look at the ugly, savage way Dr. Schwartz was killed in his own home, Basham said. said Dr. Patton. That's Becky's daughter in-law, Dana Nichols, who is married to her son, Ben. That," he replied. ID 106 Death by Fame: Life Imitates Art Lloyd Avery and His Victims, Wreck Season 1 Recap and Ending, Explained, Lauren Harpe From Survivor 44: Everything We Know, Carolyn Wiger From Survivor 44: Everything We Know, Carson Garrett From Survivor 44: Everything We Know, Top 10 Most Frequently Asked Keto Diet Questions And Answers, Big Brother Season 23 Episode 13 Release Date & Spoiler. But friends and colleagues of Dr. Schwartz have always suspected Becky was involved. Robert Schwartzs untimely death was ultimately the result of a cunning plot to have him killed. At the time, Clara was friends with Katherine, and Katherines boyfriend, Michael Pfohl. "Kitchen knife.". When Kyle was apprehended, he gave a complete confession to the police, claiming that he killed Clara because he believed Robert was abusing her. The murder weapon was believed to be a 27-inch sword, and the nature of the crime startled many. I said, 'That's impossible.' [3], The investigation eventually revealed that Schwartz hired Bigger for $10,000 to help him murder Stidham. Rivellini and Denis deVlaming are Becky's criminal attorneys, hired to defend her against any possible future charges . [4] Differing reports say his body was found by either a cleaning crew[5] or Christine Rotella, a massage therapist who had returned to the medical plaza to retrieve her forgotten engagement ring. Cecil said. Becky got five years probation and had to pay back the money she stole. Lola Stragaj was booked into the Pinellas County Jail Wednesday, Dec. 14. Anton Stragaj remained in the Pinellas County Jail Thursday without bond. "Very," he replied. I said, 'That's a misprint, because she met her husband in med school in New York 35 years ago. 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. Siberia (2018) Thriller Movie Recap And Ending Explained. But later, she changed her mind, saying, I want to go straight. She had also met a teenager named Kyle Hulbert at a Renaissance Fair in Maryland in September 2001. "I know. The car was later found at an apartment complex over six miles away. "Was there blood on the knife?" While the homicide investigation document listed Becky Schwartz as a suspect, she has never been charged with anything related to her husband's murder. Doctor Schwartz had a thriving practice as a kidney specialist in Tampa, Florida. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. But sadly, I don't think anyone matters to her but herself.". I loved the man," Stragaj said. Becky and Dr. Schwartz had met in the late 1990s through a dating service, and were a committed couple. His friend and medical partner, Dr. Robert Patton, admired him greatly. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. I think that that cloud is always there that they may arrest her," attorney Kym Rivellini said. But he was very good at his job, and paid more than $100,000 a year by Dr. Schwartz. Police say Lola Stragaj, 38, was brought into custody on Wednesday following an investigation into the possible exploitation of an elderly woman. "I think you'd have to be willfully ignorant not to see it," he replied. That's what brothers do. Becky Schwartz wouldn't speak with "48 Hours." Their trials are set for early next year. [4] In addition to local media outlets, Court TV and CBS's 48 Hours provided coverage to a national audience. "The person that benefitted was Becky Schwartz and the people that she deems worthy of giving away Dr. Schwartz's money to. So, I had to go and buy materials or dump a trailer. 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. The sudden murder of a prominent scientist at his secluded farmhouse led the authorities on a complex murder investigation. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Van Sant asked. Schwartz has been in jail since her arrest in February on the campus of James Madison University, where she was a student. 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 never mentioned anything -- anything in his statement to the police about Rebecca Schwartz being in any way responsible for the death of her husband," said DeVlaming. "I didn't have the -- you know, the green card, the nothing.". Prosecutors allege that Hulbert wasnt the only person Schwartz asked to kill her father. Michael pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received 18 years in prison. "Is she worried or afraid that she'll be arrested for the murder of her husband? "She said, 'I had a little fight with Dr. Schwartz. But Becky is not saying anything. "And is there still a possibility there could be an arrest?" I had no revenge or nothing.". 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