Records indicate that he remains incarcerated at the River North Correctional Center in Independence, Virginia. I wouldn't put anything past her. "If she knew -- which I have every reason to believe she did -- that's entirely possible that was something used against him," Carter acknowledged. "The person that benefitted was Becky Schwartz and the people that she deems worthy of giving away Dr. Schwartz's money to. "[5] After some delay, the trial for Schwartz began in March 2006. After all was said and done, Kyle was convicted guilty of his role in the crime. He says he had every reason to keep Steven Schwartz alive. "Oh, I imagine he had maybe $1,000 or more at the time on him," Cecil said. Stragaj says his DNA must have gotten on Schwartz's clothing when he checked the body. But friends and colleagues of Dr. Schwartz have always suspected Becky was involved. Robert was stabbed and slashed more than thirty times and had an X carved on his back. Patrick stated that he met Clara in June 2001 at a festival in Leesburg, Virginia. And Becky seduced her new boyfriend with expensive gifts, too. Hulbert, 19, of Millersville, Md., wrote in a confession that he killed Schwartz to protect Clara Schwartz from abuse. "Rebecca Schwartz is a victim, just like her husband. The crime was orchestrated by his 20-year-old daughter, Clara Jane Schwartz, as part of a fantasy role-playing game. Quiet is not a word a Wisconsin woman named Meredith would use to describe her former best friend, Becky. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. They stood there and watched as Kyle went in and killed Robert before driving away with him. Despite the fact that 83% of the jury pool had been exposed to some of the pretrial media, Bigger's appeal was thrown out by the Arizona Court of Appeals in May 2011. 48 Hours: Who Was Susan Bermans Mob Boss Father? On Wednesday, December 12th the Washington Post reported: When Robert Schwartz was found dead at his home, investigators have reason to believe his death was There's speculation that she wanted her husband dead so she could collect on his many millions," Van Sant noted. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a159b8aee1210a8 And there were bizarre behaviors after Dr. Schwartz's death that fed speculation about Becky's involvement. [3][5] Stidham began attending Harvard Medical School in 1990 and graduated in 1993. Van Sant asked Carter Schwartz. And she said, 'No, I'll say it when I'm sober.' "And siphoned to where? 48 Hours airs Fridays at 9pm and 10pm on CBS. Schwartz has been in jail since her arrest in February on the campus of James Madison University, where she was a student. And we've alleged that Leo and Becky conspired to murder him," said Roebig. They started with his family, and Clara Schwartz, his youngest daughter, was discovered "I know. "If I had to describe her, very energetic, southern charm, hospitality, 'Come in. She went to work for MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. James Cecil, a local auctioneer in Hobbs for decades, was a patient of Dr. Cook back then. "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. But later, she changed her mind, saying, I want to go straight. Florin and Tom Roebig are top civil attorneys in Florida, who represented Carter and his family in a wrongful death lawsuit. Van Sant asked. Van Sant asked. "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. I mean, I -- I regret it all of my life. Their stepmother also embezzled Robert was thought to have been murdered two days before he was discovered. Patrick Olive and April Cox say that around 9 a.m., Becky unexpectedly showed up at their house. Robert has an X engraved on his back after being stabbed and slashed more than thirty times. 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? This spurred Stidham to create his own Tucson-area practice. And she said, 'You know why I did it,'" said Stragaj. "Money. July 29, 2017 / 11:25 PM "Early on, I didn't like dislike 'em, but that faded pretty quickly," he replied. "She's got something to hide. She faces one count of exploitation of the elderly and one count of fraudulent use of personal identification, jail records indicate. He refused to testify last week against his friend, citing his right to avoid self-incrimination. "she didn't have five children.". The result was one that reportedly pleased the state bar. 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? In the end, a jury found Clara guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and two counts of solicitation to commit murder. "I don't think he was a badass kid at all. But still, I can't see Leo hurting Dr. Schwartz. Nor did she understand what she learned about Becky from a Google search. He is obsessed with movies, comic books, and television shows, and he spends much too much money on collectibles. "I said, 'What did you do,' right away. [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. 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. 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. A hold is also been placed on her by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. Their trials are set for early next year. Stragaj doesn't deny he was there; he says he discovered the body. And then -- and did the rest in a crazy, violent rage, unless Leo helped her finish the job. She -- she staged this. 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. And that something is her involvement in the murder," said Florin. WebIn 2016, Schwartzs adult children filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Rebecca Schwartz and Stragaj, claiming they conspired to kill the doctor. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Who else besides you would know that that hard drive was there?" 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. 2017 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. "I wasn't there when he did it, but I can't imagine why, having sober judgment, anyone would do that.". "Did you remove the hard drive from that security camera" Van Sant asked. "'And if you say anything, you're never gonna see a house or you're never gonna see a penny,'" said Stragaj. Carter says he often needed money. And I said, 'Listen, I'm your man for construction, but I don't know what you're lookin' for.' Samuel Booth Murder Case Where Is James Thomas Wood today? [7] He worked at a hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania prior to relocating with his family to Tucson in the late '90s. And the reason it's hogwash is Leo says that he looks in the bag and he sees a butcher knife. Handyman, Anton Stragaj, Is-- is this -- drink talk and not -- what was that?' According to Patrick, Clara asked him to kill Old Guy, and he initially thought it was only game-related. Boxer Eddie Leal Murder Case Where Is Manuel Guzman These Days? As Meredith lay recovering in the hospital from her suicide attempt with prescription drugs, she had a surprise visitor: Becky. Dyer wasn't even sure Schwartz was really going go through with it, until he pulled out a gun. Stragaj, who is from Albania, was working in the U.S. without proper legal status. I said, 'What the hell did you do?' More than three years have passed since Dr. Schwartz's murder, and Becky Schwartz splits her time between Florida and Wisconsin. On Claras computer, the authorities discovered instant communications between her and Kyle in which they plotted murdering Robert. Bigger's trials would not begin until the following March. When Clara told him about her fathers alleged abusive behavior, he believed he had to protect her. "A knife," Stragaj replied. "I figure that's why Schwartz went there, to rob him.". "Here's a guy who's been shot, strangled, blood -- why would you touch him at all to begin with? I really did. "The boyfriend has had a plane bought for him," Florin explained. JANGAON : The family of the first-year post-graduate student Dr Dharawath Preethi on Monday alleged that she was in fact murdered in cold blood. The nature of the phone discussions had changed over the course of the night. "This is a woman whose son was killed by a drunk driver. At one point, Schwartz asked House when he really would kill her father, but he never followed through, he testified. Khan practiced as an orthopedic surgeon at Owaisi hospital and had experience of Nearly $500 was missing from the He was taken away with such haste that his shirt was on backwards. Clara and Katherine had met while the former was in her senior year in high school. Ten months after the murder Leo Stragaj was arrested, but police kept looking for evidence. Through a family friend, Ben confirmed that in that conversation he told his mother it was a crazy idea that she shouldn't even joke about. In September 2003, he was sentenced to life behind bars. Rich L.A. homeowners are snapping them up, High school basketball: Southern California and Northern California Regional results and updated pairings, Looking for your new favorite restaurant? And to this day, Cecil has the gun Schwartz used to murder Dr. Cook. "He lied to the police. "It all points to her. Becky was convicted of embezzling from Mothers Against Drunk Driving -- more than $12,000, she used to buy a car and a boat for herself. [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. 2012-2023, 2paragraphs Productions, LLC. The Perfect Murder: The Devil Made Me Do It focuses on how Clara manipulated three other people into helping with her fathers murder. "That Leo Stragaj was there at the time of murder. Stidham gave Schwartz 30 days' notice and began making plans to start his own practice across town. How's your teeth doin'?'" Three days after Back then, Dyer was 20 years old, a former high school football star and a buddy of Steven Schwartz. "He never lost sight of paying back his debt to society. Siberia (2018) Thriller Movie Recap And Ending Explained. [20], Attorneys for Schwartz and Bigger filed appeals almost immediately after sentencing. Three days after [26], Brian Stidham's widow, Daphne Stidham, filed a wrongful death suit in 2005 against the medical complex where her husband was murdered, alleging that the conditions at the complex aided the killer. Carter wants justice for a father whose life started and ended so badly, but who lived the long middle dedicated to others. [21] On October 28, Lopez reported that, prior to the murder, she had expressed to Paul Skitzki, a county prosecutor with whom she was on friendly terms, her concerns about what Schwartz might do to Stidham. "There's always that possibility," said deVlaming. -- son. Schwartz, the shooter, spent nine years in prison. [6], Because of the indictment, Schwartz lost his medical license[3] and entered into rehab. Family friend Anton Leo Stragaj, who was hired to manage the 38 rental properties owned by Schwartz, was charged with first-degree murder. "She is clearly a sociopath, without a doubt," said Dr. Patton. He then moved to Dallas, Texas where he entered a residency program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School's internal medicine department. "The only one that can really answer that question is Dr. Schwartz himself," said Wil Florin. Robert M. Schwartz, 57, a founding member of the Virginia Biotechnology Association, was found dead in the secluded fieldstone farmhouse southwest of Leesburg where he lived alone. What the authorities found out next was a shocking tale of manipulation and fantasy. "She's just trying to lay low and find a path.". All-- those statements are false," deVlaming told Van Sant. So who killed Dr. Schwartz? '", "Becky has lied about her children," Meredith said. He also noted that his vision had been permanently damaged. [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. Lafferty also brought up the fact that Schwartz harbored a well-known grudge against Stidham. Used, Florin theorizes, by Becky Schwartz to blackmail her own husband for millions. DeVlaming says all the evidence points to Leo Stragaj. "I build. "[3] Conflicting reports suggest that Schwartz had either met Bigger at Narcotics Anonymous or at his medical practice. Clara was convicted of first-degree murder in her father's death. "I had nothing against the man. Instead, they found Dr. Schwartz in a pool of blood. 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. Schwartz moved to Italy, where he earned a medical degree. Stragaj says he worked on all the Schwartz's homes, including the mansion they lived in. Stickers Available To Alert Responders To People With Special Needs, Pinellas African American Heritage Celebration Set For Feb. 25, An Amazingly Kind Soul: FL Star Student, Ross Hosts Fundraiser For Boys & Girls Club, Social Security Seminar at Countryside Recreation Center, Taxes in Retirement Seminar at Largo Community Center, Shen Yun Classical Dance with Live Orchestra, Proven Strategies for the Care of Aging People, FL Democratic Party Would Be Eliminated Under Proposed Law, Extorting Nude Photos From Minor Leads to 19-Year-Old's Arrest: Police, 2023 Hurricane, Tropical Storm Names Released For Atlantic Season, FL Man AKA Sedition Panda Charged In Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol Breach: DOJ. Money. [3][12] Despite the fact that Stidham's new practice was on the opposite side of town, Schwartz was convinced that his former partner was deliberately stealing his clients. But a shocking incident long in Dr. Schwartz's past may provide a clue. Michele, her sister, said in court, Its been nothing but a nightmare since the first day I found out. So I bought it at the auction," he said. It was a horrific incident. And her son goes, 'Mom, are you crazy? Van Sant asked. Ex-Girlfriend Speaks Out", "Murdered: a popular young doctor lay dead, the prime suspect: a fellow physician", "Before a Hearing Officer of the Supreme Court of Arizona", "Doctor was killed in his car, though it was found miles from body", "Jurors: Hit man duped into murdering doctor", "Does the name 'Brad Schwartz' ring a bell? Leo Stragaj adamantly denies he killed Dr. Schwartz. Her son, Eric, even got a Verizon store to run in Wisconsin. WebRobert was thought to have been murdered two days before he was discovered. Becky's son, Ben, had ongoing drug issues, according to Carter. After her husband was murdered, Becky Schwartz sold the medical practice and decided to start a new life, moving from sunny Florida to the tiny, snowbound town of Winneconne, Wisconsin, near where her son, Eric, was running his Verizon store. "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. "Would you look out and see, 'All this money is going to Rebecca and her children. ", "Yeah," Carter replied, "Certainly cannot. She's in a new state starting a new life with a new man. [14] In December 2001, DEA agents raided Schwartz's office. Claras companion, Katherine Inglis, said Clara was involved in her fathers murder just a day or two after Robert was apprehended. Police aren't talking because the case is still open. He look out for us," said Stragaj. 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