Where is Lloyd Averys Killer Kevin Roby Now? He was sharp. 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. [7] Schwartz initially pleaded guilty to the drug charges in 2003; however, the plea was withdrawn in early 2004. [6] The couple moved to Indianapolis where Stidham undertook a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus at Indiana University. 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? Furthermore, Clara had also told Kyle that she was going on a trip to the Virgin Islands for Christmas with her father. But Becky is not saying anything. [7][11] He graduated from the University of Rochester School of Medicine[12] in 1991, and married Joan Samuels in New York City four days after his graduation. "I'm so sorry I didn't call the police. ", The gun and the knife used to kill Dr. Schwartz have never been found. I was scared," he said. Van Sant asked Carter. Then a student at a university in Virginia, Clara created a roleplaying game called Underworld, with her and Kyle bonding over their mutual interest in witchcraft and occult. 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? I turned around and look at him, and his eyes are just bloodshot," said Dyer. First published on July 29, 2017 / 11:25 PM. [3] Earlier in the day, Schwartz had engaged in a series of phone calls with Ronald Bruce Bigger. "My client is five foot three. [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. But the robbery of Dr. Cook went terribly wrong. The sudden murder of a prominent scientist at his secluded farmhouse led the authorities on a complex murder investigation. "I'd see him on the street from time to time and he'd always ask me, 'How you doin'? The death of a distinguished scientist in his secluded farmhouse prompted a lengthy inquiry by the authorities. "If she knew -- which I have every reason to believe she did -- that's entirely possible that was something used against him," Carter acknowledged. And I think that -- I think that Leo Stragaj believed that his time with the Schwartzes was limited. [21] Other arguments Storts used revolved around discrepancies between the time of death, Bigger's whereabouts, and the fact that the $10,000 had seemingly vanished. 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. Being betrayed by her husband and her best friend was just too much. [8] Early on, Storts suggested that the attorney-client relationship between Schwartz and Lopez precluded the case from going to trial. Fifty-five years ago in Hobbs, New Mexico, Schwartz himself was involved in another murder case. The 37-year-old was arrested in March 2015 on first-degree murder charges in connection with Schwartzs murder. [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. Friends said Schwartz's wife died of cancer several years ago and their three children are away at college. In September 2001, she met Kyle Hulbert, an adolescent from Maryland, during a Renaissance Fair. [5] Schwartz and Goldberg were eating at a Thai restaurant in Tucson shortly after the murder occurred. Robert was thought to have been murdered two days before he was discovered. WebThe incident appeared to be targeted, according to investigators. That that's how his DNA got there. 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. And that became a problem for Carter. Van Sant asked. I read plans. '", "Becky has lied about her children," Meredith said. "Other accounts in only her name. In 2011, Ben was arrested and convicted of stealing jewelry from the Schwartz home. To say Steven Schwartz's life was extraordinary, as his son, Carter, does, is an understatement. (She does not face any charges regarding the murder of her husband.). [3][7], The relationship between Brian Stidham and Bradley Schwartz began to deteriorate soon after Stidham was hired in November 2001. You can follow his daily exploits on Twitter and Instagram. Kyle later indicated that after Clara informed him of the situation, he felt compelled to take action. "If evil is to the left, good is to the right. WebLike many of the criminals featured on Forensic Files, the men who murdered Dr. Brian Stidham obviously didnt watch the show often enough. The authorities discovered instant messages between Clara and Kyle on her computer that discussed killing Robert. He, along with attorney Brick Storts, attempted to sue the state of Arizona for $750,000. [2] Bradley Alan Schwartz, also a pediatric ophthalmologist, and Ronald Bruce Bigger, a hit man, were arrested and convicted for the murder. [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. Clara allegedly used Kyle to do her will, according to the prosecution. [3][7], On 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. [7] Stidham was officially hired in November 2001 partly as a way to provide added support to Schwartz's booming business. He then moved to Dallas, Texas where he entered a residency program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School's internal medicine department. And big money. He was bright. By Express News Service. [9] In December 2001, one month after Stidham joined the practice, the DEA raided the office and Schwartz was indicted by a federal grand jury on 77 counts of illegally obtaining prescription medicine. Soon, they were led to his youngest daughter, Clara Van Sant asked. And I made two runs because I'm -- I'm in construction site job, $125,000 job. She set me up. [22], Schwartz's ex-fiancee, Lourdes Lopez, who resigned as prosecutor after being indicted in federal court, continued to work as a defense attorney after disciplinary action had taken place. Their daughter, Catherine Elizabeth, was born later in Tucson in 2003. They also argued that Robert Schwartz abused his daughter. Van Sant asked Carter. However, the two had already been seeing each other and were even engaged to be married. Khan practiced as an orthopedic surgeon at Owaisi hospital and had experience of "I see Dr. Schwartz and he was facing the wall," he explained. Hulbert, 19, of Millersville, Md., wrote in a confession that he killed Schwartz to protect Clara Schwartz from abuse. "One of, if not the worst moment of my life," said Carter. The authorities believed Robert was killed about two days before being found. 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? Dana says Ben has gotten past his drug problems and the two of them have settled down with their daughter, Kendall. "We sort of learned to coexist," said Carter. "[3] Conflicting reports suggest that Schwartz had either met Bigger at Narcotics Anonymous or at his medical practice. I get permits. Stragaj also felt close to Steven Schwartz. Stragaj also claims she threatened him. But Schwartz never did take care of it. Inside, he found the scientist brutally murdered. I wouldn't put anything past her. He said that Clara created a fantasy role-playing game called Underworld, where he played an assassin and a bard. Clara was sentenced to serve 48 years in prison on February 10, 2003. The nature of the phone discussions had changed over the course of the night. While in Dallas, he met and began dating his neighbor, Daphne Herding,[5] whom he eventually married in a garden ceremony in 1997. In the same game, there also existed a character named Old Guy that signified Robert. So, if youre curious about what transpired, dont worry. I'm sure she planned it for a long time.". Clara had also informed Kyle that she would be spending the holidays with her father in the Virgin Islands. Nearly $500 was missing from the Stidham was meant to take over the pediatric ophthalmology aspect of Schwartz's business. "My life pretty much changed on January second, when my husband got out of the shower and said he was leaving me," Meredith said. That's what brothers do. The Perfect Murder: The Devil Made Me Do It focuses on how Clara manipulated three other people into helping with her fathers murder. "No -- not as I recall," Stragaj replied. [28] Although the original case sought $20 million in a claim against the county, Mrs. Stidham settled for $2.29 million in 2007. Van Sant asked Carter Schwartz. Back then, Dyer was 20 years old, a former high school football star and a buddy of Steven Schwartz. When Kyle was apprehended, he gave a complete confession to the police, claiming that he killed Clara because he believed Robert was abusing her. She settled that suit for an undisclosed amount. WebContact Dr. Robert G. Schwartz, MD, for an appointment. Becky's son, Ben, had ongoing drug issues, according to Carter. "What is the most important thing to Becky Schwartz?" Stragaj says he was set up by Schwartzs second wife Rebecca Becky Schwartz. [3], The investigation eventually revealed that Schwartz hired Bigger for $10,000 to help him murder Stidham. I'm leaving,'" said Dyer. "She's just trying to lay low and find a path.". She grabs a beer, and come sits on the couch, and drinks a beer," said Cox. WebBack to the United States, and on December 10th, Dr. Robert M. Schwartz was found murdered in Leesberg, Virginia. Investigation Discoverys The Perfect Murder: The Devil Made Me Do It focuses on how the police zeroed in on four people who had a role to play, which shockingly included Roberts daughter as well. The two former criminals pledged to spend the rest of their lives atoning for their terrible act. Schwartz, a prominent local nephrologist, was found dead in Bigger's defense attorney, Jill Thorpe, tried to prove that it was Schwartz who had actually physically committed the murder. He was in his 70s. Ben is not named in the lawsuit and there have been no criminal charges filed against him in the murder. "And when you present this information, is this jaw dropping to your dad?" Loudoun County on Dec. 8, 2001, and Robert M. Please enter valid email address to continue. DeVlaming denies Stragaj's claims that Becky ever asked him to kill Schwartz or his son, Carter. "I said to them, 'Please, do not overlook anyone in this family just because they're related.". This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. He's obviously dead -- right?" 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. I want-- I-- I know it looks bad," said Stragaj. Van Sant asked. Booking photos courtesy of the Pinellas County Jail. 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? From jail, Schwartz pleaded with Lourdes Lopez, his former lover, to be his attorney, but she refused. Furthermore, deVlaming says, Stragaj's story of being in the house to retrieve Becky's purse makes no sense. The defense argued that the man prosecutors say she asked to commit the crime, Kyle Hulbert, is not mentally stable. "There's always that possibility," said deVlaming. But Becky's attorneys are uncertain what the future will hold for her. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. 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. One of these phone calls included Bigger repeatedly asking, "Where is my money? A year after Dr. Steven Schwartz was found shot stabbed and strangled in his waterfront mansion, Leo Stragaj sits in jail. 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? July 29, 2017 / 11:25 PM Leo Stragaj awaits trial as the only person charged. Because unbeknownst to him, his father had already changed his estate plan a year earlier, leaving his entire fortune to Becky and nothing for his own children. And if she had somebody else helping her," Stragaj replied. [6], Because of the indictment, Schwartz lost his medical license[3] and entered into rehab. But could a shocking incident deep in Dr. Schwartz's past have played a role in his murder? "He was just a good dentist and a good -- become a good friend,' Cecil continued. "He was my doctor and my wife's doctor. Leo Stragaj adamantly denies he killed Dr. Schwartz. '", Carter also struggled with Becky. WebIn 1961, 21-year-old Steven Schwartz robbed and murdered a dentist in Hobbs, New Mexico. "The only one that can really answer that question is Dr. Schwartz himself," said Wil Florin. He refused to testify last week against his friend, citing his right to avoid self-incrimination. Besides his medical practice, he owned a vast array of rental properties and lived in an expensive waterfront home with his second wife, Becky. 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. Stragaj, who is from Albania, was working in the U.S. without proper legal status. [3] Stidham told friends that his partner (Schwartz) had been acting "weird" and that he needed to remove himself from the situation. "I didn't know," Stragaj said. But they then began to focus on the Schwartz's longtime employee and contractor, Anton Leo Stragaj. At the time of the incident, he lived in a farmhouse away from the city in Leesburg, Virginia. And there were bizarre behaviors after Dr. Schwartz's death that fed speculation about Becky's involvement. Her son, Eric, even got a Verizon store to run in Wisconsin. 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. Call (586) 939 -1122. [20], Schwartz and Bigger were both charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. One of them, Katherine Inglis, provided extensive information regarding Claras involvement with the slaying. [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. Records indicate that he remains incarcerated at the River North Correctional Center in Independence, Virginia. They started with his family, and Clara Schwartz, his youngest daughter, was discovered quickly. Schwartz decided to rob a local dentist, Dr. Victor Cook. Dr. David Brian Stidham, a 37-year-old pediatric ophthalmologist, was found stabbed and beaten to death outside his office on Oct. 5. I think he did everything he could to pay back society," he said. They also had witnesses state how she talked about the money she stood to gain once Robert died. He also noted that his vision had been permanently damaged. 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. He claims there was a conversation at a bar along with Becky's son, Ben, a year before Dr. Schwartz was murdered. Tom Roebig, Carter Schwartz' attorney, reasoned. The murder? Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. So who killed Dr. Schwartz? "It all points to her. It's absolutely laughably ridiculous," said deVlaming. It's too -- hasn't been long enough to do anything.' Van Sant asked. She managed both his medical office and investments. I don't understand what's changed, what happened,'" she said. "I liked Steven. After all was said and done, Kyle was convicted guilty of his role in the crime. His body was discovered two days later. And I looked at that and I looked at my husband and I said, 'Isn't that weird? A prominent biophysicist, he had been stabbed multiple times with a 2-foot-long sword. Where did it go?" Becky Schwartz wouldn't speak with "48 Hours." "Iwell, I told you I don't -- I know what I did. said Dr. Patton. But later, she changed her mind, saying, I want to go straight. Performance & security by Cloudflare. In addition, the 57-year-old Virginia Biotechnology Association was founded by him. Prosecutor Owen Basham urged the jury Tuesday to recommend a stiff sentence. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a159b8aee1210a8 Police aren't talking because the case is still open. The Perfect Murder: The Devil Made Me Do It focuses on how the police zeroed in on four people who had a role to play, which shockingly included Roberts daughter as well. Jurors recommended she spend 48 years in prison. "As I read these stories, you know, he didn't want to give 'em his money," Cecil explained. He look out for us," said Stragaj. 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