Investigating the murder of Dr. Steven Schwartz
A wealthy doctor is strangled, shot, and stabbed in his Florida mansion -- who wanted him dead?
Steven Schwartz was a successful doctor in Tarpon Springs, Fla. The father of three owned a number of rental properties that made him worth millions. Dr. Schwartz's son, Carter Schwartz, pictured with his dad, described him as someone he aspired to become. "Dad was always a role model to me in that I knew form an early age I wanted to be a physician just like him," he said.
Inside the Schwartz murder case
Steven Schwartz met his second wife, Rebecca, through a dating service in the 1990s. The couple officially tied the knot in 2010 – combining their blended family, which included Becky's two kids, Ben and Eric.
Inside the Schwartz murder case
On May 28, 2014, Becky Schwartz says she came home to a house in complete disarray. She called 911 and said it appeared to have been a break-in. "Hi, somebody, I just walked into my house and somebody robbed my house," she told the 911 dispatcher. Police who responded would find Dr. Schwartz dead in his home that evening.
Inside the Schwartz murder case
Leo Stragaj is the only person charged with Dr. Schwartz's murder, but he believes Becky is the person behind the crime. "She planned it for a long time," he told "48 Hours", "whoever helped her, if she did it alone or helped her, you know, they planned it for a long time." Becky has never been charged with anything related to her husband's murder. Police say the case remains an open investigation. Stragaj is awaiting trial.
Inside the Schwartz murder case
In an exclusive jailhouse interview, Leo Stragaj discussed his alibi with "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant.
"Your DNA was on the victim. You didn't call 911 ... you add all that up, and you've got yourself a murder suspect," Van Sant remarked.
"I know. That's why I'm in here," Stragaj replied. "But I'm not guilty for committing the murder. The man was dead when I went there."
Inside the Schwartz murder case
Dr. Schwartz's son, Carter, has his own suspicions about the killer. He had a rocky relationship with his stepmother, Becky. He even found it strange that his father would leave his own children out his will – giving everything to Becky. Carter would file a wrongful death lawsuit against Becky and Leo Stragaj on May 25, 2016 – claiming they conspired to kill Dr. Schwartz.
Inside the Schwartz murder case
During the investigation, Carter Schwartz would learn about his father’s troubled past. In 1961, 21-year-old Steven Schwartz robbed and murdered a dentist in Hobbs, New Mexico. Phillip Dyer, who drove Schwartz to the scene, but backed out before the crime, remembered Steven’s chilling words after the robbery. “I shot the man between the eyes,” Steven told Dyer. Both men would end up spending time behind bars.
Carter Schwartz told “48 Hours” that his father used his second chance in life to make a difference. “I think he turned it into a positive,” he said. “I think he did everything he could to pay back society.”
Inside the Schwartz murder case
After her husband’s death, Becky Schwartz wanted some peace and quiet and found tranquility in Winneconne, Wisconsin. It wasn’t long before she found comfort in a tight-knit family, who she met by chance at a charity event.
Inside the Schwartz murder case
Becky Schwartz’s new friends, Meredith and her family, would spend lots of time together – traveling to Florida, attending sporting events, and taking cruises. This close friendship would eventually take a turn for the worse. “I never thought that she would steal my husband and steal my family,” Meredith told “48 Hours.”
Inside the Schwartz murder case
Leo Stragaj is the only person charged with Dr. Schwartz's murder, but he believes Becky Schwartz is the person behind the crime.
"She planned it for a long time," he told "48 Hours." "Whoever helped her, if she did it alone or helped her, you know, they planned it for a long time."
Becky has never been charged with anything related to her husband's murder. Police say the case remains an open investigation. Stragaj is awaiting trial.
WATCH: The Strange Life of Dr. Schwartz
Leo Stragaj: "I'm not a hit man"