WebWho Killed Robert Schwartz? 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. Throughout his trial, Schwartz never took the stand. "There's always that possibility," said deVlaming. Friends said Schwartz's wife died of cancer several years ago and their three children are away at college. He said that Clara created a fantasy role-playing game called Underworld, where he played an assassin and a bard. 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. "I was there. 2017 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Van Sant asked Carter Schwartz. She stated in one of the messages that she didnt want the murder to be linked to her if Kyle was the perpetrator. 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WebBut all that family turmoil was hidden, and to most who knew him, Dr. Schwartz seemed to have a beautiful life until the evening of May 28, 2014, when Becky Schwartz came home Cook in his New Mexico office. Family friend Anton Leo Stragaj, who was hired to manage the 38 rental properties owned by Schwartz, was charged with first-degree murder. The cops were soon on the lookout for any and all leads. Kyle, then 18, had a history of mental illness and had spent time in psychiatric institutions as a child. "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. And if she had somebody else helping her," Stragaj replied. When Kyle was apprehended, he gave a complete confession to the police, claiming that he killed Clara because he believed Robert was abusing her. 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. "She asked me to find somebody," said Stragaj. "I know it was bad. The prosecution believed that Clara manipulated Kyle to do her bidding. Carter always believed the main reason Becky was with his father was because she wanted to spend his money. He founded the Virginia Biotechnology Association where he worked on DNA sequencing for 15 years. "She said, 'I had a little fight with Dr. Schwartz. Handyman, Anton Stragaj, [9] The trial officially ended on May 2, 2006. DeVlaming says all the evidence points to Leo Stragaj. They also had witnesses state how she talked about the money she stood to gain once Robert died. And Dr. Schwartz had become very wealthy worth somewhere between $20 and 30 million. I don't understand what's changed, what happened,'" she said. He says he had every reason to keep Steven Schwartz alive. She even took them on her boat in Florida and one thing stuck in Meredith's mind. "Yeah, that was definitely not normal," said Olive. " "Did you remove the hard drive from that security camera" Van Sant asked. "I believe that both Leo Stragaj and Rebecca Schwartz were involved in his murder and caused his death on that date," said Carter Schwartz. She grabs a beer, and come sits on the couch, and drinks a beer," said Cox. 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. "Drinking the beer at 9:00 a.m. definitely not something". Records indicate that he remains incarcerated at the River North Correctional Center in Independence, Virginia. "My guess is because I was finding this information out that she had kept hidden for years," he replied. Loudoun County on Dec. 8, 2001, and Robert M. "Can't make this stuff up can you? [8] Early on, Storts suggested that the attorney-client relationship between Schwartz and Lopez precluded the case from going to trial. She has a felony conviction for embezzling money from MADD," said Dr. Patton. "The only one that can really answer that question is Dr. Schwartz himself," said Wil Florin. And that something is her involvement in the murder," said Florin. They waited as Kyle went in and killed Robert and drove away with him after that. 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. Carter wants justice for a father whose life started and ended so badly, but who lived the long middle dedicated to others. "She goes, 'Listen, I want I I -- I want you to find somebody to kill Carter Schwartz --" said Stragaj. 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? I wouldn't put anything past her. "That's like stealing money out of the donation tray at church," Dr. Patton remarked. Police say Lola Stragaj, 38, was brought into custody on Wednesday following an investigation into the possible exploitation of an elderly woman. The Christopher Hoefling Murder -The 2017 murder of Christopher Hoefling in Evansville, Indiana is the topic of theInvestigation Discoverydocumentary series"The Murder Tapes" Season 7 Episode Lauren Harpe From Survivor 44 -Since its debut in 2000, 'Survivor' has become one of the most popular television programs ever. The events surrounding the 2004 murder were broadcast on the Investigation Discovery series Solved in October 2008. "She's got something to hide. "Her. [20] Schwartz was provided with a court-appointed defense attorney named Brick Storts. The Perfect Murder: The Devil Made Me Do It, a documentary produced by Investigation Discovery, focuses on how the police narrowed down four suspects, one of them was Roberts daughter. The case alleged that the parties involved could have helped prevent Brian Stidham's murder. You can follow his daily exploits on Twitter and Instagram. "Every single night, seven days a week, we were together.". Police looked at Dr. Schwartz's inner circle. Stragaj, who is from Albania, was working in the U.S. without proper legal status. On Claras computer, the authorities discovered instant communications between her and Kyle in which they plotted murdering Robert. ", "Yeah," Carter replied, "Certainly cannot. I think that that cloud is always there that they may arrest her," attorney Kym Rivellini said. Florin and Tom Roebig are top civil attorneys in Florida, who represented Carter and his family in a wrongful death lawsuit. [23], Schwartz has repeatedly made headlines since his imprisonment. Clara was sentenced to serve 48 years in prison on February 10, 2003. WebIn 2016, Schwartzs adult children filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Rebecca Schwartz and Stragaj, claiming they conspired to kill the doctor. Rivellini and Denis deVlaming are Becky's criminal attorneys, hired to defend her against any possible future charges . Schwartz decided to rob a local dentist, Dr. Victor Cook. Claras companion, Katherine Inglis, said Clara was involved in her fathers murder just a day or two after Robert was apprehended. Both men also pleaded "not guilty. Brown created and produced the British horror comedy series "Wreck," which is currently available on Hulu. Inside, he found the scientist brutally murdered. 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. Today, Dyer is an adjunct professor of criminal justice at Youngstown State University in Ohio. "Basically, 'if you get better, call me. "I never saw Becky grieving for her husband or her loss," said Meredith. The jury could have recommended a life sentence for the convictions, which also included conspiracy to commit murder and two counts of soliciting a crime. [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. I said, 'What the hell did you do?' "It turned out Rebecca had canceled any services, any ceremonies, any remembrances for my father. "I said, 'What did you do,' right away. At one point, Schwartz asked House when he really would kill her father, but he never followed through, he testified. Stragaj also felt close to Steven Schwartz. After months of testing, investigators made a damning discovery: Stragaj's DNA was on several parts of Dr. Schwartz's clothing. He was sharp. Van Sant asked. You're not alone", "Conviction upheld in Tucson doctor's slaying", "Schwartz cites prison assaults, sues state", "Inmate Schwartz files claim vs. state, citing four beatings", "Ex-county prosecutor disbarred by state Supreme Court", Bradley Schwart's profile at the Arizona Department of Corrections, Bruce Bigger's profile at the Arizona Department of Corrections, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Murder_of_Brian_Stidham&oldid=1141816162, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 26 February 2023, at 23:39. "I think you'd have to be willfully ignorant not to see it," he replied. Van Sant asked. [3] Stidham told friends that his partner (Schwartz) had been acting "weird" and that he needed to remove himself from the situation. Ten months after the murder Leo Stragaj was arrested, but police kept looking for evidence. Defense attorneys said the game was only an escape for a girl with a sad social life. "immigration told me any contact with police will send you back," he told Van Sant. James Cecil, a local auctioneer in Hobbs for decades, was a patient of Dr. Cook back then. And remember, Becky claimed her Florida house had been burglarized. Van Sant asked. LaWall even testified that if Skitzki or Lopez had come forward sooner, Dr. Stidham would still be alive. He had been strangled, shot and stabbed. She alleged that Robert was planning on making sure she did not come back. Kyle later stated that he had to do something once Clara told him about that. '", "Becky has lied about her children," Meredith said. "We sort of learned to coexist," said Carter. "I'm so sorry I didn't call the police.". They started with his family, and Clara Schwartz, his youngest daughter, was discovered "He never lost sight of paying back his debt to society. Khan practiced as an orthopedic surgeon at Owaisi hospital and had experience of He felt compelled to defend Clara when she informed him of her fathers alleged abuse. "And I don't recall there being a lot of conversation. Schwartz introduced him to Goldberg as "Bruce. Is-- is this -- drink talk and not -- what was that?' Becky and the family did everything from vacations in Florida, to sports events, to lavish parties -- all paid for by Becky. Siberia (2018) Thriller Movie Recap And Ending Explained. His body was discovered two days later. "That changed my whole life, right there in that point in time," he said. Robert was born on May 13, 1944. They also argued that Robert Schwartz abused his daughter. But later on, it was clear she meant killing her father in real life. Booking photos courtesy of the Pinellas County Jail. I build from scratch," he explained. [7] Stidham was officially hired in November 2001 partly as a way to provide added support to Schwartz's booming business. No trial date has been set for Leo Tragaj's murder trial. So I had no hate for him. They stood there and watched as Kyle went in and killed Robert before driving away with him. "I loved Dr. Schwartz," he told Van Sant. "That Leo Stragaj was there at the time of murder. "A knife," Stragaj replied. Stragaj doesn't deny he was there; he says he discovered the body. Investigation Discoverys The Perfect Murder: The Devil Made Me Do It focuses on how Clara manipulated three other people into helping with her fathers murder. "and now he's gonna pay for it.". He was jailed for the rest of his life in September 2003. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. "I didn't know," Stragaj said. [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. On Wednesday, December 12th the Washington Post reported: As Meredith lay recovering in the hospital from her suicide attempt with prescription drugs, she had a surprise visitor: Becky. Money. Van Sant asked. ", The gun and the knife used to kill Dr. Schwartz have never been found. "Yeah, a large kitchen knife," Stragaj affirmed. "And why would she want you dead?" "I had nothing against the man. "Dr. Schwartz's son," Van Sant interrupted. " Furthermore, Clara had also told Kyle that she was going on a trip to the Virgin Islands for Christmas with her father. All-- those statements are false," deVlaming told Van Sant. You didn't call 911. Rebecca Schwartz: I walked in the bedroom, into the closet and all the drawers were opened. [3][4], Stidham was born and raised in Longview, Texas, the son of Mack and Joyce Stidham. Stragaj says his DNA must have gotten on Schwartz's clothing when he checked the body. 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? Michele, her sister, said in court, Its been nothing but a nightmare since the first day I found out. What -- what are you saying? 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. Money. "[7] Schwartz would later take Bigger to an automated teller machine (ATM) and then check him into a hotel. Lola Stragaj was booked into the Pinellas County Jail Wednesday, Dec. 14. Kyle was found guilty of his part in the crime in the end. When police arrived at his apartment, he was found naked with a woman. "This looks really bad, though. He says that confrontation was more than 10 hours before Becky called police to the house that night to report an alleged burglary. she said. DeVlaming denies Stragaj's claims that Becky ever asked him to kill Schwartz or his son, Carter. "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. Dr. Schwartz is six foot three. [14] Schwartz also wrote prescriptions to his office manager, Laurie Espinoza, who would retrieve the medication and give it to Schwartz. Even as a young child, I could see she wasn't there because she loved him," he said. "As I read these stories, you know, he didn't want to give 'em his money," Cecil explained. But Becky's attorneys are uncertain what the future will hold for her. I'm not sure why," he replied. Dyer wasn't even sure Schwartz was really going go through with it, until he pulled out a gun. I'm gonna take care of this.'". "Becky took his extended family on an Alaskan cruise that lasted a couple weeks with Dr. Schwartz's money. She fired them shortly after the murder. [9] In September 2002, a grand jury issued a 77-count indictment on charges related to Schwartz writing Vicodin and Ritalin prescriptions for two patients (Lopez and Espinoza) who returned the drugs to him for his own use. 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. Schwartz, Dyer says, may have had some gambling debts to pay off. A neighbour stopped by Roberts house on December 10 to see if he was okay because he hadnt turned up for work. Dana Nichols: Just me knowing her and things that she's done before. Not only her husband who is 16 years younger than Beckybut her teenaged daughter moved in with Becky as well, after Becky lavished her with attention and gifts, Meredith says. [3][4][18] A.J. "I would say that's a very accurate statement," Carter replied. "I think most of us that were involved, that it was a horrendous, despicable and deplorable act," said Dyer. "And when you present this information, is this jaw dropping to your dad?" And her son goes, 'Mom, are you crazy? Many individuals took the stand, including ex-girlfriends, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances, many of whom confirmed that Schwartz often talked about his hatred for Stidham. "Yes, sir. By Express News Service. "I know I went down and grabbed him and shook 'Hey Dr. Schwartz, you OK?'". The Perfect Murder examines the brutal and bizarre killing of scientist Robert Schwartz, who was murdered in his own home. [7] The case was transferred from Pima County to Pinal County because of the nature of Lopez's past work relationship with Pima County. She fit into our lives so perfectly," Meredith explained. Schwartz.". ", "Ultimately, I think Becky's motive was to buy -- into our family," Meredith said. 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