Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Meredith says Becky's lying was soon followed by betrayal. "She asked me to find somebody," said Stragaj. WebThe 37-year-old was arrested in March 2015 on first-degree murder charges in connection with Schwartzs murder. "I said, 'What did you do,' right away. "Now, you tell me; what kind of person does that?" I want the people responsible for this to be held both criminally and civilly liable," Carter Schwartz said. After months of testing, investigators made a damning discovery: Stragaj's DNA was on several parts of Dr. Schwartz's clothing. [6] The couple moved to Indianapolis where Stidham undertook a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology and adult strabismus at Indiana University. Stragaj says he has an alibi and insists he is not the killer. Within a day or so after Robert was located, Claras friend, Katherine Inglis, claimed Clara was involved with her fathers murder. On the morning of December 10, a neighbor went by Roberts home to check on him since he hadnt shown up for work. He was taken away with such haste that his shirt was on backwards. That's Becky's daughter in-law, Dana Nichols, who is married to her son, Ben. "And why in the world would she want her husband dead?" He's obviously dead -- right?" Robert Schwartzs untimely death was ultimately the result of a cunning plot to have him killed. And the reason it's hogwash is Leo says that he looks in the bag and he sees a butcher knife. Although she was instructed not to discuss their interview with Schwartz, she told Schwartz about the investigation and interview within the following 24 hours. she said. "This looks really bad, though. During questioning, Clara initially claimed she thought Kyle was joking when he talked about killing Robert. So I had no hate for him. And I was, like, what? "Money. [4] In addition to local media outlets, Court TV and CBS's 48 Hours provided coverage to a national audience. This looks bad," Van Sant pointed out. The Perfect Murder: The Devil Made Me Do It focuses on how Clara manipulated three other people into helping with her fathers murder. "I believe that both Leo Stragaj and Rebecca Schwartz were involved in his murder and caused his death on that date," said Carter Schwartz. In September 2003, he was sentenced to life behind bars. But I did notice her, you know, being-- a somewhat of a stressed type of thing, you know, putting her head -- hands on her knees. "And greedy, just greedy to the point of it being absurd almost," said Carter Schwartz. And that he was the killer," said deVlaming. "Very," he replied. Stragaj says when he picked up the handbag he saw a knife inside. Becky lavished luxury on herself and her own sons -- paying for their weddings. A year after Dr. Steven Schwartz was found shot stabbed and strangled in his waterfront mansion, Leo Stragaj sits in jail. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. [3][7], The relationship between Brian Stidham and Bradley Schwartz began to deteriorate soon after Stidham was hired in November 2001. WebAt around 11pm on October 5, 2004, a cleaning crew discovered Stidhams body inside his vehicle that was parked in the parking lot of the North First Medical Plaza in Tucson, Dr. Schwartz was a well-known DNA sequencing researcher. The 37-year-old was arrested in March 2015 on first-degree murder charges in connection with Schwartzs murder. "Rebecca Schwartz is a victim, just like her husband. Clara had pointed him to a chapter in a book about herbal poisons, wanting to make Roberts death look natural. [5] Schwartz and Goldberg were eating at a Thai restaurant in Tucson shortly after the murder occurred. Becky and Dr. Schwartz had met in the late 1990s through a dating service, and were a committed couple. "I had nothing against the man. "She's just trying to lay low and find a path.". Defense attorneys said they would appeal, arguing that the jury did not spend enough time going through the evidence. And that something is her involvement in the murder," said Florin. But sadly, I don't think anyone matters to her but herself.". His friend and medical partner, Dr. Robert Patton, admired him greatly. He says his relationship with her was "always uneasy.". [5], Bradley Alan Schwartz was born January 14, 1965[10] in Brooklyn, New York to Henry and Lois Schwartz. A Loudoun County Circuit Court jury deliberated four hours before returning its verdict against Clara Jane Schwartz, 20. "Leo is the killer," deVlaming said. "Did you remove the hard drive from that security camera" Van Sant asked. [7][14] In November 2003, Schwartz was placed on five years' probation by the Arizona Medical Board for "unprofessional conduct. I said, 'That's impossible.' The sudden murder of a prominent scientist at his secluded farmhouse led the authorities on a complex murder investigation. Throughout his trial, Schwartz never took the stand. His body was discovered two days later. He said that Clara created a fantasy role-playing game called Underworld, where he played an assassin and a bard. I think he turned it into a positive. And after he found the body, Leo Stragaj made what he says was the biggest mistake of his life. Chances are its in Pasadena, 12 reasons why Sycamore Avenue is L.A.s coolest new hangout, Sirhan Sirhan, convicted of killing Robert F. Kennedy, denied parole by California board, Many still stranded in San Bernardino Mountains as snow blocks roads, threatens roofs, Suspected shooter in attacks on Jewish men was on FBIs radar, LAPD chief says, Caregiver accused in Manhattan Beach child sexual abuse case believed to be in Philippines, Woman arrested in stabbing death of her mother at their Lake Forest home. Katherine received a one-year prison sentence after being convicted guilty of a murder conspiracy. "He was my doctor and my wife's doctor. "It was well-known that he liked to gamble quite a bit," said Dyer. Call (586) 939 -1122. "I heard the door open. 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. Their daughter, Catherine Elizabeth, was born later in Tucson in 2003. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. "And is there still a possibility there could be an arrest?" [9] The trial officially ended on May 2, 2006. "No -- not as I recall," Stragaj replied. "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. [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. Victim Brian Stidham left behind WebIn 1961, 21-year-old Steven Schwartz robbed and murdered a dentist in Hobbs, New Mexico. Dr. David Brian Stidham, a 37-year-old pediatric ophthalmologist, was found stabbed and beaten to death outside his office on Oct. 5. [2] Bradley Alan Schwartz, also a pediatric ophthalmologist, and Ronald Bruce Bigger, a hit man, were arrested and convicted for the murder. In 2007, the Arizona Supreme Court officially disbarred her for her connection to the drug case. What -- what are you saying? "Other accounts in only her name. Van Sant asked Dr. Patton. Schwartz had recruited Dyer to drive him to and from the dentist's office. Largo Police announced Emirjoni "Lola" Como Stragajs arrest Thursday. 2012-2023, 2paragraphs Productions, LLC. Clara allegedly used Kyle to do her will, according to the prosecution. She is into money like you and I are into breathing air," he replied. [3][4], Stidham was born and raised in Longview, Texas, the son of Mack and Joyce Stidham. 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? Carter says she bought them houses, cars, clothing, and jewelry for herself. World Expert WebOn December 8, 2001, Robert Schwartz was stabbed to death with a sword at his Leesburg, Virginia farmhouse. I said, 'That's a misprint, because she met her husband in med school in New York 35 years ago. Peter Van Sant asked. Carter wants justice for a father whose life started and ended so badly, but who lived the long middle dedicated to others. Their stepmother also embezzled Money. That," he replied. Becky and the family did everything from vacations in Florida, to sports events, to lavish parties -- all paid for by Becky. However, the two had already been seeing each other and were even engaged to be married. "And then staged the scene to look like a burglary?" "I just -- think he was just a great gentleman.". [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. You didn't call 911. 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. "Kitchen knife.". [3] Earlier in the day, Schwartz had engaged in a series of phone calls with Ronald Bruce Bigger. The authorities believed Robert was killed about two days before being found. I turned around and look at him, and his eyes are just bloodshot," said Dyer. And, deVlaming points out, even Stragaj's alibi was shot down by police, who checked his cell phone records. But 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 and discovered her home in disarray. It was updated on July 29.]. When I go grab it, I found dead body," Stragaj replied. The result was one that reportedly pleased the state bar. Katherine later told the police that Clara constantly talked about Robert allegedly poisoning her food, physically abusing her, and how he pulled her underwater in their pool. 'Locations and associated times given by [you] did not match cell phone tower.'". She fired them shortly after the murder. That that's how his DNA got there. [27], According to Bonnie Booth of the American Medical News, the rarity of physician-on-physician crime was the likely reason that the trial drew so much media attention. At one point, Schwartz asked House when he really would kill her father, but he never followed through, he testified. WebThe murder of Robert Schwartz occurred on December 8, 2001, in Leesburg, Virginia. And she said, 'You know why I did it,'" said Stragaj. He discovered a scientist who had been brutally murdered inside. 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. Because the jury could not make a decision on the first-degree murder charge, Schwartz would have been eligible for parole after serving 25 years (in 2029). Katherine was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder, receiving a 1-year jail term. 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