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On May 28, 2014, in the quiet waterfront community of Tarpon Springs, Florida, a discovery was made. Dr. Steven Schwartz, a 73-year-old, gentle, and top-notch kidney specialist, died in his mansion. The scene depicted a violent robbery: drawers pulled out, items scattered, and a pool of blood with Steven Schwartz's body strangled, shot, and stabbed.However, nothing of value had been taken, and the home's security system had been tampered with. The brutal killing exposed family tensions, financial disputes, and one long-buried secret from Steven Schwartz's youth: a 1961 murder conviction he had kept hidden for decades.As investigations focused on those closest to him, including his wife, Rebecca Schwartz, and handyman Anton Stragaj, the case evolved into a web of allegations without a criminal conviction. NBC's Dateline revisited the case on October 31, 2025, in a special titled The Death of Dr. Schwartz, which aired on NBC and was streamed on Peacock the following day.Dateline: The life and hidden past of Dr. Steven SchwartzDateline: The Death of Dr. Schwartz (Image via Unsplash/ @ Scott Rodgerson)As a nephrologist with a focus on kidney care, Dr. Steven Schwartz established a reputable practice in Tampa, Florida. He was born in 1940 and struggled through his early years to earn his medical degree in Italy. He then went on to build a successful practice that treated many patients.According to his coworkers, he was a gentle giant, devoted, and compassionate, with an estimated net worth of $20 to $30 million from his rental properties and employment. He led a peaceful life centered on family and medicine in his large waterfront home in Tarpon Springs. Steven Schwartz's journey wasn't always easy, as per CBS News.In 1961, at the age of 21, in Hobbs, New Mexico, he was confronted with a crime that changed his life. Dr. Victor Cook was shot dead after he was robbed by Schwartz and a friend who were deeply in debt from gambling. Schwartz was convicted of murder and imprisoned for nine years before his sentence was reduced. He rebuilt his life after being pardoned and paroled, going to college and studying medicine overseas. Even the majority of his family members were unaware of this chapter for more than 50 years. After Schwartz passed away, his son, Carter, found out about his past. Schwartz married twice in his later years before using a dating service to meet Rebecca Zalvidar in the late 1990s, according to CBS News.In 2012, they married, combining families: Becky brought two sons, Ben and Eric, from previous marriages, while Schwartz had four adult children. Becky oversaw his finances and office, but tensions in the family grew. Carter observed unfair treatment, as his siblings received less assistance, while Becky gave her sons extravagant presents, such as homes and cars.After losing her young son in a car accident in the 1990s, Becky was convicted of a felony for embezzling more than $12,000 from Mothers Against Drunk Driving. As Schwartz approached retirement, these dynamics created the conditions for more serious disputes, as CBS reported.Also Read: Dr. Steven Schwartz murder case on Dateline- A complete timeline of eventsThe night of the murder and initial responseSteven Schwartz's body found in a closet (Image via Unsplash/ @ JOSHUA COLEMAN)On May 28, 2014, Becky Schwartz returned to their Tarpon Springs mansion from work around 7 pm. Shortly afterward, she called 911 to report a possible burglary: the house appeared to be ransacked, with drawers open and papers scattered. Responding officers entered the master bedroom and found Steven Schwartz's body in the closet, partially clothed, surrounded by blood.The subsequent autopsy showed that Seven Schwartz had been strangled with an electrical cord, shot once in the chest, and stabbed multiple times. The gun or knife used was never found, and the brutality of the attack showed personal rage rather than a quick theft, according to CBS News.That scene set off some immediate red flags: nothing had been taken, including jewelry and cash, a clear indication of staging. Advanced security cameras in the home, which only a select few knew how to access, had their hard drives removed, erasing the footage. Becky had told police she left for work that morning and came home to chaos.Meanwhile, Carter Schwartz was on a business trip in Japan when he received the news upon landing and hurried back home. He asked investigators to investigate family members due to ongoing tensions. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office had labeled it a homicide since the very beginning. Early interviews centered on Becky and her son Ben, in light of his history of drug use and the prior theft from the home in 2011, according to CBS News.Later, DNA evidence revealed that an unknown male had been on Steven Schwartz's clothing. Becky's calm demeanor post-discovery, even drinking beer early the next morning, quietly raised some eyebrows among close family friends. The murder had shattered the Schwartz household, leaving questions of trust and motive hanging over the investigation.Also Read: Cliff Lambert's disappearance case on Dateline: A detailed case overviewKey suspects and emerging evidenceSteven Schwartz was stabbed multiple times (Image via Unsplash/ @ Louis Reed)As the investigation progressed, attention turned to those with close access to the home. Becky Schwartz became a person of interest due to financial changes in Schwartz's estate a year earlier, which named her sole heir and excluded his children. Witnesses reported she may have used knowledge of his 1961 conviction to pressure him for assets, threatening to expose it and harm his reputation.Her medical partner, Dr. Robert Patton, described her focus on money as intense. Becky invoked her Fifth Amendment rights in later depositions, declining to answer questions. Anton Stragaj, the family's Albanian-born handyman, earned over $100,000 annually for property maintenance. His DNA matched samples on Steven Schwartz's shirt, pants, and underwear, leading to his arrest in March 2015 on first-degree murder charges, as per CBS News.Stragaj admitted visiting the home that evening but claimed he arrived to fetch Becky's forgotten handbag, found the body, and fled, fearing deportation as an undocumented worker. Cell records contradicted his timeline. He alleged Becky orchestrated the killing, asking him months before to find a hitman and later confessing to him while threatening exposure of his status.Ben Schwartz, Becky's older son, faced brief suspicion over his dependency and past issues, but no charges followed. Stragaj also claimed Ben overheard plots against Carter. Despite the evidence, no one, except Stragaj, faced criminal charges, leaving the core mystery intact. The case highlighted how personal ties can complicate forensic leads, according to CBS News.Also Read: Dateline season 34 episode 5: What happened in the Dan Merkel murder caseLegal outcomes and the search for closureLeo Stragaj was sentenced to 8 years in prison (Image via Unsplash/ @ Tingey Injury Law Firm)Stragaj's criminal case came to an end in August 2021 when he entered a guilty plea to accessory after the fact and was sentenced to eight years in prison before being deported to Albania. He maintained he did not commit the murder, pointing to Becky. Becky is still listed as a person of interest in the homicide investigation, which has not resulted in any additional arrests.In March 2025, Steven Schwartz's children pursued civil justice through a wrongful death lawsuit against Becky and Stragaj, alleging conspiracy for financial gain.A Pinellas County jury found Becky knowingly procured the murder, ordering her to pay nearly $200 million, mostly punitive damages to the heirs. The symbolic award acknowledged the estate's redirection, although Becky's assets were limited after selling the practice, as reported by the Tampa Bay Times.She appealed without success and denied involvement through attorneys, calling the suit driven by greed. Today, Becky lives in Winneconne, Wisconsin, near her son Eric, who has remarried and is keeping a low profile. Carter continues advocating for accountability.Watch the episode available on Dateline.Also Read: The true story behind Heidy Truman's mysterious death ahead of DatelineDateline: Secrets Uncovered - 5 key details about Cathy Torrez's caseWhat happened to Joy Hibbs? Details explored ahead of Dateline: Unforgettable
