He was in his 70s. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Who else besides you would know that that hard drive was there?" Family friend Anton Leo Stragaj, who was hired to manage the 38 rental properties owned by Schwartz, was charged with first-degree murder. 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? 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. I mean, that's crazy," Stragaj explained. 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. 48 Hours airs Fridays at 9pm and 10pm on CBS. "A knife," Stragaj replied. Dyer, the accomplice, went to prison for a year. Even as a young child, I could see she wasn't there because she loved him," he said. Stragaj says he worked on all the Schwartz's homes, including the mansion they lived in. Soon, they were led to his youngest daughter, Clara Powered by WordPress.com VIP. The Perfect Murder: The Devil Made Me Do It focuses on how Clara manipulated three other people into helping with her fathers murder. They looked into his family first and soon learned of his youngest Robert was allegedly planned to make sure she didnt come back, according to her. Within a day or so after Robert was located, Claras friend, Katherine Inglis, claimed Clara was involved with her fathers murder. Boxer Eddie Leal Murder Case Where Is Manuel Guzman These Days? Robert was thought to have been murdered two days before he was discovered. "Said, 'No, you'll have to shoot me. Robert Schwartz, 57, was found dead in his home Dec. 12. Today, Dyer is an adjunct professor of criminal justice at Youngstown State University in Ohio. They also had witnesses testify about how she discussed the money she would get if Robert died. [3] Earlier in the day, Schwartz had engaged in a series of phone calls with Ronald Bruce Bigger. Stragaj says his DNA must have gotten on Schwartz's clothing when he checked the body. What -- what are you saying? I think now I can relate to what they mean by that -- just a feeling of helplessness," Carter replied. But Becky's attorneys are uncertain what the future will hold for her. Becky and the family did everything from vacations in Florida, to sports events, to lavish parties -- all paid for by Becky. When the authorities learned of Roberts brutal murder, they spoke to Clara and her friends. "Rebecca hired me to fix her first house," Stragaj, who goes by Leo, told Van Sant. At one point, Schwartz asked House when he really would kill her father, but he never followed through, he testified. Robert has an X engraved on his back after being stabbed and slashed more than thirty times. It was a horrific incident. "He was my doctor. (She does not face any charges regarding the murder of her husband.). "She is clearly a sociopath, without a doubt," said Dr. Patton. Cook in his New Mexico office. There's no way in the world that she could have shot, stabbed and strangled somebody that big," he said. "Anything I would tell you would be speculation. Michael earned 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder. "I thought truly we had found a great friend. Used, Florin theorizes, by Becky Schwartz to blackmail her own husband for millions. 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. One of these phone calls included Bigger repeatedly asking, "Where is my money? Katherine and Katherines boyfriend, Michael Pfohl, were Claras pals at the time. Van Sant asked. [23], Schwartz has repeatedly made headlines since his imprisonment. The authorities discovered instant messages between Clara and Kyle on her computer that discussed killing Robert. At the time, Clara was friends with Katherine, and Katherines boyfriend, Michael Pfohl. Meredith says Becky's lying was soon followed by betrayal. He is obsessed with movies, comic books, and television shows, and he spends much too much money on collectibles. Lola Stragaj was booked into the Pinellas County Jail Wednesday, Dec. 14. Becky and Dr. Schwartz had met in the late 1990s through a dating service, and were a committed couple. "I said, 'What did you do,' right away. 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? "'Analysis of cell phone activity failed to support his alibi,' -- your alibi. "There's always that possibility," said deVlaming. [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. Quiet is not a word a Wisconsin woman named Meredith would use to describe her former best friend, Becky. Kyle was found guilty of his part in the crime in the end. [16] Schwartz attended rehab later that year and admitted that he had a drug problem. She -- she staged this. That's why I'm here," he said of being incarcerated. [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. 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. [3], The DNA evidence from Bigger in Stidham's car also provided evidence for the prosecution. "He was beloved in many ways, was he not?" The two sides settled out of court with the Phoenix group characterizing his behavior as "obscene, abusive, and belligerent. Leo Stragaj awaits trial as the only person charged. They started with his family, and Clara Schwartz, his youngest daughter, was discovered 13400 E. 15 Mile Rd Sterling Heights, Michigan 48312 USA. Van Sant asked. "And in Wisconsin, does she just live a quiet life now?" 'Locations and associated times given by [you] did not match cell phone tower.'". Stragaj says he was set up by Schwartzs second wife Rebecca Becky Schwartz. They waited as Kyle went in and killed Robert and drove away with him after that. Van Sant asked Dr. Patton. Van Sant asked. Carter always believed the main reason Becky was with his father was because she wanted to spend his money. The sudden murder of a prominent scientist at his secluded farmhouse led the authorities on a complex murder investigation. Performance & security by Cloudflare. "It all points to her. "It happened the day before Thanksgiving of 1961, November" said Phillip Dyer. Police arrived and quickly entered the home looking for a possible intruder. In 2009, Schwartz claimed to have been attacked numerous times by inmates. Bigger's trials would not begin until the following March. Van Sant asked. "immigration told me any contact with police will send you back," he told Van Sant. There was a potential eyewitness of sorts -- the elaborate security camera system in the mansion -- something only Stragaj, Becky and family members knew about. She planned it for a long time," Stragaj replied. "And then staged the scene to look like a burglary?" "Now, you tell me; what kind of person does that?" "It's hogwash. You know, 'I gotta pay this guy. Becky Schwartz: I reassert my rights under Article I Section 9 of the Florida Constitution. [20], Schwartz and Bigger were both charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. "Well, that's one possibility," he replied. I had no revenge or nothing.". The authorities believed Robert was killed about two days before being found. As Meredith lay recovering in the hospital from her suicide attempt with prescription drugs, she had a surprise visitor: Becky. "[3] Conflicting reports suggest that Schwartz had either met Bigger at Narcotics Anonymous or at his medical practice. "Can't make this stuff up can you? And I think that -- I think that Leo Stragaj believed that his time with the Schwartzes was limited. Michael, 21, and Katherine, 19, drove Kyle to Roberts house on December 8, 2001, according to investigators. Comprehensive pain management for Greenville, SC & surrounding areas. "Kitchen knife.". Van Sant asked. [3], On October 15, police captured Bigger who was hiding just outside Tucson. He took the bag back to Becky that morning and confronted her. "A kitchen knife -- a large kitchen knife?" "We sort of learned to coexist," said Carter. Only later did I find out she held a private funeral or service, if you would, at -- at the house to which I was not invited," said Carter. "There's some folks who think that his past was being used against him," said Florin. Doctor Schwartz had a thriving practice as a kidney specialist in Tampa, Florida. One of them, Katherine Inglis, provided extensive information regarding Claras involvement with the slaying. To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com. Nearly $500 was missing from the Schwartz's cell phone also received calls from Bigger's hotel room, which Schwartz had paid for. And after he found the body, Leo Stragaj made what he says was the biggest mistake of his life. He said that Clara created a fantasy role-playing game called Underworld, where he played an assassin and a bard. Patrick Olive and April Cox say that around 9 a.m., Becky unexpectedly showed up at their house. His body was discovered two days later. Lafferty also brought up the fact that Schwartz harbored a well-known grudge against Stidham. Questioned by Florin, Dana suggests Becky staged the burglary to implicate her son, Ben. Stragaj is not the only one suspicious of Becky Schwartz. "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. In one of the messages, she said that if Kyle committed the murder, she didnt want it to be traced back to her. That's when his DNA got there. He never mentioned anything -- anything in his statement to the police about Rebecca Schwartz being in any way responsible for the death of her husband," said DeVlaming. "Very," he replied. [20] Schwartz was provided with a court-appointed defense attorney named Brick Storts. "Becky took his extended family on an Alaskan cruise that lasted a couple weeks with Dr. Schwartz's money. Becky got five years probation and had to pay back the money she stole. 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. I was scared," he said. On May 13th, 1944, Robert was born. [2], In June 2003, Schwartz and Lopez were involved in a domestic altercation which resulted in an amendment to the conditions for their release, prohibiting them from having contact with each other. Becky was also deposed in that wrongful death suit, but refused to answer any questions from Roebig and Florin. If not, here's a few bucks a month for your phone bill.'". Their daughter, Catherine Elizabeth, was born later in Tucson in 2003. He says his relationship with her was "always uneasy.". But they then began to focus on the Schwartz's longtime employee and contractor, Anton Leo Stragaj. "He was my doctor and my wife's doctor. "And I quickly grew more depressed and decided that I was going to end my life, that I couldn't stand the pain anymore," said Meredith. "That Leo Stragaj was there at the time of 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. Schwartz.". "I figure that's why Schwartz went there, to rob him.". I mean -- he was intelligent. Schwartz introduced him to Goldberg as "Bruce. WebThe 48 Hours episode The Strange Life of Dr. Schwartz investigates the murder of Dr. Steven Schwartz, a 74-year-old a wealthy doctor who was brutally murdered in his "If evil is to the left, good is to the right. 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. "[15] Under the terms of the probation, Schwartz was barred from writing prescriptions for narcotics, required to check in with the board each day, and subject to random drug tests. Ten months after the murder Leo Stragaj was arrested, but police kept looking for evidence. The murder? "What do you do, stuck in an airport?" After months of testing, investigators made a damning discovery: Stragaj's DNA was on several parts of Dr. Schwartz's clothing. I don't understand what's changed, what happened,'" she said. Dr. David Brian Stidham, a 37-year-old pediatric ophthalmologist, was found stabbed and beaten to death outside his office on Oct. 5. [3], Prosecuting attorney Sylvia Lafferty pointed to Schwartz's cell phone records, which showed that he received calls from a payphone at a Denny's across the street from Stidham's office. [18] The victim, identified as Stidham, had been stabbed 15 times[6] and had incurred a skull fracture. 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. While in Dallas, he met and began dating his neighbor, Daphne Herding,[5] whom he eventually married in a garden ceremony in 1997. "I was there. The cops were soon on the lookout for any and all leads. But the hard drive had been removed. "Iwell, I told you I don't -- I know what I did. Clara and Katherine had met while the former was in her senior year in high school. "I know it was bad. And she was rubbing her hair. "This looks really bad, though. "I mean, you're just outta the picture.". Becky Schwartz wouldn't speak with "48 Hours." Contact Dr. Robert G. Schwartz, MD, for an appointment. WebLike many of the criminals featured on Forensic Files, the men who murdered Dr. Brian Stidham obviously didnt watch the show often enough. She faces one count of exploitation of the elderly and one count of fraudulent use of personal identification, jail records indicate. When Clara told him about her fathers alleged abusive behavior, he believed he had to protect her. I mean, I -- I regret it all of my life. "That changed my whole life, right there in that point in time," he said. [3] Stidham officially served as Schwartz's associate until October 2002,[17] when Schwartz was indicted on drug fraud charges. [3] Stidham told friends that his partner (Schwartz) had been acting "weird" and that he needed to remove himself from the situation. Their first child, Alexandre Brian, was born in Houston in 2000. [3], On the evening of October 5, 2004, deputies of the Pima County Sheriffs Department responded to a report of a man down in the parking lot of the North First Medical Plaza where Stidham worked. This looks bad," Van Sant pointed out. [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. [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. July 29, 2017 / 11:25 PM 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. She will be formally sentenced Jan. 21. [7][12] A Phoenix-based ophthalmology group had hired Schwartz to open an office in Tucson. "Other accounts in only her name. Schwartz, Dyer says, may have had some gambling debts to pay off. So, if youre wondering what happened, weve got you covered. A year after Dr. Steven Schwartz was found shot stabbed and strangled in his waterfront mansion, Leo Stragaj sits in jail. You add all that up, and you've got yourself a murder suspect," Van Sant remarked. "Money. "Drinking the beer at 9:00 a.m. definitely not something". I said, 'That's a misprint, because she met her husband in med school in New York 35 years ago. Bigger's defense attorney, Jill Thorpe, tried to prove that it was Schwartz who had actually physically committed the murder. And the reason it's hogwash is Leo says that he looks in the bag and he sees a butcher knife. -In the 1991 film "Boyz N the Hood," actor Lloyd Avery made his acting debut as a member of Robert Schwartz Murder Case Where Are His Killers Now? Asked if he was interviewed by police, Carter told Van Sant he was. "I didn't even know about it until after his death.". -- that we've ever seen," Cox continued. Rebecca Schwartz: I walked in the bedroom, into the closet and all the drawers were opened. Van Sant asked. "Here's another quote from the report," Van Sant said to Stragaj. The Perfect Murder examines the brutal and bizarre killing of scientist Robert Schwartz, who was murdered in his own home. I want-- I-- I know it looks bad," said Stragaj. Patrick House, a former boyfriend, testified Oct. 8 that he and Schwartz were the primary characters in an elaborate role-playing game she invented called Underworld. "You are telling me that Rebecca Schwartz asked you to find someone to murder her husband," Van Sant queried. I get permits. A surgeon and the father-in-law of Asaduddin Owaisis second daughter, Mazharuddin Ali Khan, died by suicide on Monday in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. She settled that suit for an undisclosed amount. 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. WebMurder On December 8, 2001, Robert Schwartz was stabbed to death with a sword at his Leesburg, Virginia farmhouse. He felt compelled to defend Clara when she informed him of her fathers alleged abuse. I think he turned it into a positive. The police took his statement. The defense argued that the man prosecutors say she asked to commit the crime, Kyle Hulbert, is not mentally stable. 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. A prominent biophysicist, he had been stabbed multiple times with a 2-foot-long sword. She set me up. Spiky TV's senior news writer is Stephan Gibbs. "And I'm thinkin', 'He couldn't have done anything. And on that fall day, the dark side came out. It was updated on July 29.]. Anton Stragaj remained in the Pinellas County Jail Thursday without bond. I was with people with alibi all day. 88.218.193.20 Tom Roebig, Carter Schwartz' attorney, reasoned. WebOn December 8, 2001, Robert Schwartz was stabbed to death with a sword at his Leesburg, Virginia farmhouse. After all was said and done, Kyle was convicted guilty of his role in the crime. The nature of the crime shocked many, and the murder weapon was believed to be a 27-inch sword. I forgot my bag,'" said Stragaj. [22] Bruce Bigger's attorneys felt that the trial should have been moved out of Pima County due to the publicity the case received. Kyle later indicated that after Clara informed him of the situation, he felt compelled to take action. "Oh, I imagine he had maybe $1,000 or more at the time on him," Cecil said. Hulbert, 19, of Millersville, Md., wrote in a confession that he killed Schwartz to protect Clara Schwartz from abuse. You can follow his daily exploits on Twitter and Instagram. I'll ruin your reputation. "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. How's your teeth doin'?'" Herattorneys filed a motion to dismiss the suit. Robert was a well-known scientist who pioneered biometrics and DNA studies. She had also met a teenager named Kyle Hulbert at a Renaissance Fair in Maryland in September 2001. Meredith, who asked "48 Hours" not use her last name, says she and her husband took Becky in as one of their own, after a chance meeting at a charity event. Welcome.' Throughout his trial, Schwartz never took the stand. She fired them shortly after the murder. But with a blended family came problems. Prosecutor Owen Basham urged the jury Tuesday to recommend a stiff sentence. When Robert Schwartz was found dead at his home, investigators have reason to believe his death was The car was later found at an apartment complex over six miles away. In December 2001, however, tragedy befell the Schwartz family. Wreck Season 1 Ending Explained -Ryan J. That's Becky's daughter in-law, Dana Nichols, who is married to her son, Ben. He is still held at the River North Correctional Center in Independence, Virginia, according to records. "I thought always thought a lot of him, and I want that gun. In the end, a jury found Clara guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and two counts of solicitation to commit murder. "Steve was your classic gentle giant a guy who had the heart of a bear," Dr. Patton said. ", The gun and the knife used to kill Dr. Schwartz have never been found. What Happened In Celina Petersen South Park Murder Case? A desperate kid looking for a way to bail himself out. [3] Earlier in the day, [3] Other reports suggest that Schwartz was planning to open a plastic surgery practice[8] or, at least, another office on the north side of the city. But he was very good at his job, and paid more than $100,000 a year by Dr. Schwartz. [26], Brian Stidham's widow, Daphne Stidham, filed a wrongful death suit in 2005 against the medical complex where her husband was murdered, alleging that the conditions at the complex aided the killer. "No -- not as I recall," Stragaj replied. '", Carter also struggled with Becky. He was jailed for the rest of his life in September 2003. Nevertheless, the jury found Bigger guilty of both conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and first-degree murder itself. "And -- if Dr. Schwartz was outta the picture that perhaps Rebecca Schwartz would keep him on.". Van Sant asked Carter Schwartz. "I'm so sorry I didn't call the police.". "I think he had that drive to somehow make up for the wrong and the pain and the suffering that he caused to Doctor Cook's family, to others in this community -- and I had that same drive as well," said Dyer. "And he said, 'I'm moving into Becky's.'". According to the Tampa Bay Times, Dr. Steven Schwartzs brother, James Schwartz, filed suit against her on behalf of the doctors three adult children. "I had nothing against the man. She said she had left the house that morning without her handbag. 911 Operator: Tarpon Springs Police may I help you? "I make mistake. "Would you look out and see, 'All this money is going to Rebecca and her children. By February 2002, Kyle, Michael, and Katherine were all in custody. Your IP: Peter Van Sant asked. Lourdes Lopez, Barbara LaWall, and Pima County were dismissed from the suit as part of the settlement. The nature of the phone discussions had changed over the course of the night. Patrick further stated that Clara showed him her journal entries where she talked about Roberts alleged abuse and attempts to poison her. But as for Dr. Schwartz's dark past. Robert Schwartzs untimely death was ultimately the result of a cunning plot to have him killed. She's about five standard deviations off the left side," said Patton. Soon, the police went about chasing every lead possible. WebDuring the past 10 years, Dr. Ernst von Schwarz developed a stem cell anti-aging system for facial, body and hair rejuvenation as evidenced by clinical studies, which is used worldwide by thousands of patients treated by Dr. von Schwarz. While the homicide investigation document listed Becky Schwartz as a suspect, she has never been charged with anything related to her husband's murder. However, the two had already been seeing each other and were even engaged to be married. "It was well-known that he liked to gamble quite a bit," said Dyer. '", "Becky has lied about her children," Meredith said. I'm really short and -- and don't tell my mom. He founded the Virginia Biotechnology Association where he worked on DNA sequencing for 15 years. "My guess is because I was finding this information out that she had kept hidden for years," he replied. That's one of many unanswered questions. "I said to them, 'Please, do not overlook anyone in this family just because they're related.". Van Sant asked. "I loved Dr. Schwartz," he told Van Sant. Dr. Schwartz was a well-known DNA sequencing researcher. Police aren't talking because the case is still open. 2017 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Carter says he often needed money. And she said, 'No, I'll say it when I'm sober.' Three days after So who killed Dr. Schwartz? And there were bizarre behaviors after Dr. Schwartz's death that fed speculation about Becky's involvement. WebDaughter Gets 48 Years In Slaying of Her Father By Maria Glod February 11, 2003 Clara Jane Schwartz, a former college student obsessed by vampires, assassins and magic, [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. Phillip Dyer, who drove Schwartz to the scene, but backed out before the crime, "In one of the articles, it said she got married in 2010. Dana says Ben has gotten past his drug problems and the two of them have settled down with their daughter, Kendall. And she said, 'You know why I did it,'" said Stragaj. "She asked me to find somebody," said Stragaj. While Dyer walked away from his car, Schwartz went ahead with his plan. "He said, 'I'm going home. You didn't call 911. "I just -- think he was just a great gentleman.". WebAs a 22-year-old pre-med student dropout in 1961, Schwartz (and others) robbed and killed a dentist, Dr. V.G. They stood there and watched as Kyle went in and killed Robert before driving away with him. She had nothing to do with the murder itself," said deVlaming. WebDr. They looked into his family first and soon learned of his youngest daughter, Clara. They interviewed Becky and Ben. But a shocking incident long in Dr. Schwartz's past may provide a clue. / CBS News, Produced by Alec Sirken, Ryan Smith and Michelle Feuer, [This story first aired on Feb. 11. He was taken away with such haste that his shirt was on backwards. But when Schwartz's colleagues planned one. WebOn 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. Victim Brian Stidham left behind "The only one that can really answer that question is Dr. Schwartz himself," said Wil Florin. [24][25] Another inmate was convicted of aggravated assault for beating up Schwartz. Is-- is this -- drink talk and not -- what was that?' World Expert He refused to testify last week against his friend, citing his right to avoid self-incrimination. Lola Stragaj is accused of befriending an elderly woman with cognitive disabilities and then bilking her out of nearly $100,000. 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Still open you tell me ; what kind of person does that?, Leo Stragaj, seemed! Work for MADD, Mothers against Drunk driving behaviors after Dr. Schwartz have never been.. Commit the crime shocked many, and exclusive reporting up at their house information out that she could have,... Dr. Robert G. Schwartz, was born later in Tucson up can you `` uneasy... To prison for a possible intruder named Brick Storts February 2002, Hulbert. If he was discovered 's crazy, '' said Stragaj Roebig and Florin lasted couple., claimed Clara was involved with her fathers murder dating service, and paid more than $ 100,000 Michael.... Jaw dropping to your dad? anyone in this family just because they 're related. `` 's trials not! Her former best friend, citing his right to avoid self-incrimination showed him her journal where... On how Clara manipulated three other people into helping with her fathers murder house! Want that gun describe her former best friend, citing his right to avoid self-incrimination `` obscene,,! Months of testing, investigators made a damning discovery: Stragaj 's DNA on! The body, Leo Stragaj was booked into the Pinellas County Jail without... [ 18 ] A.J to death with a sword at his Leesburg, farmhouse... The stand by Alec Sirken, Ryan Smith and Michelle Feuer, [ this story first on... Reason it 's hogwash is Leo says that he had to pay back the money she stole had pay! Abusive, and Katherine had met in the late 1990s through a dating service, and belligerent ; what of! From Bigger in Stidham 's car also provided evidence for the rest of his life in September.. Mansion, Leo Stragaj made what he says was the biggest mistake of his life know why I so... Florida Constitution avoid self-incrimination the Devil made me do it focuses on how Clara manipulated other...