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“The Death of Dr. Schwartz”: Dateline Reports On A Tale of Betrayal, Murder & A $200 Million Verdict October 31 2025

Ryan Gill

Dateline NBC’s October 31, 2025 episode, The Death of Dr. Schwartz, uncovers the complex and disturbing murder of a prominent Florida kidney specialist, Dr. Steven Schwartz. Led by correspondent Blayne Alexander, the broadcast explores a multi-layered story of greed, family tensions, and a decades-old secret that eventually unraveled into a violent killing. The episode features exclusive interviews, international leads, and one of the most shocking civil verdicts in recent memory.

A Mysterious Death in Tarpon Springs

Dr. Steven Schwartz was found brutally murdered on May 28, 2014, in his waterfront home in Tarpon Springs, Florida. His wife, Rebecca Schwartz, called 911 that evening, claiming a break-in had occurred. Responding officers discovered Dr. Schwartz’s body in the garage. He had been shot twice in the head, stabbed repeatedly, and appeared to have been strangled with his own necktie.

At first glance, the scene looked like a botched burglary. But inconsistencies began to pile up. There were no signs of forced entry, and nothing of significant value appeared to be missing. The sophisticated security system in the home was missing its hard drive, suggesting intentional tampering. Suspicion quickly shifted from random intruders to people within Dr. Schwartz’s own circle.

The Focus Turns to a Trusted Worker

Investigators began looking into Anton “Leo” Stragaj, a longtime Albanian handyman and contractor who worked closely with the Schwartz family. Stragaj admitted to being at the scene and claimed he discovered the body when Becky asked him to retrieve her forgotten handbag from the house. DNA testing linked him to Dr. Schwartz’s clothing, but Stragaj insisted his DNA was there because he tried to revive the doctor.

What made Stragaj’s story more alarming was his confession that Becky Schwartz had allegedly asked him months earlier to find someone to kill her husband. He claimed she later threatened him into silence and set him up to take the fall. While no physical evidence directly connected Becky to the killing, Stragaj’s version of events added a chilling layer to the investigation.

Secrets, Greed, and a Blended Family in Conflict

Dr. Schwartz and Becky had married in 2012 after years together. Becky brought her two sons into the family, creating tension with Steven’s children from a previous marriage, particularly his son Carter. Family dynamics were strained. Carter believed Becky was manipulating his father for money, sidelining his biological children while enriching her own.

Carter recounted how Becky had complete financial control of Schwartz’s assets and accused her of funneling money into personal accounts. After discovering potential embezzlement, Dr. Schwartz reportedly told Carter he planned to confront her. He never got the chance. That confrontation may have cost him his life.

Adding complexity to the case was a stunning revelation—decades earlier, in 1961, Schwartz had been convicted of killing a dentist during a robbery gone wrong in New Mexico. He served nearly a decade in prison before turning his life around, becoming a respected doctor and philanthropist. Only a few people knew this part of his past, but civil attorneys later speculated that Becky may have used that secret to blackmail him into changing his estate plans.

The Civil Trial and a Stunning Verdict

Despite widespread suspicion, Rebecca Schwartz was never criminally charged. Instead, Dr. Schwartz’s children filed a wrongful death lawsuit. After years of legal wrangling, the case went to trial in Pinellas County. The civil jury found that Rebecca had either killed or helped orchestrate her husband’s murder. The verdict: she owed the Schwartz children $200 million in damages.

Evidence presented during the trial painted a picture of greed and manipulation. Attorneys argued that Becky had embezzled funds from the medical practice and feared losing her luxurious lifestyle if Dr. Schwartz divorced her. She had allegedly spent lavishly on her own children, purchased real estate behind Steven’s back, and even funded a marijuana grow operation with Stragaj.

Though Becky refused to testify substantively in her deposition, citing her constitutional rights, testimony from family members, employees, and Stragaj himself supported the theory that she played a central role in the crime.

The Aftermath: One Guilty Plea, One Open Case

In 2021, Leo Stragaj pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact and was deported to Albania. Prosecutors cited his involvement in removing evidence from the scene, including the security system’s hard drive. Despite his claims that Becky masterminded the murder, no further charges have been filed against her.

Since the killing, Becky Schwartz has attempted to start anew in Wisconsin. She became involved in a new relationship, formed social connections, and even bought luxury items and trips with money inherited after Steven’s death. Friends and acquaintances later testified that she displayed little visible grief and acted erratically, including reportedly wishing harm on a former friend who attempted suicide.

Though Dr. Schwartz’s murder remains officially unsolved, the civil court ruling and the mountain of circumstantial evidence continue to cast a long shadow over Becky’s life.

Conclusion: A Legacy in Conflict

Dr. Steven Schwartz was a man who spent his early years trying to escape a dark past and built a life defined by medical excellence and community service. Yet, he may have died at the hands of those he trusted most. His story, told in gripping detail in Dateline’s The Death of Dr. Schwartz, reveals a tragic convergence of wealth, betrayal, and long-buried secrets.

As the legal battle winds down and Becky Schwartz remains a free woman, the central question remains unanswered: who ultimately pulled the trigger? For Dr. Schwartz’s children, civil justice may offer some solace, but the search for criminal accountability continues.

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