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Who Is Anton “Leo” Stragaj & Where Is He Now? 2025 Update & Background

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Anton “Leo” Stragaj was once a trusted figure in the life of Dr. Steven Schwartz. An Albanian immigrant working in the Tampa Bay area, Stragaj made his living as a contractor and handyman. He worked extensively for the Schwartz family for several years, developing a close professional and personal relationship with both Dr. Schwartz and his wife, Rebecca. He was known for handling renovations, property maintenance, and permitting across several of the couple’s properties, reportedly earning over $100,000 annually.

Dr. Schwartz, who had served as both Leo’s physician and friend, often went out of his way to support him. Rebecca Schwartz, too, appeared to be close to Stragaj, reportedly referring to him as her “son” at one point. But in 2014, that relationship took a sinister turn.

On May 28, 2014, Dr. Schwartz was found shot, stabbed, and strangled in the garage of his Tarpon Springs mansion. Police initially suspected a burglary gone wrong, but it soon became clear that the crime scene was staged. No valuables were missing, and the home’s security system hard drive had been removed. A year later, Stragaj’s DNA was discovered on the victim’s clothing, leading to his arrest.

Arrest, Claims of Innocence, and a Plea Deal

Stragaj was arrested in April 2015 and charged with first-degree murder. He was held without bond as prosecutors began building a case around the forensic evidence and inconsistencies in his story. Stragaj admitted to being in the house that day but claimed he found the body after being sent by Rebecca to retrieve her purse.

In multiple interviews and later media appearances, Stragaj denied killing Dr. Schwartz. He instead accused Rebecca Schwartz of orchestrating the murder and setting him up. According to his version, she had asked him months earlier to find someone to kill her husband and threatened him after the crime to stay silent. He admitted that his biggest mistake was not calling the police upon discovering the body—something he attributed to fear of deportation, as he was living in the U.S. without legal status.

In 2021, Stragaj accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to one count of accessory after the fact to murder. He served a prison sentence in Florida before being deported to Albania, where he now resides. Authorities never charged Rebecca Schwartz criminally, but she was later found civilly liable for Dr. Schwartz’s death and ordered to pay $200 million to his children in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Where Is Leo Stragaj Now?

Since his deportation, Anton “Leo” Stragaj has remained in Albania. He gave interviews from there, including a major appearance on Dateline NBC, continuing to maintain his innocence and asserting that Rebecca Schwartz was behind the killing. He has not been charged with the murder itself, only with his actions following the crime.

Stragaj’s current whereabouts are known only in broad terms—he is believed to be living in his home country and has kept a low profile since his release and deportation. No official charges beyond his accessory plea have been brought, and U.S. authorities have indicated that the case remains open.

As of now, Stragaj remains the only person ever convicted in connection with Dr. Steven Schwartz’s death. His story continues to be one of contradiction and controversy—central to a murder that remains, in many ways, unresolved.

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Ryan Gill

Ryan is a passionate follower of true crime television programs, reporting on and providing in-depth investigations on mysteries in the criminal world.

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