It was a hot May evening in 2014 when Becky Schwartz dialed 911, her voice trembling as she described a "robbery" at her lavish Tarpon Springs mansion. What the police found inside the 8,000-square-foot waterfront estate wasn't just a home in disarray. It was a bloodbath. Her husband, Dr. Steven Schwartz, a well-known kidney specialist, lay dead in the garage. He hadn't just been shot; he’d been beaten, stabbed, and strangled.
The initial look suggested a botched burglary. But as the Becky Schwartz 48 Hours episode titled "The Strange Life of Dr. Schwartz" later revealed, the truth was far messier. It involved a handyman with a secret, a doctor with a criminal past he’d hidden for decades, and a civil verdict in 2025 that finally put a price tag on a family's grief—to the tune of $200 million.
What Really Happened with Becky Schwartz?
Honestly, the case feels like a Hollywood thriller that went off the rails. For years, the criminal justice system focused on Leo Anton Stragaj, the family's handyman and contractor. His DNA was found on the doctor's body. He spent seven years behind bars, eventually pleading guilty to accessory after the fact and getting deported to Albania. But the doctor's children never believed the handyman acted alone.
They looked at Becky.
They saw a woman who, according to court testimony, was embezzling huge sums of money. We're talking about millions. Dr. Robert Patton, Steven’s medical partner, didn't hold back when he spoke to CBS. He basically said Becky was into money "like you and I are into breathing air."
The motive? Pure greed.
The children’s attorney, Wil Florin, argued that Steven had finally caught on to the theft. He’d discovered Becky had used his money to buy a Verizon store in Wisconsin for one of her sons from a previous marriage. He was going to divorce her. In Florida, that meant she would’ve been left with nothing because of their prenuptial agreements.
The Shocking 2025 Civil Verdict
Fast forward to March 2025. While the state attorney’s office hasn't filed criminal charges against her—and she’s always maintained her innocence—a civil court saw things differently. A judge ruled that Becky Schwartz was civilly responsible for her husband’s death.
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The judge awarded the doctor’s three children nearly $200 million.
It’s a staggering number. Even if they only collect a fraction of that, it sends a massive message. The court essentially agreed with the family’s claim that she "unlawfully and intentionally killed, or participated in procuring the death" of the doctor.
The Handyman's Side of the Story
Leo Stragaj wasn't exactly a silent observer. In his jailhouse interview with Peter Van Sant, he dropped a bombshell. He claimed Becky had actually asked him to find a hitman six months before the murder.
He didn't do it, he said.
But on the day of the murder, he says Becky sent him to the house to retrieve a "forgotten purse." When he arrived, he found the body. Why didn't he call the cops? He was an undocumented immigrant and was terrified of being deported.
Instead, he alleges Becky threatened him. She told him he’d lose his income and his life in America if he talked.
The forensic evidence was wild, too. Stragaj claimed that when he found the body, he grabbed the doctor and shook him, trying to see if he was alive. That’s how his DNA got on the shirt. The jury in the civil trial, however, seemed to think the connection between Becky and the handyman was far more sinister than a simple employer-employee relationship.
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Dr. Schwartz’s Own Dark Secret
You can't talk about the Becky Schwartz 48 Hours case without mentioning the doctor’s own past. This is the part that sounds like a total fabrication, but it's 100% real.
In 1961, long before he was a respected Florida physician, Steven Schwartz killed a dentist in New Mexico during a robbery.
He served nine years in prison.
He eventually got his sentence commuted, went to medical school in Italy, and rebuilt his entire life. He never told his children. They found out about their father’s "first life" only after he was murdered. It’s a layer of irony that even the best writers couldn't make up: a man who escaped his past only to meet a similarly violent end decades later.
A Family Divided
The tension between Becky and Steven’s children—Carter, Casey, and Selene—wasn't just about the murder. It was about the "lavish luxury" Becky allegedly draped herself in while the doctor's children felt pushed aside.
Carter Schwartz testified about how Becky had been moving money into accounts he couldn't see. He’d even warned his father. But Steven, apparently still in love or perhaps just tired of the conflict, told his son he’d "take care of it."
He never did.
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A year before his death, he even changed his estate plan to leave everything to Becky. This left his children with nothing, while she allegedly spent the fortune on weddings, cars, and houses for her own sons.
The Case is Still "Open"
Despite the massive civil judgment, Becky Schwartz hasn't been put in handcuffs for this crime. The Pinellas State Attorney has kept the homicide investigation open. They say they need more "sufficient evidence" for a criminal conviction, which has a much higher bar than a civil case.
In a civil trial, you only need a "preponderance of evidence"—meaning it's more likely than not. In a criminal trial, it's "beyond a reasonable doubt."
That gap is where Becky Schwartz currently lives.
She moved to Wisconsin after the murder. She started a new life, even befriending local families who later claimed she "stole" their peace and caused chaos in their relationships. It’s a pattern of behavior that the 48 Hours team followed closely, painting a picture of a woman who leaves a trail of drama wherever she goes.
Next Steps for True Crime Followers:
- Watch the Episode: If you haven't seen "The Strange Life of Dr. Schwartz," find it on Paramount+ or the CBS News app. It's essential for seeing the "Southern charm" Becky used to navigate her social circles.
- Track the Civil Recovery: Keep an eye on local Tampa Bay news for updates on the $200 million payout. Collecting that kind of money from hidden accounts and real estate holdings is a legal marathon that will likely take years.
- Monitor the State Attorney: The criminal case isn't closed. Any new forensic technology or a "deathbed confession" from associates could flip this from a civil dispute into a high-stakes criminal trial at any moment.