The 48 Hours episode ‘The Strange Life of Dr. Schwartz’ investigates the murder of Dr. Steven Schwartz a wealthy Tampa doctor who was brutally slain (strangled, stabbed many times, shot in the neck and head) in his Florida mansion, which he shared with his second wife Becky Schwartz. In addition to his medical practice, Schwartz, 74, owned a number of rental properties (38 houses). Becky managed both his medical business and his investments worth tens of millions. The couple hired family friend Anton “Leo” Stragaj to help manage the properties they owned. Stragaj was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Stragaj says he was set up and he believes Becky Schwartz is behind her husband’s death. (She faces no charges related to the death of her husband.)
During the murder investigation, a secret of Dr. Schwartz’s was revealed. As a 22-year-old pre-med student dropout in 1961, Schwartz (and others) robbed and killed a dentist, Dr. V.G. Cook in his New Mexico office. Nearly $500 was missing from the office. Schwartz confessed to shooting Cook in the head. He was sentenced to life in prison. After serving ten years in prison, he was granted parole in 1971. In 1977, he was pardoned in New Mexico. Schwartz traveled to Italy to earn his medical degree from the University of Torino. Investigators wonder if the two murders are connected. 48 Hours airs Fridays at 9pm and 10pm on CBS.
