Slain Tarpon Springs Doctor’s ‘Strange Life’ Focus Of ’48 Hours’ Investigation

TARPON SPRINGS, FL — Just what happened inside the Tarpon Springs mansion of prominent nephrologist Dr. Steven Schwarz on May 28, 2014? That’s the question “48 Hours” intends to delve into with Saturday’s release of “The Strange Life of Dr. Schwartz.”

In the “48 Hours” investigative piece, Peter Van Sant looks into the case and its unusual twists and turns. Schwartz, 74, was found dead in his home after his second wife, Rebecca, called 911 to report a robbery.

“When police arrived and began checking out the crime scene, they found Schwartz dead,” CBS said in an email announcing the release of the “48 Hours” investigation. “He’d been shot, stabbed and beaten.”

The subsequent investigation “would uncover a family with strained relationships, competing allegations on what may have happened and a whole secret life that Schwartz had hidden from his offspring,” the email states.

About a year after the murder, Anton Stragaj, a builder who worked on the Schwartz family’s 40 properties was charged in the case. Stragaj faces first-degree murder charges. He has yet to go to trial, Pinellas County court records indicate.

“I didn’t do it,” Stragaj told Van Sant in a jailhouse interview. “I didn’t commit the murder. I was set up.”

Stragaj’s DNA was found on Schwartz’s body, CBS pointed out. “Stragaj admitted seeing Schwartz’s body that day and not calling police. He fled the scene, he says, because he was an immigrant and didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize his record.”

CBS says Stragaj pointed the finger at one of Schwartz’s family members.

Van Sant also delves into a portion of Schwartz’s past that made headlines after his death. In 1961, Schwartz was involved in a robbery in Hobbs, New Mexico, that took a deadly turn. A dentist was shot and killed. Schwartz served nine years in prison following the shooting before his sentence was commuted.

“Did that murder play a role in the doctor’s own demise,” Van Sant asks.

“The Strange Life of Dr. Schwartz” is set to air at 10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11 on CBS.

Anton Stragaj remained in the Pinellas County Jail Friday without bond, according to jail records. A pre-trial hearing in the case has been set for April 20, court records indicate.

Photo of Steven and Rebecca Schwartz courtesy of “48 Hours”