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Date line revisits the 2014 murder of Florida kidney doctor Steven Schwartz in an episode titled The Death of Dr. Schwartz. The show focuses on the reported burglary call, the discovery inside the Tarpon Springs home and the long road that followed.
The episode tracks how the case went from an apparent robbery to a homicide investigation, with questions about motive and money. It also notes the activity behind the room and explains how viewers can watch the episode.
Case background for Date: The death of Dr. Schwartz
Steven Schwartz74 years old, he was a well-known nephrologist who lived on the Gulf Coast. One night at the end of May 2014, his wife reported a burglary at their home. The police entered and found the doctor dead. Investigators later documented gunshot and other injuries. From that point on, the focus shifted from property crimes to murder.
Detectives reviewed the scene, cell recordsand movement in and out of the residence. A longtime contractor entered the picture. Civil litigation came years later, alleging embezzlement and a financial motive.
A jury in 2025 found his widow, Rebecca Schwartz, liable in a wrongful-death lawsuit and set damages at $200 million, according to FOX 13 Tampa Bay. No criminal charges have been filed against her.
The handyman, Anton Leo Stragaj, pleaded guilty to complicity after the fact and was deported to Albania after his release. These steps form the backbone of the timeline below and frame what Date line put in the air
Chronology of events for Date: The death of Dr. Schwartz
May 28, 2014: Discovery at Tarpon Springs home
That night, a 911 call reported a burglary. Officers arrived and found Steven Schwartz dead inside the residence. Initial calls about a break-in gave way to a murder scene. The doctor had been shot. There have also been reports of stabbing and strangulation injuries. The articles in the rooms seemed to be shuffled.
What appeared to be a robbery may have been staged, investigators later suggested. No one was charged with murder. Allegations of motive and planning surfaced in subsequent court filings and interviews.
April 2015 to 2022: DNA collection, arrest, declaration and deportation
About a year after the murder, police held a forensic evidence briefing. DNA from the clothing linked the scene to the family's contractor, Anton Leo Stragaj. An arrest followed. Years later, he pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact. He reportedly admitted to the actions after the murder, but denied committing the murder. He was convicted and deported to Albania after his release.
Much of the public record from this phase includes lab results, phone data that doesn't match an alibi, and steps taken to remove it. vigilance storage Claims about who planned the crime continued to be disputed and described as allegedly said or done by the people involved.
March 2025: cbad verdict and damages
A Pinellas County jury heard a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the doctor's children. The court found the widow liable in civil court and awarded two hundred million dollars. The sentence described her as having unlawfully and intentionally killed, or participated in causing the death of Steven Schwartz.
According to FOX 13 Tampa Bay, the family's attorney argued a money motive and described transactions prior to the murder. The defendant has not been criminally charged. At the time of this report, the prosecutor's office stated that the criminal case remained open.
NBC schedules Date: The death of Dr. Schwartz for 21:00 on October 31. Blayne Alexander reports on the episode. The episode features interviews with family members, investigators, legal experts and the Albanian contractor. Expect the show to retrace the 2014 scene, the DNA lead, the plea and the civil verdict. Claims about motive and planning are described as witnesses or lawyers.
Date line also broadcast on fuboTV, NBC, Peacock Premium and Peacock Premium Plus. Some episodes of Dateline are available to watch for free on Spectrum On Demand.
Read also: Is there a new episode of Dateline this week (October 31, 2025)? explained
Edited by Preethika Vijayakumar
