Shivangi Sinha
In May 2014, Carter Schwartz learned that his father, Dr. Steven Schwartz, had been brutally murdered at his home in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Initially, he believed the case would be quickly resolved and justice would be served, but that didn’t happen. In the years that followed, no one was ever charged with murder. Seeking answers, Carter and his siblings filed a civil lawsuit against their stepmother, Rebecca Schwartz. In NBC’s ‘Dateline: The Death of Dr. Schwartz,’ Carter discussed his suspicions and who he believed was truly responsible for his father’s death.
Carter Schwartz Alleged that His Father Was Killed For Financial Motives
Carter Schwartz and his siblings, Kelly May and Casey Schwartz, shared a close relationship with their father, Dr. Steven Schwartz. They described him as a loving and devoted parent, and for Carter, he was a role model. After their parents separated, he and his siblings lived with his father and allegedly noticed a change in their family dynamic when Rebecca Schwartz, whom Steven had dated for years and married in 2012, moved into their home with her two sons, Ben and Eric. Carter alleged that Ben struggled with drug dependency and often asked him for money. He also alleged that Rebecca’s relationship with his father was financially motivated and that she used his father’s money to fund a lavish lifestyle for herself and her sons.
Carter was returning home from a trip to Japan when he learned that his father’s remains had been found on May 28, 2014, at the family home. He said the first person he contacted was his uncle, James Schwartz, before speaking with the police. During questioning, Carter immediately urged investigators to examine their own family closely. He later shared that he had long been suspicious of Rebecca’s possible involvement in his father’s death. According to him, a year before the murder, Steven had revised his will to leave his entire estate to Rebecca, excluding his children. Carter also alleged that Rebecca had been transferring money from their joint accounts into ones held solely in her name.
Carter added that after he told his father about Rebecca’s alleged financial activities, Steven supposedly became furious and planned to confront her. During the investigation, Carter also learned for the first time that his father had a past conviction for a 1961 murder case. He accused Rebecca of using that information to blackmail Steven, threatening to expose his past unless he changed his estate plans in her favor. Speaking about the case, Carter said, “I believe that both Leo Stragaj and Rebecca Schwartz were involved in his murder and caused his death on that date,” and expressed his continued desire for justice in whatever form it may come.
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Carter Schwartz is Following in His Father’s Footsteps as a Doctor Today
In 2016, Carter Schwartz, along with his siblings Kelly May and Casey Schwartz, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against their stepmother, Rebecca Schwartz. Their attorneys argued that Rebecca, facing the threat of divorce after Steven allegedly discovered her embezzlement, had orchestrated his murder. In March 2025, the court ruled in their favor, ordering Rebecca to pay a $200 million settlement. Although she has never been charged in a criminal case, Carter has expressed that he feels some measure of justice has finally been served for his father’s death. After completing a strong academic and professional foundation in medicine, Carter has built a well-rounded career that bridges clinical excellence with compassionate patient care.
Carter began his educational journey at the University of South Florida, where he earned his Master of Science before pursuing his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton, Florida. His early clinical experiences shaped his commitment to understanding complex internal systems, leading him to specialize in nephrology after completing his internal medicine residency at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences in Tulsa. To further refine his expertise, Carter undertook a nephrology fellowship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and School of Medicine in Jackson.
Over the years, he has become recognized for his expertise in managing chronic kidney disease, hypertension, dialysis therapy, and renal biopsies. Carter is an active member of the medical staff at Natchitoches Regional Medical Center in Louisiana, where he practices independently and collaborates with other specialists to provide comprehensive renal care. Outside of his demanding medical career, he is an avid traveler who has explored more than 90 countries. In his personal life, Carter got engaged in 2021 and is likely now married. However, the details about the personal aspects of his life are limited, as he has kept them out of the limelight.
