Original subtitles

("Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who playing)

NARRATOR: CSI: Miami, the global television phenomenon.

NARRATOR: CSI: Miami, the global television phenomenon.

♪ ♪

In this series, we'll explore crime

In this series, we'll explore crime

through an entirely new lens.

DISPATCHER: Marlene Warren was just shot.

The investigations on this program are true.

The investigations on this program are true.

Ride along with the real CSI experts.

Ride along with the real CSI experts.

VINCE WEINER: This was most brutal homicide

in over 25 years.

CRUX CONCEPTION: Forensic science,

it was the key witness.

it was the key witness.

NARRATOR: Talk to the real suspects.

I didn't kill anybody, dude.

NARRATOR: Hear from the real victims.

NARRATOR: Hear from the real victims.

I couldn't believe it. I'm in a state of shock.

NARRATOR: And ultimately solve the case

through the use of forensic science.

We still have a homicide suspect somewhere out there.

NARRATOR: This is...

WOMAN: A murderer...

NARRATOR: This is...

WOMAN: A murderer...

REPORTER: A disturbing story has come in...

(overlapping voices)

REPORTER: On Sunday, the retired ob-gyn

REPORTER: On Sunday, the retired ob-gyn

was found shot to death in his Jupiter home.

Guns, jewelry, and upward of $100,000 cash

Guns, jewelry, and upward of $100,000 cash

taken from his home.

I'm a retired detective from the homicide unit

I'm a retired detective from the homicide unit

at the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff's office received a phone call early that morning

regarding the request for a welfare check on an individual

regarding the request for a welfare check on an individual

that lived in Jupiter Farms.

Deputies get to the location.

Deputies get to the location.

The rear doors were open.

They entered with weapons drawn for their safety.

They entered with weapons drawn for their safety.

And when they entered the bedroom,

they locate a white male laying on the floor...

..with blood coming from his body

and other evidence a shooting had occurred.

They very carefully withdraw, not to disturb any more evidence

until detectives respond.

until detectives respond.

I got the call with the rest of the squad.

(siren wailing)

We got to the home,

We got to the home,

and there's a fence

all the way around the property.

Went around to the rear of the house.

The rear French doors open.

In the home,

I see papers strewn about.

I see papers strewn about.

Drawers had been pulled out and dumped.

The TV's on, it looks like something was sudden.

The TV's on, it looks like something was sudden.

There were groceries that hadn't been put away in the kitchen.

Due to the condition of the house, it appears

that there was a attempted burglary.

that there was a attempted burglary.

We proceeded to the bedroom.

We proceeded to the bedroom.

There were clothes that had been strewn aside.

It appeared they had been dumped out of a suitcase

and drawers in the room.

and drawers in the room.

The victim was laying on the floor face down.

My name is Steve Murphy. I'm a retired special agent

with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Was a police officer for 38 years.

Was a police officer for 38 years.

There was a gunshot wound to the right cheek.

Which, typically, a headshot wound is fatal.

Which, typically, a headshot wound is fatal.

There was a second gunshot wound

in the armpit shoulder area.

in the armpit shoulder area.

I've been at hundreds of murder scenes.

And the amount of blood I saw was consistent

with multiple gunshot wounds.

Pretty quickly, we saw that there was

a shell casing very near the body.

MURPHY: A spent shell casing

MURPHY: A spent shell casing

indicating that a semiautomatic pistol

or a rifle had been used.

But they didn't see a weapon.

But they didn't see a weapon.

DRAKE: In these cases, we don't move the body.

We notify the medical examiner,

We notify the medical examiner,

and they come out and do their own independent investigation

that is parallel with ours.

that is parallel with ours.

We positively identified the decedent

as Dr. Ronald Schwartz, the individual that we're there

as Dr. Ronald Schwartz, the individual that we're there

in the first place to do the welfare check on.

MURPHY: Dr. Ronald Schwartz.

He is a retired gynecologist.

He had a practice

in Atlanta, Georgia.

in Atlanta, Georgia.

Very successful in his career.

Ron Schwartz was one of my...

probably top three longtime friends.

probably top three longtime friends.

Met him at Emory University

when we were in medical school together.

when we were in medical school together.

This was...

a completely unexpected event that occurred.

a completely unexpected event that occurred.

It's one of the most shocking things

that I've experienced during my lifetime.

KATHY TENENBAUM: One of our good friends said,

"Ron is gone."

I said, "Gone where?"

I said, "Gone where?"

And he said, "He's dead."

All the way down from Georgia to Florida,

when I drove, I kept thinking, "He's not dead.

when I drove, I kept thinking, "He's not dead.

He just needs me to help him." I guess it was shock.

Reality was not really there.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

DRAKE: We learned that Ron Schwartz had a small circle of friends,

and they seemed genuinely close and caring for him.

and they seemed genuinely close and caring for him.

Dr. Schwartz was married many years ago.

Dr. Schwartz was married many years ago.

He was divorced.

He had no children

and no close relatives in the area to speak of.

and no close relatives in the area to speak of.

MURPHY: Dr. Schwartz was adept at the financial markets.

MURPHY: Dr. Schwartz was adept at the financial markets.

His nickname became

Blue Chip because he knew about financial investments

Blue Chip because he knew about financial investments

and how to reap profits from that.

He had a beautiful house, wealthy piece of property.

He had a beautiful house, wealthy piece of property.

Had the nice cars, the collector's edition Mustang.

Cadillac Escalade.

Cadillac Escalade.

Turns out he owned three different boats.

That indicates a level of wealth.

♪ ♪

The crime scene investigators are looking for

The crime scene investigators are looking for

pieces of evidence, ideas, leads, clues

as to what took place.

One of the things that CSI investigators

One of the things that CSI investigators

typically look for are fingerprints.

They're gonna dust common touch areas.

They're gonna dust common touch areas.

In this case, the two doors were open,

so you've got to dust the doorknobs

as well as the door frames.

as well as the door frames.

This is the home of a wealthy retired doctor,

a single man living in a nice house by himself,

a single man living in a nice house by himself,

where presumably there are some very nice items.

There are televisions,

electronics gear, furniture,

electronics gear, furniture,

whatever it might be.

And at this point, we don't know what's missing or what's there.

So, now they've got a treasure trove

So, now they've got a treasure trove

of things to look for and start cataloging.

of things to look for and start cataloging.

CSI investigators found a little over

$109,000 in cash.

I'd like to have that kind of money around my house.

Part of that cash that was found was

Part of that cash that was found was

large stacks of two-dollar bills.

It's not something that you see in a normal household.

It's not something that you see in a normal household.

They found a series of Swiss gold francs,

They found a series of Swiss gold francs,

golden eagle coins that were worth,

combined with the cash, over a million dollars.

combined with the cash, over a million dollars.

Coming into a crime scene like this,

we see things that

would typically be taken in a robbery that weren't.

would typically be taken in a robbery that weren't.

Televisions,

electronics gear,

things that are easily mobile for criminals

things that are easily mobile for criminals

to take away with them.

So, what's that tell you about the crime scene?

Was there another motive

Was there another motive

that resulted in a murder?

Also, the proximity of the shell casing to the body

was about a foot away.

The position of that shell casing does

tell you that it was very close up and personal.

So investigators looked into Dr. Schwartz's personal life.

BERTHA HURTADO: Ronald Schwartz was very private.

BERTHA HURTADO: Ronald Schwartz was very private.

He wasn't the type of person who would go out much

or hang out with people.

He would be very close to his close friends,

the ones that he allowed into his life.

the ones that he allowed into his life.

My name is Bertha Hurtado, and I'm a crime scene technician.

Ronald Schwartz was preparing himself for

Ronald Schwartz was preparing himself for

a financial governmental tragedy.

He believed that something major

was gonna happen within the government,

was gonna happen within the government,

and things were going to

go downhill fairly quickly.

MURPHY: Investigators were able to talk to friends

MURPHY: Investigators were able to talk to friends

of Dr. Schwartz, and that started to help

to develop a picture of his lifestyle.

to develop a picture of his lifestyle.

One of the things they learned was that

he actually had a plan that if something did happen

to the government here in the United States

to the government here in the United States

and the financial markets did collapse,

he was gonna take the wealth that he had accumulated

and take one of his boats.

He was gonna head to the Bahamas.

He was gonna head to the Bahamas.

BRINKLEY: Ron was really conservative politically,

BRINKLEY: Ron was really conservative politically,

and he was very disappointed

in the, uh, probability that a certain candidate

in another political party might win the election.

in another political party might win the election.

If the country went to hell,

he was ready for us to all get on one of his boats.

he was ready for us to all get on one of his boats.

He called us his posse.

A couple of them were physicians

that he knew from medical school.

that he knew from medical school.

One was a good, dear friend

that he met out and about in Atlanta.

His attorney, his CPA,

His attorney, his CPA,

the boat guy, and me.

We were all his posse.

BRINKLEY: He said, "I'm trying to get a list of my friends

that might want to move to the Bahamas when I move."

that might want to move to the Bahamas when I move."

He requested that

his attorney friend in Atlanta, who had a place in the Bahamas,

take him aboard his boat and show him how to navigate

take him aboard his boat and show him how to navigate

from the east coast of Florida to the Bahamas.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

MURPHY: I guess he thought he'll go over there

and do the best he can

until things stabilize here in the United States.

BRINKLEY: Over a period of time when he wasn't

BRINKLEY: Over a period of time when he wasn't

making preps for the possibility of relocating,

he would transfer cash

he would transfer cash

from his bank accounts and store it away

in his home.

MURPHY: Dr. Schwartz was known

to hide money,

to hide money,

and other people know where they can find

his hidden stashes.

One was under the kitchen sink,

the other was under the bathroom vanity

in hidden drawers.

Those are details that you don't tell anybody.

But we know his very closest friends

will know about him hoarding cash

and him hoarding gold.

DRAKE: This person that murdered Ron,

was is somebody that he was familiar with?

With the enormous amount of funds and gold

With the enormous amount of funds and gold

that were recovered from the home,

it's reasonable to believe that someone knew

that he had that much money.

that he had that much money.

BRINKLEY: The detectives wanted to know if I knew anyone

who might have some reason to hurt Ron.

who might have some reason to hurt Ron.

I mentioned that he had concerns about

a possible ex-girlfriend in the Atlanta area.

The majority of homicides, from my experience,

are people that know you.

One of the first people that you look at

One of the first people that you look at

is the intimate partner of the victim.

Domestic violence is the premise

Domestic violence is the premise

of a lot of our cases.

That jealousy and rage of that relationship

That jealousy and rage of that relationship

often turns into a murder.

Is she a jilted lover that had issues with Ron?

Prior to Ron's death, Ron called one of his closest friend

and who was not available for a call, but he felt the need to

and who was not available for a call, but he felt the need to

leave a message with his friend about his concerns.

Ron was so lighthearted.

He just never seemed to worry that much.

But when I heard that voice message from Ron,

But when I heard that voice message from Ron,

it was, um, shocking.

MURPHY: So, at this point, our theory

MURPHY: So, at this point, our theory

of what happened that day is...

...Ron's ex-girlfriend drove from Atlanta

...Ron's ex-girlfriend drove from Atlanta

all the way down to Jupiter, Florida,

shows up at Ron's house.

She goes around back and finds the French doors unlocked.

Ron said, "Look, get out of my house.

You're an intruder. I need you to leave."

You're an intruder. I need you to leave."

He grabs a weapon, and she pulls her gun out.

Somehow, Ron gets shot in the tussle.

Somehow, Ron gets shot in the tussle.

(gunshot)

MURPHY: She finishes him off

by shooting him in the face.

Then she wants to create the illusion

Then she wants to create the illusion

of a burglary gone bad,

and she creates this mess to throw investigators off.

and she creates this mess to throw investigators off.

This is a lead that has to be followed up on.

Absolutely.

We learned that Ronald Schwartz had a former girlfriend.

We learned that Ronald Schwartz had a former girlfriend.

MURPHY: Ron called a friend to talk about his ex-girlfriend.

His friend didn't answer the phone,

His friend didn't answer the phone,

but he left a fairly long voice message for him.

MURPHY: This could be some type of revenge

MURPHY: This could be some type of revenge

that she wants against him

for reasons that, to her,

are extremely important.

are extremely important.

Investigators travel up to speak with her in person.

During their conversation,

During their conversation,

they determined that this is a situation

that she couldn't get over.

DRAKE: She believed that

DRAKE: She believed that

she was going to marry Ron,

and she was angry that that didn't happen.

You usually just get over a breakup and you move on.

You usually just get over a breakup and you move on.

It doesn't sound like she had moved on at all.

DRAKE: In an investigation,

DRAKE: In an investigation,

part of the potential evidence are cell phone records.

Cell phone records can place you

at a specific place, at a specific time on a date.

MURPHY: And from her phone records, they determined that,

MURPHY: And from her phone records, they determined that,

for several weeks prior to Ron's death

and several weeks after Ron's death,

her telephone did not leave the Atlanta area.

her telephone did not leave the Atlanta area.

HURTADO: Ronald's ex-girlfriend,

she may not have pulled the trigger, but could she have

hired somebody to do it for her?

hired somebody to do it for her?

MURPHY: Could it have been a murder for hire?

That's possible, but they were

not led to believe that, following her interview.

not led to believe that, following her interview.

HURTADO: Investigators realized

fairly quickly that

Ronald Schwartz's ex-girlfriend

Ronald Schwartz's ex-girlfriend

could not have been involved in the murder

because there was no hard evidence

because there was no hard evidence

implicating her.

She was angry and she was hurt,

but it was a stretch to believe

but it was a stretch to believe

that she would carry it to the point of harming Ron.

MURPHY: The evidence is gonna tell you what happened in the crime.

Unfortunately, with the

processing of the fingerprints,

there was nothing recovered.

there was nothing recovered.

MUPRHY: The only known prints

found from dusting that entire house

belonged to Dr. Schwartz.

belonged to Dr. Schwartz.

So, at this point, investigators don't seem to have anything.

They go back to the body to look for clues.

They go back to the body to look for clues.

HURTADO: Once a person passes,

HURTADO: Once a person passes,

the body goes through different stages of decomposition.

One of the most notorious is rigor mortis,

where the body begins to stiffen.

where the body begins to stiffen.

And after a 12-hour period,

the muscles begin to relax.

the muscles begin to relax.

That's when the body becomes a lot more malleable.

So, by the time the body is sent to the medical examiners,

So, by the time the body is sent to the medical examiners,

there's no more rigor mortis.

That would indicate to investigators that

Ronald Schwartz was deceased for over 12 hours.

Ronald Schwartz was deceased for over 12 hours.

DRAKE: The result of the autopsy came out,

DRAKE: The result of the autopsy came out,

and the medical examiner's office determined that

the manner and cause of death was

homicide by multiple gunshot wounds.

homicide by multiple gunshot wounds.

There was a circular defect

consistent with a gunshot wound on the right cheek.

consistent with a gunshot wound on the right cheek.

The trajectory went from the cheekbone

The trajectory went from the cheekbone

and then traveling in between

the backside

and the side of your head.

and the side of your head.

DRAKE: The second wound was

just underneath the armpit.

just underneath the armpit.

HURTADO: Both injuries,

there was an entrance,

but there was no exit wound whatsoever.

but there was no exit wound whatsoever.

And both projectiles were lodged

inside the body.

inside the body.

When a bullet fires through a barrel, it leaves

marks on the bullet, striations,

and that comes from the lands and grooves within the barrel

and that comes from the lands and grooves within the barrel

that causes the bullet to spin, which increases the accuracy.

So, the recovery of those projectiles

So, the recovery of those projectiles

was extremely important,

vital evidence that was preserved

because it can be examined,

because it can be examined,

and a weapon can be matched

to those projectiles.

The projectiles recovered during autopsy

The projectiles recovered during autopsy

were consistent with a nine millimeter

or .40 caliber bullet.

This is important because the shell casing

This is important because the shell casing

discovered at the scene was a .40 caliber.

This confirms to investigators

This confirms to investigators

that the murder weapon

was a .40 caliber firearm.

Our firearms lab did submit

Our firearms lab did submit

those projectiles into a system called NIBIN.

MURPHY: NIBIN stands for the

National Integrated Ballistics Identification Network.

National Integrated Ballistics Identification Network.

It's a database that will hopefully match

those projectiles to the murder weapon,

those projectiles to the murder weapon,

if a weapon is found.

DRAKE: Those projectiles were entered

into the NIBIN system and compared

into the NIBIN system and compared

across the country to other crime guns,

but there was no match at that time.

Our next efforts were to determine who

were the people that frequented his home.

were the people that frequented his home.

Did he have employees,

landscape people, maids,

et cetera?

Homicide detectives start talking to the neighbors

Homicide detectives start talking to the neighbors

to see if maybe one of the neighbors is able

to explain the comings and goings of

common visitors to the house.

common visitors to the house.

And investigators learn from neighbors

somebody was at Ron Schwartz's house

somebody was at Ron Schwartz's house

the day before the murder-- this is something

that happened within the last 24 hours.

Who was there the day before?

Who was there the day before?

(gunshot)

MURPHY: When investigators were talking to the neighbors,

MURPHY: When investigators were talking to the neighbors,

one of the things they learned was that

Dr. Schwartz had a handyman

that worked around the house,

that worked around the house,

an individual by the name of David Lopez.

HURTADO: And David Lopez

had been at Ronald Schwartz's residence the day before

had been at Ronald Schwartz's residence the day before

the body was found.

Now, there's somebody you want to talk to.

Now, there's somebody you want to talk to.

So, investigators were able to locate David Lopez.

MURPHY: David Lopez had met Dr. Schwartz

through a mutual friend.

And Dr. Schwartz was looking

And Dr. Schwartz was looking

for somebody to be a handyman,

just to take care of things around the house.

Mr. Lopez had immigrated from Guatemala

Mr. Lopez had immigrated from Guatemala

and he was looking for employment.

So, this kind of worked out for both of them.

Mr. Lopez did everything around the house,

Mr. Lopez did everything around the house,

whether it was cutting the grass,

washing the cars,

fixing the plumbing,

whatever was needed, that was his responsibility.

whatever was needed, that was his responsibility.

They developed somewhat of a friendship

in addition to a professional working relationship.

in addition to a professional working relationship.

During the interview,

David does say that he was present

David does say that he was present

on July 18th.

It was a Saturday.

He would go and wash the vehicles.

That was a standard procedure.

That was a standard procedure.

David has a brother by the name of Saul Lopez.

David introduced Saul to Ron,

David introduced Saul to Ron,

and Ron ended up picking Saul to come and work for him.

MURPHY: Mr. Lopez's mother

was suffering from an illness,

and Dr. Schwartz gave him

a couple thousand dollars,

a couple thousand dollars,

just gave him the money to help his mom.

So, that shows that there's a-a mutual respect there,

at least between Ron and David.

at least between Ron and David.

Apparently, Ronald found out that Saul was stealing from him.

Apparently, Ronald found out that Saul was stealing from him.

That set Ronald off,

and fired him instantly.

and fired him instantly.

You have a person that could be disgruntled.

Because Ronald could come across very demanding,

Because Ronald could come across very demanding,

a little bit on the aggressive side,

a little bit on the aggressive side,

that could also be a motive for murder.

MURPHY: Throughout his interview,

Mr. Lopez appeared to be very cooperative.

HURTADO: Saul is on the radar.

Time is ticking, and investigators

Time is ticking, and investigators

need to really hone into Saul Lopez

and see what type of information he can provide them with.

and see what type of information he can provide them with.

But they can't locate him.

He's really nowhere to be found.

He's really nowhere to be found.

DRAKE: David Lopez revealed to investigators

that he hadn't heard

from Saul for quite some time.

from Saul for quite some time.

Saul had been in a car accident,

and the insurance had charged David's bank account.

David had been trying to get ahold of him

David had been trying to get ahold of him

because Saul owed David money.

So there was a-a rift between the two brothers there.

So there was a-a rift between the two brothers there.

♪ ♪

MURPHY: Saul Lopez.

MURPHY: Saul Lopez.

This is someone they've been looking for.

Can't find him. So where do we go from here?

DRAKE: Detectives went to look for him down in Miami.

DRAKE: Detectives went to look for him down in Miami.

That's where we believed Saul was at that time.

That's where we believed Saul was at that time.

Investigators spoke with people that he knew,

and eventually, agents did locate him.

and eventually, agents did locate him.

Our detectives were already there,

and they pretty rapidly went to the home

and did what we call a "knock and talk."

and did what we call a "knock and talk."

They ask him for an interview, he was very cooperative.

He did admit that he worked for Ron, but he was fired,

He did admit that he worked for Ron, but he was fired,

and it was over what he described

as a misunderstanding about a ring.

DETECTIVE: Okay.

DRAKE: There was no DNA evidence found at the crime scene,

but we still have to collect and document

but we still have to collect and document

anything else that might be valuable to our case.

anything else that might be valuable to our case.

Part of the vetting process of a potential suspect

is to obtain

a DNA standard from them.

a DNA standard from them.

Saul refused to cooperate.

He didn't want to give us his DNA.

MURPHY: That's a red flag going up.

MURPHY: That's a red flag going up.

It certainly doesn't say that he's the murderer,

but it-it makes you start wondering,

"Why does he not want to participate now?

"Why does he not want to participate now?

This could clear him."

HURTADO: So, investigators

provide him with

provide him with

something to drink.

The sample was recovered from a cup that Saul drank from.

The sample was recovered from a cup that Saul drank from.

MURPHY: Now you have touch DNA,

and you may have mitochondrial DNA

because of the saliva from him drinking.

because of the saliva from him drinking.

It's a great way to get somebody's DNA.

Was it legal? Absolutely.

Was it legal? Absolutely.

Was it a little sneaky? Absolutely.

DRAKE: Now we certainly had well-founded suspicion

DRAKE: Now we certainly had well-founded suspicion

that Saul was involved in the murder of Ron Schwartz.

Detectives certainly wanted to search Saul's home, and Saul,

Detectives certainly wanted to search Saul's home, and Saul,

being very cooperative at the time--

being very cooperative at the time--

short of giving his DNA sample-- said, "Absolutely."

HURTADO: Investigators provided Saul

HURTADO: Investigators provided Saul

with a consent to search his residence.

He agreed, he signed the consent form,

He agreed, he signed the consent form,

and the investigators went inside of the residence.

MURPHY: Saul lived in a duplex with four other people there in Miami.

MURPHY: Saul lived in a duplex with four other people there in Miami.

DRAKE: Detectives entered his room, specifically,

DRAKE: Detectives entered his room, specifically,

and found a large amount of money

in a box up in the closet.

When detectives flipped the mattress

in Saul's room, they discovered

in Saul's room, they discovered

a class ring from the medical school at Emory University.

The ring said "Emory," and...

The ring said "Emory," and...

it had the initials "R.O.S."

it had the initials "R.O.S."

Interestingly enough,

Ronald Schwartz

had gone to Emory University.

had gone to Emory University.

Saul had related to us already that there was a disagreement,

and that's why he was fired, over a ring.

and that's why he was fired, over a ring.

He certainly didn't admit to having the ring.

Based on what we believe now to be stolen property,

it certainly elevated Saul

to a very high interest level for us.

to a very high interest level for us.

DRAKE: At that point, detectives stopped the search

to ensure that we don't lose anything

to ensure that we don't lose anything

that is of value to our case.

Detectives withdrew from Saul's home

Detectives withdrew from Saul's home

with the intent to get a search warrant.

After obtaining a search warrant

from the local police department,

from the local police department,

which was the city of Miami,

detectives returned to the home.

During that search,

During that search,

investigators recovered a .22-caliber Beretta pistol,

a .22-caliber High Standard revolver,

a .22-caliber High Standard revolver,

a .40-caliber Glock 23 pistol.

We're looking for a .40-caliber firearm.

We're looking for a .40-caliber firearm.

There's a .40-caliber firearm at the residence.

So, certainly now we have significant probable cause

So, certainly now we have significant probable cause

to seize that weapon.

They also found

two-dollar bills in Saul's residence.

two-dollar bills in Saul's residence.

In 2015, that wasn't common.

They were in circulation, certainly,

They were in circulation, certainly,

but to find large stacks--

and we know that Ron liked

two-dollar bills for some reason--

two-dollar bills for some reason--

is that coincidence?

I don't believe in coincidence.

It was very reasonable to believe that the money

It was very reasonable to believe that the money

that was at Saul's home belonged to the victim.

That money was seized with the intent

That money was seized with the intent

to determine the source of that money.

All the firearms were submitted to the laboratory

All the firearms were submitted to the laboratory

at Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office for further testing.

A .40-caliber shell casing from a test fire

A .40-caliber shell casing from a test fire

would be compared with the shell casing found at the scene.

Also, projectiles fired from the weapon

Also, projectiles fired from the weapon

would also be compared to the projectiles

recovered from Dr. Schwartz's body.

recovered from Dr. Schwartz's body.

Firearms testing takes some time,

but it was determined

through records check that the .22-caliber

through records check that the .22-caliber

High Standard revolver recovered

from Saul's home actually belonged

from Saul's home actually belonged

to Ron Schwartz.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

MURPHY: Now, investigators,

they've got a solid case for grand theft,

they've got a solid case for grand theft,

because the revolver that was found in-in Saul's residence,

the .22 revolver, came back

the .22 revolver, came back

registered to Ron Schwartz.

And we also know that Saul

stole Ron's ring.

stole Ron's ring.

And the value of that was significant,

enough to create a felony charge against Saul,

and that's what the investigators do.

and that's what the investigators do.

They charged him with grand theft.

What that does is that puts Saul

in custody and gives them a little bit more time

in custody and gives them a little bit more time

to solidify their case against Saul.

HURTADO: They decide to interview him for a second time,

and this time around, things were a little different.

and this time around, things were a little different.

HURTADO: Investigators informed Saul Lopez

that they now have three weapons that were found

that they now have three weapons that were found

inside of your residence, in your possession.

Saul says that they belong to his roommate,

Saul says that they belong to his roommate,

a gentleman by the name of Marcos Gutierrez.

HURTADO: The same .22 revolver

detectives now know belonged to Ronald Schwartz.

detectives now know belonged to Ronald Schwartz.

Investigators now have Saul Lopez pretty much cornered.

DETECTIVE: Okay.

HURTADO: Saul Lopez explained

DETECTIVE: Okay.

HURTADO: Saul Lopez explained

to investigators how everything happened.

DRAKE: That evening, they drove

to Ronald Schwartz's home, and when they arrived,

Ron Schwartz was not happy that he had brought Marcos with him.

Ron Schwartz was not happy that he had brought Marcos with him.

An argument ensued between them.

Saul Lopez told investigators that he followed Ron

Saul Lopez told investigators that he followed Ron

into the house,

and when they entered the bedroom,

Saul claimed that Ron pulled his own weapon

Saul claimed that Ron pulled his own weapon

and fired at Saul.

He was struck in the arm.

At that point,

he struggled for the gun

to defend himself.

(gunshot)

The weapon went off in the victim's armpit.

The weapon went off in the victim's armpit.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

(gunshot)

So, Lopez then said that Marcos grabbed several items.

So, Lopez then said that Marcos grabbed several items.

MURPHY: To make it look like a burglary.

Potentially an armed robbery that went wrong.

Potentially an armed robbery that went wrong.

And that would explain

how the groceries are on the floor,

the papers are knocked off on the floor, off the desk.

The drawers are left open,

The drawers are left open,

and things are disheveled throughout the house.

Just trying to create something

that would throw investigators off.

Investigators have Saul Lopez

Investigators have Saul Lopez

admitting to shooting Ronald Schwartz,

admitting that he was there,

that there was an altercation,

that there was an altercation,

but Marcos was the one who shot the bullet

but Marcos was the one who shot the bullet

that went through Ronald Schwartz's cheekbone.

(gunshot)

The fatal one.

DRAKE: One of them is responsible for Ron's murder.

MURPHY: After Saul's confession, investigators charged him

MURPHY: After Saul's confession, investigators charged him

with first-degree murder with a firearm

and armed robbery.

DRAKE: We have Saul Lopez in custody.

DRAKE: We have Saul Lopez in custody.

However, we're looking for Marcos Gutierrez.

However, we're looking for Marcos Gutierrez.

They're not able to locate him here in Florida.

So, the investigators did their homework.

They talked to witnesses.

They talked to witnesses.

HURTADO: An individual tells investigators that

Marcos had approached her

Marcos had approached her

and told her a very important piece of information.

MURPHY: Marcos made the statement,

MURPHY: Marcos made the statement,

"I did something really stupid in Jupiter,

and I'm going to Cuba."

and I'm going to Cuba."

♪ ♪

MURPHY: The investigators want to talk to Marcos, but where is he?

MURPHY: The investigators want to talk to Marcos, but where is he?

Marcos told his friends he's going to Cuba.

So, investigators, they subpoenaed airlines

So, investigators, they subpoenaed airlines

that were known to fly to Cuba,

and what they came back with

was Marcos left Miami July 23rd.

was Marcos left Miami July 23rd.

Records indicate that he had not returned

back to the United States.

back to the United States.

He was untouchable there.

My name is Brian Fernandes,

and I'm a criminal prosecutor

and I'm a criminal prosecutor

with the state of Florida.

We were seeking indictments for both of the parties

We were seeking indictments for both of the parties

that we believed to be the killers in the case.

But Marcos Gutierrez, he was a citizen of Cuba,

But Marcos Gutierrez, he was a citizen of Cuba,

which, for me, prosecuting in South Florida,

which, for me, prosecuting in South Florida,

knowing the extradition laws with Cuba,

there was pretty much no hope that we'd get him back.

All countries have different laws regarding extradition.

Some are much easier to deal with.

Cuba, of course, is one of those countries that

Cuba, of course, is one of those countries that

have no extradition with the United States of America.

When you realize that your suspect

that you know absolutely committed the crime

has fled the country,

has fled the country,

and may never seek any type of punishment for it,

it doesn't feel good.

it doesn't feel good.

The investigators start laying out the evidence against Saul

The investigators start laying out the evidence against Saul

and his statement that doesn't make sense.

(indistinct chatter)

HURTADO: Saul Lopez states that

HURTADO: Saul Lopez states that

the shot that went through the armpit

was from Marcos utilizing

Ronald Schwartz's .22-caliber revolver.

Ronald Schwartz's .22-caliber revolver.

But the medical examiner report indicated otherwise.

But the medical examiner report indicated otherwise.

Both shots that Ronald Schwartz sustained

were from a .40-caliber handgun.

were from a .40-caliber handgun.

DRAKE: Clearly, a .22 and a .40-caliber bullet

DRAKE: Clearly, a .22 and a .40-caliber bullet

are completely different.

Firearms testing was completed,

namely that .40-caliber Glock

namely that .40-caliber Glock

that was recovered from Saul's home.

And it was confirmed that the projectiles

removed from Dr. Schwartz's body,

removed from Dr. Schwartz's body,

those were fired from that same weapon.

We have now the murder weapon.

Investigators had already recovered

a DNA sample from Saul Lopez.

a DNA sample from Saul Lopez.

Those weapons from the home,

those are also swabbed for DNA evidence.

those are also swabbed for DNA evidence.

And a profile was recovered from the Glock 40.

HURTADO: Now, it's just a matter of sending

HURTADO: Now, it's just a matter of sending

all of the items to the crime lab.

In the crime lab, they will process the DNA.

They will do a comparison.

They will do a comparison.

So, whose DNA was found on the known murder weapon?

It wasn't Marcos'. It was Saul's.

The most likely version of what happened that day is...

Marcos and Saul decided they were going to go to Ron's house.

Saul wanted his job back. Ron is upset. He fired Saul.

Saul wanted his job back. Ron is upset. He fired Saul.

Ron took off into the bedroom, where he grabbed a handgun.

Saul pulls his .40-caliber, the Glock,

Saul pulls his .40-caliber, the Glock,

and shoots Ron in the side.

(gunshot)

(gunshot)

Ron falls to the floor.

Saul then shoots him in the face and kills him.

Then Marcos and Saul ransacked the house.

Then Marcos and Saul ransacked the house.

They stole property from Ron,

like the Emory University class ring,

and fled the scene.

and fled the scene.

Investigators have Ronald Schwartz firing Saul Lopez,

Investigators have Ronald Schwartz firing Saul Lopez,

Saul Lopez having personal items

Saul Lopez having personal items

of Ronald Schwartz's inside of his residence.

Then you have the two-dollar bills

that were found in Saul Lopez's residence

that were found in Saul Lopez's residence

that were consistent with the two-dollar bills

that were found everywhere in Ronald Schwartz's residence.

that were found everywhere in Ronald Schwartz's residence.

In addition to that,

a Glock .40-caliber handgun that was consistent

a Glock .40-caliber handgun that was consistent

with the cartridge casing

that was found on scene

that was found on scene

and the projectiles that were recovered

from Ron Schwartz's body.

According to DNA evidence, Saul Lopez fired the shot

According to DNA evidence, Saul Lopez fired the shot

that went through the right side of his cheekbone.

that went through the right side of his cheekbone.

FERNANDES: We had uncovered enough evidence,

along with good forensics,

to make sure that we had Saul Lopez

to make sure that we had Saul Lopez

lined up as a primary suspect.

Everything points to Saul Lopez as being the shooter,

Everything points to Saul Lopez as being the shooter,

the one who killed Ronald Schwartz.

the one who killed Ronald Schwartz.

However, investigators know that Marcos

was also present at the time the murder occurred.

was also present at the time the murder occurred.

So, he is as guilty as Saul Lopez is.

So, he is as guilty as Saul Lopez is.

Saul Lopez, he ends up pleading guilty to second-degree murder,

and he's sentenced to 21 years in prison

here in the United States.

here in the United States.

Unfortunately, the other suspect in the case, Marcos Gutierrez,

may not be brought to justice

may not be brought to justice

for a violent crime like murder.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

MURPHY: Well, lo and behold,

the next thing you know, the prosecutors

and the investigators in Palm Beach County

and the investigators in Palm Beach County

get an invitation from the Cuban government

to fly down to Cuba

to discuss the case with their prosecutors.

to discuss the case with their prosecutors.

FERNANDES: It's a big deal to potentially think about having

a prosecution like this in a foreign country, period,

a prosecution like this in a foreign country, period,

much less Cuba.

It's not that there was mistrust.

It's not that there was mistrust.

It's just there was an absence of any knowledge of trust.

And so we worked through our United States embassy,

And so we worked through our United States embassy,

and we also worked through an FBI special agent

who was assigned to us in Cuba.

And they communicated with the Cuban officials

And they communicated with the Cuban officials

and arranged a meeting between us.

I went to Cuba with the reasonable expectation

that really no progress would be made,

that really no progress would be made,

but the Cuban government cared about this case.

Marcos Gutierrez had been taken into custody by Cuban officials.

Marcos Gutierrez had been taken into custody by Cuban officials.

He had been questioned and held in custody

pending their decision to continue

pending their decision to continue

to prosecute him for the homicide.

Once we had a conversation

and an initial presentation to them

and an initial presentation to them

of our findings in our case,

they then presented to us what their findings were

pursuant to their investigation in Cuba,

pursuant to their investigation in Cuba,

and that included a full confession

that was made by Marcos Gutierrez.

that was made by Marcos Gutierrez.

They did a thorough job of investigating it,

even without our assistance.

And everything they had told us during the meeting

And everything they had told us during the meeting

appeared to be corroborated by the physical evidence.

Both Mr. Lopez and Mr. Gutierrez's statements,

they, of course, had distinct differences

as to who was the one that pulled the trigger

as to who was the one that pulled the trigger

that ultimately resulted

in the death of Dr. Schwartz.

in the death of Dr. Schwartz.

But they both placed

each of the individuals present in the home

for the crime that was committed.

for the crime that was committed.

And at the end of the day,

they're both principals to first-degree murder.

♪ ♪

MURPHY: They come back home.

MURPHY: They come back home.

Next surprise is the detective

gets a request to come and testify

gets a request to come and testify

in the trial against Marcos in Cuba.

Boy, you talk about reaching for the stars.

Boy, you talk about reaching for the stars.

♪ ♪

FERNANDES: It was exciting to potentially have

the first case ever

the first case ever

that was criminally prosecuted by the Cuban government

of one of their citizens committing crimes in Florida

and the United States.

and the United States.

MURPHY: Several months after the trial in Cuba,

Department of Justice in Washington

Department of Justice in Washington

received word from the Cuban government

that Marcos was found guilty of murder in the United States

and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, in Cuba.

and was sentenced to 20 years in prison, in Cuba.

It's the first time in history this has ever been done,

It's the first time in history this has ever been done,

and I don't know that it's ever been done since.

♪ ♪

DRAKE: In this case, surprisingly, with the cooperation

DRAKE: In this case, surprisingly, with the cooperation

from the Cuban government,

we were able to deliver justice for Ron Schwartz.

we were able to deliver justice for Ron Schwartz.

♪ I'm gonna look up in the sky ♪

♪ I'm gonna look up in the sky ♪

♪ Count the stars to pass the time ♪

♪ Count the stars to pass the time ♪

He's like a brother. He was just like a brother.

He's like a brother. He was just like a brother.

That's... (sobbing)

No, I shed tears about it privately...

No, I shed tears about it privately...

...you know, probably once every couple of weeks or so.

...you know, probably once every couple of weeks or so.

I miss all of his calls.

I miss his voice.

TENENBAUM: For me, I miss the friendship

TENENBAUM: For me, I miss the friendship

and the conversation

and the jokes and the laughter.

For the world,

For the world,

I hate that they've missed his brilliance.

So, a big void...

So, a big void...

in my heart, but in this world.

They took it from us.

♪ We're breaking free ♪

♪ We're breaking free ♪

♪ We're breaking free ♪

♪ We're breaking free ♪

♪ We're breaking free ♪

♪ We're breaking free ♪

♪ We're breaking free ♪

♪ We're breaking free ♪

♪ We're breaking free. ♪

♪ We're breaking free. ♪

Captioning sponsored by CBS

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org