Judge Provides Terms of Release for Aged Homicide Defendant

By Ayda Atici [former] - January 31, 2024
Daily Stories | Homicides | stabbing | Suspects | Victims |

On Jan. 30, parties appeared before DC Superior Court Judge Marisa Demeo to discuss release terms for a homicide defendant in light of his severe health conditions. 

Steven Schwartz, 85, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of his 81-year-old wife, Sharron Hilda Schwartz. The incident occurred in their residence on Dec. 10, 2023 on the 1300 block of Corcoran Street, NW. 

According to documents from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), officers responded to the location, where they located Sharron with stab wounds and Steven with self-inflicted wounds. Both were transported to a local hospital, where Sharron succumbed to her injuries. 

The defendant appeared over WebEx, as he was bedridden and asleep due to his medical conditions. 

The prosecution argued that since the defendant had “snapped over a very mundane reason” and suffers from erratic behavior and unpredictability; they were concerned about future attacks he might commit and needed the court to surveil him upon release. 

The prosecution requested Schwartz be required to check in regularly with Pretrial services, follow through with his medical treatment, work with a social worker from the Department of Aging, attend group therapy and services, and receive psychiatric treatment from the Core Services Agency. They also requested that he is kept in home confinement with GPS monitoring.

Schwartz’s defense attorney, Kobie Flowers, argued that the terms of home confinement and GPS monitoring were overly restrictive, as the defendant could not walk, was not cognizant, and was too frail to keep a GPS monitor on his leg.

Judge Demeo then heard recommendations from Pretrial Services stating they do not know if Schwartz can handle GPS monitoring, and requested that he regularly sign releases so they could stay up to date with his treatment.

Then, Judge Demeo heard from the son of the homicide victim, and the step-son of the defendant. He stated that as Schwartz’s caretaker, GPS monitoring would place an undue burden on him because he would need to charge it and ensure that Schwartz did not try to take it off.

After hearing these recommendations for release conditions, Judge Demeo stated that since Schwartz is 85, bedridden, and unable to leave his residence, the only danger he posed was to his family members and caretakers. Because of this, she stated that GPS monitoring would be unnecessary and inappropriate, and would place even more of a burden on his family members.

The parties temporarily agreed to have Schwartz supervised by a special team, sign releases of information so Pretrial Services can stay up to date on his treatment, and receive mental health services when he is physically capable of attending them. Judge Demeo stated that she did not need to order physical medical treatment, as his treatment was ongoing.

Parties are slated to return for another felony status conference on February 16 to further discuss these conditions, and determine if Schwartz is alert enough to hear and understand them.