An elderly Washington, D.C., man was arrested Thursday and charged with killing his wife after an argument over pancakes, federal prosecutors said.
Fight Over Pancakes Turns Deadly
Steven Schwartz, 85, of Washington, D.C., was arrested earlier today on the charge of second-degree murder while armed in the stabbing death of his 81-year-old wife, Sharron Schwartz, on December 10, 2023, at their D.C. home, U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves announced.
On Sunday, police responded to a home in Northwest D.C. after receiving a report of a stabbing. When officers arrived, they found 81-year-old Sharon Schwartz inside their apartment suffering from stab wounds. Police also found 85-year-old Steven Schwartz with “self-inflicted injuries.”
Both were transported to local hospitals for treatment, where the woman died.
Officers have not released a motive for the murder but a press release issued by the Department of Justice D.C. office states the “defendant did not want to eat the pancakes she made and stabbed her in the back.”
Defendant Schwartz was arraigned in D.C. Superior Court, via video appearance, where he entered a plea of not guilty.
The Honorable Magistrate Judge Sherry Trafford found probable cause that the defendant committed the murder and held him without bond pending his preliminary hearing on January 2, 2024, at 9:30 a.m., before Judge Demeo.
If you or anyone else has any information on the suspected murderer or this case, you can contact DC Police detectives at (202) 727-9099 or by texting the department’s tip line at 50411.
