Florida plastic surgeon on trial for rival attorney’s murder, faces death penalty after body disappearance

A high-profile murder trial is unfolding in Florida, where Dr. Tomasz Kosowski, a 47-year-old plastic surgeon, stands accused of first-degree murder. He is charged with killing attorney Steven Cozzi, a former legal adversary, and subsequently disposing of his remains. The case has drawn significant attention as Dr. Kosowski, currently incarcerated, has chosen to represent himself in court. He faces the serious possibility of the death penalty, with a judge, not a jury, set to determine his fate in Pinellas County.

Intense legal battle escalated into alleged murder plot

The intricate relationship between Dr. Kosowski and Steven Cozzi originated from a contentious civil lawsuit initiated in 2019. This legal dispute centered on money allegedly owed to the surgeon for his work on personal injury cases. Cozzi served as a representative for the corporate clients Kosowski was suing. Over several years of litigation, court records indicate that Dr. Kosowski developed a profoundly hostile demeanor towards Cozzi. He reportedly attributed his difficulties in the case directly to Cozzi and repeatedly demanded the attorney’s removal from the defense counsel.

Jake Pillsbury, an attorney who collaborated with Cozzi on the case, testified about the surgeon’s aggressive behavior. Pillsbury recounted Kosowski making “a bunch of completely unwarranted, inappropriate accusations about Steve throughout the litigation.” He also recalled an incident during a deposition where Kosowski confronted Cozzi in a restroom, allegedly calling him a “scumbag” and vowing to win the case. These interactions reportedly caused concern among Cozzi’s associates and family, with his husband, Michael Montgomery, even suggesting on-site security for any future meetings with Kosowski.

The day Steven Cozzi vanished and initial clues

The morning of March 21, 2023, began as a typical Tuesday for Steven Cozzi, according to his husband, Michael Montgomery. Cozzi brought Montgomery his morning coffee and engaged in a brief conversation before departing for work. This proved to be the last time Montgomery would see him. Both Cozzi and Dr. Kosowski were scheduled to participate in a teleconference hearing at 10 a.m. that day.

Approximately ten minutes before the virtual meeting, Cozzi left his phone, keys, wallet, and other personal belongings on his desk. He then headed to the office restroom. He never joined the scheduled teleconference. Later, Cozzi’s boss entered the same restroom and discovered blood splattered within the area, as detailed in court records. Security footage from the day of Cozzi’s disappearance captured a silver Toyota Tundra arriving at the building around 8:30 a.m. Prosecutors contend that this vehicle was driven by Dr. Kosowski.

Investigators reviewed the footage, which showed a man wearing dark gloves entering the building where Cozzi worked. This individual was seen carrying a box described as “large enough to conceal a human body.” At 10:22 a.m., the same man exited the building, this time pulling a wagon covered with a reddish-orange blanket. The footage reportedly showed the man visibly struggling with the weight of the cart as he maneuvered it towards the truck.

Incriminating evidence found at suspect’s residence

Following Cozzi’s disappearance, surveillance videos meticulously pieced together from various cameras tracked the Toyota Tundra. The truck was seen being driven to Dr. Kosowski’s residence in Tarpon Springs, Florida, later that day. During its journey, the vehicle passed a Flock camera, which captured an image. This image allegedly showed “a red bag or blanket in a cart that appeared to contain what resembles a human body located in the bed of the truck,” according to arrest records.

Two days subsequent to this, investigators executed a search warrant at Dr. Kosowski’s home. Inside the garage, they located the Tundra. Forensic examination revealed bloodstains in the truck bed, on the driver’s side headrest, on the driver’s side floorboard, and on the garage floor itself. DNA analysis confirmed the presence of Steven Cozzi’s genetic material in both the Tundra and on Kosowski’s garage floor, as stated in court documents.

The search of Kosowski’s vehicles and property also yielded a significant array of other items:

• A ballistic vest with a substantial amount of blood.
• One iPhone and a “burner phone,” an inexpensive, prepaid device often used for anonymity.
• A vest typically worn by a medical first responder, along with sheriff’s office patches.
• A foldable bicycle, a gas can, and a considerable sum of $282,000 in cash.
• Two passports and several large, industrial-sized black garbage bags.
• A black duffel bag, which the prosecution has labeled a “murder bag,” containing lighters, a Taser, scissors, brass knuckles, a crowbar, ski masks, and a Guy Fawkes mask.
• Critically, this duffel bag also held a syringe, a needle, and a vial of succinylcholine, a powerful paralytic drug. The labeling on the vial connected it directly to Dr. Kosowski’s plastic surgery office in Miami.

Allegations of premeditation and evidence tampering

The prosecution asserts that Dr. Kosowski’s actions demonstrate a pattern of premeditation, suggesting the killing was planned well in advance of Cozzi’s disappearance. More than a month before the attorney vanished, Kosowski allegedly visited Cozzi’s home without his knowledge, taking photographs of a car in the carport. Furthermore, prosecutors claim he made multiple visits to the Blanchard Law Firm, where Cozzi worked, driving around the building and capturing photographs on several occasions prior to the incident.

In early March 2023, just weeks before the alleged murder, Dr. Kosowski reportedly began conducting online searches for Steven Cozzi and his husband, Michael Montgomery. These searches sought information about their wedding and details regarding their past and current addresses. This diligent collection of evidence paints a picture of deliberate planning by the accused. Moreover, after his arrest, when police informed Dr. Kosowski about upcoming DNA collection and photographic procedures, patrol car footage allegedly shows him attempting to tamper with evidence. He was observed struggling to bring his hands from behind his back to his face, then “meticulously suck[ing] on each of his fingers,” using his tongue and teeth, in an apparent effort to destroy any potential DNA traces linking him to Steven Cozzi.