Former Florida Plastic Surgeon Tomasz Kosowski Found Guilty in Murder of Missing Attorney Steven Cozzi

Former Florida plastic surgeon Tomasz Kosowski has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the disappearance and presumed killing of attorney Steven Cozzi, more than three years after Cozzi vanished from his law office in Largo.

Pinellas County Circuit Judge Joseph Bulone delivered the verdict on September 23, 2026, after Kosowski chose to waive his right to a jury trial and represented himself throughout the proceedings. Cozzi, 41, disappeared from the Blanchard Law office on March 21, 2023, and his body has never been recovered.

Prosecutors argued that Kosowski had developed a personal conflict with Cozzi, who represented defendants in a civil lawsuit involving Kosowski. They alleged that the dispute escalated into a carefully planned killing and that Kosowski had been watching Cozzi and visiting the law office in the weeks leading up to his disappearance.

Investigators presented surveillance footage that prosecutors said showed Kosowski arriving at the law office on the day Cozzi disappeared. They alleged that he later left the building while pulling a heavy wagon. Prosecutors also presented evidence of Cozzi’s blood in the law office and in Kosowski’s vehicle.

Authorities never recovered Cozzi’s body. Prosecutors alleged that his remains were placed in a dumpster and ultimately transported to a landfill in Collier County. Investigators searched the landfill but were unable to locate Cozzi’s remains, leaving his family without the opportunity to recover and bury him.

Kosowski strongly disputed the prosecution’s theory during his closing argument. Acting as his own attorney, he argued that the evidence did not establish how Cozzi died and described parts of the state’s account as physically impossible. He also questioned the interpretation of blood evidence and suggested that some evidence could have been planted.

Judge Bulone took only about 15 minutes to deliberate before returning to court and finding Kosowski guilty as charged. Kosowski had also waived his right to counsel and to a jury during the penalty phase, saying he intended to continue representing himself.

The case has now moved into the sentencing phase. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty and argued that the alleged murder was committed for financial gain and in a cold, calculated and premeditated manner. Judge Bulone found two of the state’s alleged aggravating factors had been proven, while finding insufficient evidence for a third factor involving an especially heinous, atrocious or cruel killing.

Kosowski faces either life imprisonment without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. A further hearing has been scheduled for October 8, when final arguments are expected before the judge determines the sentence.

For Cozzi’s family, the verdict comes without the closure of having his remains returned. His husband, Michael Montgomery, told the court that one of the most painful parts of the case has been that the family was never able to bring Steven home. Cozzi’s parents also delivered emotional victim-impact statements as the court moved toward the final phase of the case.

Source: FoX13