Florida Surgeon Found Guilty in Murder of Lawyer Whose Body Was Never Recovered

A Florida plastic surgeon has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of lawyer Steven Cozzi, whose body has never been recovered. Cozzi, 41, disappeared in March 2023.

Prosecutors alleged that Tomasz Kosowski harbored a "malicious and personal obsession" with Cozzi, who was representing clients sued by Kosowski at the time of his disappearance. The prosecution contended that Kosowski "methodically and systematically" planned the murder.

Judge Joseph Bulone delivered the guilty verdict on Wednesday, following closing arguments. Kosowski, who represented himself during the trial, had waived his right to a jury. He also waived his right to counsel and a jury for the penalty phase.

Kosowski faces a potential sentence of life in prison without parole or the death penalty. During the penalty phase, prosecutors argued for three aggravating factors to support a death sentence: that the murder was committed for financial gain, that it was done in a "cold, calculated and premeditated manner without any pretense of moral or legal justification," and that it was "especially heinous, atrocious and cruel."

Bulone found that the state proved the first two factors beyond a reasonable doubt but not the third, due to insufficient evidence. However, the state needed to prove only one aggravating factor for Cozzi's death to be eligible for the death penalty.

A hearing is scheduled for October 8, where final arguments are expected before the sentence is handed down. Victim impact statements were presented Wednesday from Cozzi's family and friends, including his husband, Michael Montgomery, who spoke of the profound pain of not being able to lay Cozzi to rest.

"The most unbearable part is that we were never able to bring Steven home," Montgomery told the court. "I cannot describe the horrors this has brought me, and all of Steven's loved ones."

Cozzi's father, George Cozzi, remembered his son as the "warmest, kindest, friendliest, most genuine human being you could ever hope to meet." His mother, Lois Cozzi, described their grief as "indescribable."

During the seven-day trial, Kosowski did not call witnesses or testify in his own defense. Prosecutors presented evidence suggesting that despite the absence of Cozzi's body, Kosowski murdered him. Assistant State Attorney Nathan Vonderheide argued that the "overwhelming totality of the evidence" demonstrated Kosowski's obsession, preparation, plan, and execution of the murder on March 21, 2023.

Evidence presented included Cozzi's blood found in the bathroom of his law office, where a "violent event" allegedly occurred, as well as in Kosowski's truck. Surveillance video reportedly showed Kosowski entering Cozzi's office with a Gorilla cart box and leaving hours later with a "very heavy" wagon. Prosecutors theorized that Kosowski disposed of Cozzi's body in a dumpster destined for a landfill.

In his closing argument, Kosowski contested the state's timeline and evidence, calling it "impossible" for him to have committed the crime as alleged. He questioned whether Cozzi died on March 21, 2023, noting credit card transactions in the weeks following. He also argued that it was "physically impossible" for him to have loaded a 190-pound body into the bed of his truck using the cart, a theory the judge did not allow him to test in court.