Plastic Surgeon Accused of Murdering Lawyer and Dumping Body in Everglades: Prosecutors Lay Out Their Case
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida – The case against a plastic surgeon accused of murdering a lawyer and disposing of his body in the Everglades has taken a significant step forward, as Florida prosecutors presented their evidence in new court documents.
According to authorities, Dr. Tomasz Kosowski allegedly killed attorney Steven Cozzi in the bathroom of Cozzi’s office shortly after the two had a conference call on March 21. The call centered around a heated legal dispute over a medical bill.
Prosecutors outlined their case in recently released court documents, revealing that Kosowski took the contentious call from a Toyota pickup truck parked outside Cozzi’s office. Prosecutors have alleged that he had all the necessary items to carry out the murder, including plastic bags, a syringe containing a paralyzing drug, and a wheelbarrow to transport the victim’s body.
The body of Cozzi has not been recovered, but investigators used cell phone records and surveillance footage to trace Kosowski’s movements to a remote area west of Miami on the Tamiami Trail, also known as US Highway 41. It is believed that Kosowski discarded the body in a dumpster, which was later emptied by a garbage truck. Authorities stated that the truck driver noticed a distinct, foul odor during his stop, raising suspicions.
In a motion requesting the judge to deny bail to Kosowski, prosecutors shared details from video footage of the garbage truck emptying its contents. They claimed that a large bag of garbage fell in an unusual manner, resembling the way a human body might have fallen.
Moreover, a police dog trained to detect human remains also indicated that a body had been present in the dumpster, according to court documents filed on Friday.
However, recovering Cozzi’s body may prove to be a challenging task. The trash collected from that route is typically taken to the Collier County landfill, which frequently compacts its trash, making it extremely difficult to locate and retrieve specific items.
The release of these new details comes ahead of a July 17 hearing, during which Kosowski’s defense team intends to request his release on bail. Typically, in Florida, individuals facing first-degree murder charges are held in custody until their trial, unless the defense can present compelling reasons for release.
44-year-old Kosowski, a graduate of Dartmouth University School of Medicine, has pleaded not guilty. Documents filed by his attorneys reveal that he has been specializing in reconstructive breast surgery for the past eight years.
The trial is expected to garner significant attention as the prosecution builds its case against Kosowski. Further updates on this ongoing investigation will be reported as they become available.
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