Sep 15, 2026

CLEARWATER, Fla. (Court TV) — An Ivy League-educated plastic surgeon is acting as his own attorney in a case that could end with the death penalty, as prosecutors say that he killed an attorney whose body has never been found.

Dr. Tomasz Kosowski listens to the prosecution’s opening statement on Sept. 14, 2026. (Court TV)

Tomasz Kosowski, 47, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of attorney Steven Cozzi, 41. Kosowski dismissed his attorneys before waiving his right to a jury trial. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Kosowski if he’s convicted; Kosowski has said he does not intend to present any mitigation in a potential penalty phase.

Assistant state attorney Alexandra Spadaro said that while Cozzi seemingly disappeared in March 2023, “the evidence will show that he didn’t disappear on his own terms.”

“He was murdered,” she said. “He was murdered in the bathroom of his law firm. His body was then placed in a wagon and it was drug out to the parking lot where it was loaded onto a gray Toyota Tundra. And ultimately, his coffin was a dumpster, his hearse was a dump truck and his burial site, where he lies to rest, in tiny unidentifiable pieces, is at the Collier County landfill. He was thrown away like garbage.”

At the time of his disappearance, Cozzi represented several clients Kosowski had sued. Kosowski was representing himself in that case, as well. “He made it contentious,” Spadaro said of the defendant. “He made it personal. Particularly between him and Steven Cozzi.”

Spadaro said that Kosowski spent time plotting Cozzi’s death; cellphone data shows the defendant’s phone connecting to Cozzi’s law firm’s Wi-Fi on days when Kosowski had no reason to be on the property. The law firm’s maintenance woman reported finding the defendant “peeking through the law firm window” and then “hiding in a dark utility closet” wearing a surgical mask in the weeks before Cozzi disappeared.

Investigators said surveillance video shows Kosowski driving a truck to Cozzi’s office on March 21, 2023; after the truck arrives, video shows a man matching Kosowski’s description entering the law office building. Hours later, the same person leaves, wheeling a heavy wagon to the back of the Tundra.

Prosecutors say Tomasz Kosowski is visible on surveillance video dragging a wagon away from Steven Cozzi’s office. (Court TV)

Cozzi was allegedly killed inside the communal bathroom in his office. After he seemingly disappeared, co-workers looking for him went into the bathroom, finding blood everywhere. “There’s blood on the toilet seat. There’s blood on the wall. There’s blood on the floor,” Spadaro said. Testing revealed a mixture of the defendant’s and the victim’s DNA.

When police served a search warrant at Kosowski’s home after tracking his truck to the property, he wasn’t there. Cozzi’s blood was found inside and outside of the Tundra, but police still couldn’t find the victim.

Kosowski packed up his dogs and drove south to Miami in a Toyota Corolla registered in his name, Spadaro said. When police eventually caught up to the vehicle and pulled Kosowski over, they found a black ballistic vest covered in blood and blood in the trunk of the car; the blood on both matched Cozzi’s DNA. “One of the scariest things that was located in that vehicle, and there’s really no other way to categorize it, other than what I like to call a ‘murder bag,'” Spadaro said. “It was a black duffel and inside of it, amongst other things, but most notably, were lighters, a Taser, scissors, brass knuckles, a crowbar, ski masks, a Guy Fawkes mask, a 3cc syringe needle and a vial of succinylcholine.”

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Spadaro said investigators found that Kosowski had researched succinylcholine, which is a paralytic used by anesthesiologists. “This paralytic can be lethal at the right dose, but at a lower dose, what it does is it affects the ability for someone to resist,” she said. “It weakens their body. It affects their ability to fight back. But they are cognizant of everything that is going on. They can feel everything that happens to them.”

Kosowski, sitting in custody in a police car, continued to try to destroy evidence, Spadaro said. Police handcuffed the defendant’s hands behind his back, but he allegedly was able to maneuver them around to his front, and brought his hands to his face. “After he hears that the body warrant is in process en route, one by one he starts to meticulously suck on each of his fingers. He’s using his tongue and getting up underneath it and slurping,” Spadaro said. “He’s using his teeth almost as a nail file, trying to destroy any trace of evidence that might bring him to Steven Cozzi, because again, he still hasn’t been located.”

While Cozzi’s body has never been found, Spadaro said that investigators tracked the path of Kosowski’s drive after the killing and determined that he had stopped at a dumpster. The dumpster was emptied at the Collier County landfill, but despite a number of searches, the victim’s remains were never found.

Kosowski declined to offer any opening statement.

Before his arrest, Kosowski worked as a plastic surgeon after graduating from Dartmouth Medical School. He said in court that he has a degree in music from the University of New Mexico, and also has a BS in biochemistry, an MA in biomedical sciences and an MBA.

DAILY TRIAL HIGHLIGHTS

DAY 4 – 9/17/26



LIVESTREAM: FL v. Tomasz Kosowski – Day 4 | Surgeon’s Secret Murder Trial

Officer William Simons, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office K9 handler



Simons’ K9, Connor, is trained in tracking human remains.

Outlined a search on March 30-31, 2023, off State Road 41, where Connor alerted to a green dumpster.

Described subsequent searches in Collier County at the landfill.





Special Agent Kevin Corrigan, FBI Cellular Analysis Survey Team



Mapped Kosowski’s device across five key locations on March 21 and March 23.

The device was turned off for about 2 hours and 16 minutes on March 21 before appearing at the Blanchard Law Firm, then was turned off again for 59 minutes.

Co-located target device with license plate reader capture of Kosowski’s vehicle near the dumpster on Tamiami Trail.

Device records were consistent with a brief stop at the dumpster lasting approximately one minute.





Nicole Hatley, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office latent print examiner



Took fingerprints from Kosowski and compared them to those collected from the crime scene.

A print positively matched Kosowski’s left index finger.





Chad Summerfield, Pinellas County Forensic Lab, DNA technical leader



The tailgate swab from Kosowski’s Toyota Tundra matched Cozzi’s toothbrush standard.

The middle garage floor contained a mixture that strongly supported both Kosowski and Cozzi.

The interior trunk lid and back wall of the Corolla showed strong support for a mixture of Kosowski’s and Cozzi’s DNA.

Men’s bathroom floor drain, exterior door and paper towels all matched Cozzi and/or Kosowski at maximum “very strong support” verbal scale levels.

A black ballistic vest in the trunk tested positive for blood and matched Cozzi’s DNA.





Anna Cox, forensic expert



Presented a PowerPoint breaking down scene photos, chemiluminescence and stain classifications.

Detailed evidence of post-incident cleanup/alteration, including diluted blood in grout lines with clean tile tops, discolored paint, saturated tissue fragments and wide chemiluminescence.

Matched transfer stains in Kosowski’s Tundra bed/tailgate and Corolla trunk (ballistic vest) to Cozzi’s blood.





MORE: ‘We just don’t have PowerPoint at the jail’: Pro se surgeon laments access to materials



DAY 3 – 9/16/26



LIVESTREAM: FL v. Tomasz Kosowski – Day 3 | Surgeon’s Secret Murder Trial

Steven Allred, investigator



Responded to a report of a missing person that later became a homicide investigation.

Located video surveillance from local businesses leading officers to Kosowski’s home in Tarpon Springs.

Escorted and tracked the flatbed transport of Kosowski’s red Toyota Corolla to the sheriff’s office to preserve the chain of custody.

Took custody of $282,120 in cash (much of it in $10,000 bands) and a vial of succinylcholine chloride with a syringe found in the Corolla.

Participated in a three-day search at the Collier County landfill for Cozzi’s remains, which were not found.





Robert Briggs, investigator



Conducted photography and 360-degree imaging of Cozzi’s office and locked vehicle.

Documented the processing of Kosowski’s Toyota Tundra.

Applied luminol inside the bed and cabin of the Tundra, noting luminescence near the driver’s seat and in the bed of the truck.

Collected an unprofessionally installed license plate obscuring/flipping frame, wiring, and remote control from the Tundra.





Sandra Lee Copeland, investigator



Processed the electrical closet and men’s restroom at Cozzi’s law office, lifting latent prints and photographing potential blood spatter.

Unpacked and processed nearly 400 paper towels from the men’s restroom trashcan, collecting three bloody napkins.

Documented paint discoloration/burn marks on the bathroom stall wall and blood patterns on the floor.

Assisted with the execution of a search warrant at Kosowski’s home, noting luminol reactions on the garage floor.

Documented Kosowski at the Tarpon Springs Police Department after his arrest. He had injuries/scratches on his hands and stomach and bruising to his bicep.





Robin Clark, investigator



Supervised investigators at the law office on March 21, 2023.

Conducted blood testing on swabs from the bathroom.

Authenticated evidence packaging for the swabs.





Nikki Bull, investigator



Assisted in serving the search warrant at Kosowski’s home, taking over one thousand photos.

Photographed the Toyota Tundra in the garage, documented the unprofessionally installed wire running to the tailgate and blood spots on the interior tailgate and wheel well.

Documented a black Gorilla Cart wagon in the garage.

Found and photographed personal, legal documents belonging to Kosowski, including court papers referencing a lawsuit.

Photographed bottles of isopropyl alcohol, syringes/needles, firearms in a backpack and conducted swabbing and luminol testing of the garage floor.





Kristen Stropes, investigator



Performed intake documentation when the Tundra was taken to the sheriff’s office.

Confirmed presumptive blood results across seven distinct areas of the truck’s bed, center console and driver floor mat.





Dana Zucchetto, investigator



Collected a presumptive positive blood swab from the interior tailgate of the Tundra.

Performed imaging of Kosowski’s home, including the interior, garage and bag in closet containing firearms, magazines, knives and brass knuckles.

Collected 11 out-of-state and antique license plates from the garage.

Documented EMS and sheriff’s office patches found in a trunk organizer in the garage.





Atika Sanford, investigator



Supervised scene processing at the law office and processed the red Toyota Corolla.

Applied luminol and collected swabs from passenger seats and interior trunk walls and lid.

Confirmed a presumptive positive blood test on a swab from the trunk’s back wall.





Ashley Luth, investigator



Collected bloody napkins and took blood swabs from the men’s restroom in the law office.

Processed the red Corolla and discovered two ballistic vests (one testing positive for blood), a case containing more than $282,000 in cash and a folding bicycle in the trunk.

Red fibers and white hairs were embedded in the carpet of the Corolla’s trunk.

Inventory of the bag found in the car included ski masks, a Guy Fawkes mask, a hat, binoculars, succinylcholine, needles, GPS trackers, stun gun, brass knuckles, crowbar, duct tape, law enforcement patches, checkbooks and U.S. and Polish passports belonging to Kosowski.





MORE: Pro se surgeon charged with murder asks prosecutor to ‘step into the trash bag’ in court



DAY 2 – 9/15/26



LIVESTREAM: FL v. Tomasz Kosowski – Day 2 | Surgeon’s Secret Murder Trial

Amber Locascio, Tarpon Springs Police Department school resource officer



Authenticated surveillance camera software used by the Pinellas County School District.





Aleksandra Stecher, regional operations manager for Tampa Bay Veterinary Specialist clinic



Authenticated security camera footage from the property on March 14 and 21, 2023.

Traced footage showing a gray Toyota Tundra pulling into the complex, an individual carrying a heavy box/item and the vehicle departing the facility on March 21.





Deborah Hendricks, custodian



Encountered a man wearing jeans, a long-sleeved shirt and a white surgical mask inside the electrical breaker closet on March 14, 2023.

Followed the man out to the parking lot and saw him leave in a silver/gray Toyota Tundra with New Jersey license plates.

Noticed a suspicious box left in the electrical closet after and a strong chemical/bleach smell in the building on March 21.

Identified Kosowski as the man in the electrical closet and said she also saw him peeking in through windows.





Carole Celeste Bacher, office manager



Noticed the thermostat was out on March 21, 2023, at 8:45 a.m.

Went to reset the HVAC breaker in the utility closet and passed an unfamiliar male in the hallway.

Noticed an overpoweringly strong bleach smell around 10:30 a.m.





Mark Otto, former owner of a 2016 Toyota Tundra listed on AutoTrader



Communicated with Kosowski regarding the vehicle sale in December 2022.

Sold the truck to the defendant for $32,000 via multiple Bank of America transfers.

Kosowski took delivery of the vehicle on Dec. 26, 2022, and attached an unauthorized New Jersey license plate (70A NQU) before driving away.





Charles King, safety, security and training supervisor for Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority



Explained camera setup and Wi-Fi/hard drive video retrieval system across PSTA buses.

Authenticated bus surveillance footage.





Dominic Cosenza, former manager at Main Street Express Car Wash



Authenticated video footage from the car wash surveillance system.





Officer Jennifer Burr, Largo Police Department



Dispatched for a welfare check on Cozzi on March 21 at 11:45 a.m.

Found Cozzi’s office in an active state: unfinished formal email on screen, phone plugged in playing music, keys, wallet and coat remaining.

Inspected the building restroom; documented an intense bleach odor, blue wall stains and blood spatter/smearing on the toilet, wall and urinal area.

Placed an “out of order” box outside the restroom and posted an officer to guard and preserve the scene.





Det. Jerry Hunt, Largo Police Department



Noted observations at the scene, including blood in the bathroom.

Identified Flock safety camera image showing gray Tundra with a New Jersey plate hauling a cart/wagon draped in a red blanket.

Narrated video of cruiser video showing Kosowski manipulating his handcuffs and using his teeth and mouth to suck on his fingers to scrape and clean them after learning a body search warrant was issued.

MORE: ‘Scraping his fingernails on his teeth to clean them’: Surgeon charged with killing attorney seen sucking his fingers in police car





Det. Richard Owens, Largo Police Department



Collected reference DNA samples for Steven Cozzi.





Det. Lance Wagner, Largo Police Department



Participated in multi-day landfill search efforts for Cozzi.

Subpoenaed Amazon records linked to Kosowski’s Yahoo email account.

Identified key Amazon purchases shipped to target addresses, including two folding Gorilla Carts (blue and red) in December 2022 and five rolls of heavy-duty silver duct tape.





Det. Brittany Rose, Tarpon Springs Police Department



Assisted with the felony traffic stop on Kosowski while he was driving his Toyota Corolla.

Placed Kosowski in the back of her patrol vehicle and maintained custody.







DAY 1 – 9/14/26



LIVESTREAM: FL v. Tomasz Kosowski – Day 1 | Surgeon’s Secret Murder Trial

Assistant State Attorney Alexandra Spadaro delivered an opening statement, detailing what she described as a cold and calculating murder.



Spadaro said that Kosowski ambushed Cozzi in his office’s communal restroom, killed him and then wheeled his body in a wagon out to the parking lot, where he had a truck waiting.

Cozzi’s body has never been found and is believed to be in the Collier County landfill.





Kosowski declined to deliver an opening statement.

Michael Montgomery, victim’s husband



Detailed his marriage to Cozzi, the victim’s legal career, active community involvement and commitment to sobriety.

Cozzi texted him on Jan. 26, 2023, describing an uncomfortable confrontation in the men’s room where the defendant called Cozzi a “scumbag.”

Identified footage of Cozzi leaving home the morning of March 21, 2023, wearing a red cardigan sweater and jeans.

Cozzi left behind his phone, keys, wallet and car at the office when he disappeared, which was completely out of character.





James Weaver, Sixth Judicial Circuit court technology officer



Authenticated call logs for a virtual hearing held by Judge Muscarella in Kosowski’s civil case on March 21, 2023.





Judge Patricia Muscarella



Presided over a civil dispute between Kosowski and respondents represented by Cozzi and Pillsbury.

Described the civil discovery process in the case as highly contentious, requiring the appointment of a special master.

Confirmed the case hearing on March 21, 2023, where Kosowski attended but Cozzi did not.





Jacob Pillsbury, civil attorney



Represented respondents along with the victim.

Kosowski’s legal claims were convoluted and aggressive.

Verified a text message from Cozzi on Jan. 26, 2023, saying that Kosowski confronted him in the bathroom and called Cozzi a “scumbag.”

Dialed into the hearing on March 21, 2023, and noticed that Cozzi was absent.





Jake Blanchard, victim’s boss



Detailed Cozzi’s stellar work ethic, legal brilliance and dedication to sobriety.

Mapped out the office floor plan, demonstrating how Cozzi’s back office door led to a communal hallway and restroom.

Found Cozzi’s desk left active with music playing and his phone, wallet and keys left behind.

The restroom smelled overwhelmingly like bleach or isopropyl alcohol; blood was on the toilet, door and floor, and wall paint had been scrubbed away.

Authenticated his frantic 911 call reporting the victim missing.





Rebecca Waters, paralegal at victim’s firm



Spoke with Cozzi the morning of March 21 about getting Wendy’s for lunch after his hearing, noting that he seemed preoccupied.

Her dog, Molly, began acting unusually agitated and whining, which prompted her to open her office door and realize Cozzi was gone.





Frederick Craig, owner of a company located adjacent to the victim’s law firm



Authenticated security camera footage from March 21 capturing the surrounding street and parking lot area.





Craig Sexton, Achiva Credit Union risk management officer



Authenticated surveillance footage from the branch from March 21.





Jocelyn Lucidi, Kosowski’s neighbor



Identified Ring camera footage from March 14 and March 21.

Confirmed seeing a gray pickup truck on the footage — which she had never seen Kosowski drive previously — as well as his usual red car.





Todd Tinsley, manager at a vet specialist in building complex shared with law office



On March 14, 2023, a maintenance staffer found a masked man hiding in the electrical closet.

On March 14, the staffer inspected the closet and found a brown, unlabeled box containing blue fabric and wagon wheels (a Gorilla cart).

On March 21, between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., attempted to use the men’s restroom but backed away after hearing a strange sound like “paper rubbing on a wall.”

Later entered the restroom between 10:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. and observed an intense chemical smell, blood, paper towel trash and a massive patch of wall paint scrubbed away inside the stall.