Steven Cozzi.Photo: Facebook
A Florida plastic surgeon allegedly killed a missing lawyer whose firm represents people the suspect is suing, according to authorities and multiple news reports citing court records.
Dr. Tomasz Kosowski, 44, was arrested on a first-degree murder charge on March 25 in connection with the disappearance of Steven Cozzi, who was last seen alive just days earlier at his job, Blanchard Law, according to a press release from the Largo Police Department.
Cozzi’s body has not been found, but police say that after serving a search warrant at Kosowski’s house and pulling him over during a traffic stop, they have enough evidence to believe the doctor killed the attorney.
According to the release, officers who rushed to the law firm’s office in Largo on March 21 discovered “a strong chemical odor in the men’s bathroom of the office and small drops of blood.”
“A subsequent forensics investigation revealed a significant amount of blood in the same bathroom,” the release states.
Officers also learned that Cozzi’s wallet, cellphone, and car keys had been left behind. The lawyer’s car was also parked in the lot, but investigators were initially stumped because he was never seen leaving the building, according to the release.
Police said a suspicious person and vehicle were caught on surveillance video at the office building at the same time as Cozzi.
The investigation led authorities to Kosowski’s Tarpon Springs home and, later that day, to the traffic stop that resulted in his arrest.
Kosowski is being held without bail at the Pinellas County Jail, court records show.
“All I can tell you is that we filed a not guilty plea and a request for a jury trial,” Kosowski’s attorney, Bjorn E. Brunvand, told PEOPLE. “We’re in the very early stages of investigating everything ourselves.”
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The case stems from allegations that Kosowski’s insurance biller “intentionally and repeatedly misrepresented” to the plastic surgeon that medical claims had been submitted correctly, theTampa Bay Timesreports.
Kosowski left the Laufer Institute in 2018, theAP reports. Some time after that, he began working at Sono Bello Tampa, according to his WebMD profile.
“Sono Bello ended Dr. K’s employment back in 2020 – August 25 to be precise,” a spokesperson for Sono Bello tells PEOPLE in a statement.
Kosowksi’s primary practice was listed as a location in Miami called Xiluet Plastic Surgery,Newsweekreports, citing records from the Department of Health.
According to hisWebMD profile, Kosowski specialized in facial plastic surgery, body contouring and breast reconstruction techniques.
Cozzi’s husband mourned his death this week in an emotionalFacebook post.
“Today, our greatest fears were realized,” Michael Montgomery wrote. “My husband and best friend was stolen from us. Steve Cozzi was the kindest, funniest, and most brilliant man I ever met. I knew he was the one from the day that we had our first date. I only ever wanted to protect him and to make him happy. I know I will see him again one day.”
Anyone with information on the ongoing investigation is asked to call Detective Bolton at the Largo Police Department at 727-587-6730.
source: people.com
