Plastic Surgeon Killed Lawyer in Law Firm’s Restroom, Then Carted His Body Out and Dumped in Fla. Everglades

**Plastic Surgeon Found Guilty of Murdering Attorney in Florida**

Tomasz Kosowski, a 47-year-old former plastic surgeon, has been convicted of first-degree murder in connection with the 2023 disappearance of attorney Stephen Cozzi. On 23 September 2026, Judge Joseph Bulone from Pinellas County Circuit Court delivered the verdict, concluding a case that has haunted Florida’s legal community for over three years.

Stephen Cozzi, 41, was last seen on 21 March 2023 at the law firm Blanchard Law, where he had entered the men’s restroom and inexplicably vanished. Prosecutors accused Kosowski of murdering Cozzi within the confines of the restroom, subsequently transporting his remains out of the office building and discarding them in a dumpster in the Everglades.

The motive behind the murder was rooted in a contentious legal dispute. Kosowski had grown increasingly frustrated with Cozzi, who was representing defendants in a lawsuit against Kosowski brought by his former employer and colleagues at the Laufer Institute for Plastic Surgery, where Kosowski had alleged billing errors in 2019. The tension between the two intensified, ultimately resulting in the tragic outcome.

During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Kosowski had stalked Cozzi for months prior to the incident. They argued that he had meticulously planned the murder, demonstrating a clear obsession. Assistant State Attorney Nathan Vonderheide stated, “The overwhelming totality of the evidence in this case demonstrates that he had the obsession, and he prepared, and he had a plan… and murdered him.” Vonderheide painted a graphic picture of the crime, detailing how Kosowski left Cozzi’s blood in multiple locations.

Cozzi’s husband testified at the beginning of the trial about his growing concerns for Steven’s safety, highlighting the increasingly hostile nature of the lawsuit. He revealed that he had equipped Cozzi with pepper spray and urged him to consider hiring security for meetings with Kosowski, who had disparaged Cozzi as a “scumbag” during a deposition earlier in January 2023.

In courtroom proceedings, the prosecution showcased surveillance footage of Kosowski both entering the law firm on the day Cozzi disappeared and later leaving with a cart that he had brought to his vehicle. Furthermore, a fingerprint belonging to Kosowski was discovered in a break room typically restricted to employees.

Following this incriminating evidence, investigators executed a search warrant at Kosowski’s home in Tarpon Springs. They uncovered substantial evidence linking him to Cozzi’s murder, including traces of Cozzi’s blood. Kosowski was arrested days later during a traffic stop, subsequently facing charges of first-degree murder.

Defending himself in both the civil case and the murder trial, Kosowski claimed that it would have been “physically impossible” for him to lift Cozzi, who weighed approximately 190 pounds, into his truck. Nevertheless, the prosecution refuted this argument, detailing the physical evidence against him.

Kosowski, who had previously built a reputation as a specialist in facial plastic surgery, body contouring, and breast reconstruction, now faces a potential death penalty. The trial’s penalty phase is expected to commence within the week, with prosecutors seeking the maximum sentence. Alternatively, Kosowski could be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, contingent on the jury’s recommendations.

As the case continues to unfold, it serves as a grim reminder of the complexities of legal disputes escalating into violent actions, underscoring the necessity for safety measures within contentious professional encounters. The legal community in Florida is undoubtedly left grappling with the implications of this shocking case, as they await the final sentencing decision for Kosowski, who has now become a central figure in a tragic narrative of betrayal and loss.