Ex-surgeon Convicted of Attorney's Murder; Death Penalty Awaits
WHO:
CNN - Tomasz Kosowski, a 47-year-old former plastic surgeon.
CNN - Steven Cozzi, the attorney who was murdered.
CNN - Judge Joseph Bulone, presiding over the trial.
Fox News - Kosowski's husband and colleagues, who testified during the trial.
WHAT:
CNN - Kosowski spoke for about 20 minutes in his closing argument, suggesting that prosecutors did not prove the statutory elements of first-degree murder.
CNN - Kosowski stated, “Now, I committed this murder in a common area, in the bathroom, in the middle of a busy office complex... I proceed to clean that bathroom. I load Steven Cozzi’s body onto a cart. I roll it out, and I load the cart with Steven Cozzi’s body in it, with superhuman strength, onto that truck, and then I drive off.”
Fox News - Kosowski showed almost no reaction when the judge found him guilty.
Fox News - Kosowski confirmed he still wanted to represent himself and go non-jury during the penalty phase when asked by Judge Bulone.
CNN - A special prosecutor will present some mitigation on Kosowski’s behalf at the upcoming Spencer hearing.
CNN - The court-appointed attorney will pursue possible witnesses like Kosowski’s mother to testify in the penalty phase.
CNN - Kosowski was found guilty of murdering Cozzi.
CNN - The trial involved six days of testimony and evidence presented by prosecutors.
Fox News - Kosowski faces the possibility of life in prison without parole or the death penalty.
Fox News - A Spencer hearing is scheduled for October 8, allowing Kosowski to present mitigating factors before sentencing.
WHERE:
CNN - The trial took place in Pinellas County, Florida.
CNN - Cozzi was last seen in his law office bathroom.
Fox News - Kosowski's multi-million-dollar home is located in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
WHEN:
Fox News - A Spencer hearing is scheduled for October 8, allowing Kosowski to present mitigating factors before sentencing.
Fox News - The trial began on September 14, 2026.
CNN - Cozzi disappeared in March 2023.
CNN - Kosowski was arrested four days after Cozzi's disappearance.
WHY:
CNN - Kosowski had a history of animosity towards Cozzi due to a civil lawsuit over medical billing disputes.
Fox News - Prosecutors allege Kosowski became obsessed with Cozzi and plotted his murder for months.
HOW:
CNN - Kosowski represented himself at trial, waiving his right to a jury trial.
CNN - Surveillance footage showed Kosowski dragging a cart toward the parking lot after the murder.
CNN - Kosowski allegedly used a cart to transport Cozzi's body out of the law office.
Fox News - Kosowski was found with nearly $300,000 in cash, two passports, and a "murder bag" containing various weapons and tools at the time of his arrest.
(UPDATED September 24, 2026 01:24 UTC)
In a dramatic closing argument, Kosowski claimed that prosecutors failed to establish the elements of first-degree murder, recounting the details of the crime and his actions afterward. After being found guilty, he showed little emotion and expressed his desire to represent himself during the upcoming penalty phase, which will include a Spencer hearing on October 8, where a special prosecutor will present mitigating factors on his behalf. Additionally, a court-appointed attorney plans to call potential witnesses, including Kosowski's mother, to testify during this phase.
--
(UPDATED September 23, 2026 22:02 UTC)
Tomasz Kosowski, a 47-year-old former plastic surgeon, has been found guilty of murdering attorney Steven Cozzi after a six-day trial in Pinellas County, Florida. Kosowski, who represented himself and waived his right to a jury trial, faces the possibility of life in prison without parole or the death penalty, with a Spencer hearing scheduled for October 8 to allow him to present mitigating factors before sentencing. Evidence presented during the trial included surveillance footage showing Kosowski dragging a cart towards the parking lot after the murder, and he was arrested with nearly $300,000 in cash and a "murder bag" containing weapons and tools.