Florida prosecutors are laying out their case against a plastic surgeon facing the death penalty

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Florida prosecutors have presented their case against a plastic surgeon who could potentially face the death penalty. The surgeon, Dr. Tomasz Kosowski, is accused of killing a lawyer named Steven Cozzi and disposing of his body in the Everglades. Recent court filings outline the details of the prosecutors’ case.

According to authorities, Kosowski allegedly murdered Cozzi in the bathroom of his law office shortly after both had participated in a contentious conference call regarding a prolonged legal dispute over medical billing. Prosecutors revealed that Kosowski took the call from his Toyota pickup truck parked outside the office. They claim he had prepared supplies to carry out the killing, including trash bags, a syringe containing a paralyzing drug, and a wagon to transport the body.

While Cozzi’s body has not been found, investigators utilized cellphone records and surveillance footage to trace Kosowski’s movements to a remote area west of Miami along U.S. Highway 41, commonly known as the Tamiami Trail. It is believed that Kosowski discarded the body in a Dumpster that was later emptied by a garbage truck. The truck driver noticed an unusually strong odor at the stop, which raised suspicions.

“Video footage from the garbage truck showed a large garbage bag being emptied in a manner inconsistent with regular trash,” stated the prosecutors in a motion requesting Kosowski to be held without bond. They argued that the shape and manner of disposal indicated it could contain a human body.

Additionally, court documents filed on Friday revealed that a police cadaver dog indicated the presence of a body in the Dumpster.

The trash collected along the route is typically taken to a landfill in Collier County. However, authorities conducting a search for Cozzi’s body noted that the facility compacts its waste, making recovery efforts nearly impossible.

These new details emerged as part of court filings before a hearing scheduled for July 17, during which Kosowski’s defense attorneys intend to seek his release on bail. In Florida, individuals accused of first-degree murder are typically detained until trial unless the defense presents a compelling reason for their release.

Kosowski, 44, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He graduated from Dartmouth College medical school and has practiced reconstructive breast surgery for eight years. His lawyers argue that the prosecution’s case lacks substance, asserting that Kosowski does not pose a threat and will not attempt to evade justice. If released, he plans to reside at his luxurious waterfront property in Tarpon Springs.

The newly disclosed court documents outline the prosecution’s evidence against Kosowski, including the discovery of Cozzi’s blood and DNA in the law office bathroom and the garage of Kosowski’s home, where it was mixed with the doctor’s DNA. Prosecutors also allege that Kosowski purchased the Toyota truck with cash a few weeks before the slaying, never registering the vehicle. The truck was equipped with a license plate flipping device that allowed the easy substitution of tags. One of the license plates associated with the truck was registered to a deceased individual.

Upon Kosowski’s arrest on March 25, investigators found $280,000 in cash, masks, duct tape, firearms, a ballistic vest labeled “EMS,” law enforcement patches, and a vial of succinylcholine—a paralyzing drug. A search of his residence yielded around 200 firearms, according to court documents.

Meanwhile, Cozzi seemingly vanished without a trace. His keys, wallet, and cellphone were found on his law office desk, and a work file remained open on his computer. His husband has had no communication from him.

Cozzi represented a medical practice based in Dunedin, Florida, which Kosowski accused of underpaying him and causing harm to his professional reputation. The dispute escalated to the point where Kosowski attempted to have Cozzi removed from the case. At one point, he allegedly insulted Cozzi by calling him a “scumbag” during an encounter in the same law office bathroom where prosecutors claim the attorney was killed.

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