Florida plastic surgeon who represented himself is found guilty of murdering attorney whose body was never found

From the Newshound archive · first published 24 September 2026.

Dr Tomasz Kosowski, 47, was convicted of first-degree murder by Judge Joseph Bulone after waiving his right to a jury trial and opting to defend himself. Attorney Steven Cozzi vanished more than three years ago and his body has never been recovered. Prosecutors said Kosowski became obsessed with Cozzi over a yearslong payments dispute, threatening him in a restroom and stalking him outside his home. Kosowski now faces either life without parole or the death penalty.

Cozzi's office was found covered in blood but his body has never been discovered, leaving prosecutors to build their case entirely on circumstantial evidence.

Kosowski showed almost no reaction to the guilty verdict in court, and immediately told the judge he still intends to represent himself during the penalty phase of the trial.

Judge Bulone had warned Kosowski of the 'disadvantages' of self-representation before the verdict, but the surgeon refused a court-appointed attorney a second time.