Florida physician charged with homicide in lawyer’s disappearance
A Tampa-area plastic surgeon has been charged with homicide, accused of killing a lawyer lacking since final week from a agency that represents former co-workers the physician has been suing in a enterprise dispute.
Largo police arrested Dr. Tomasz Kosowski on a first-degree homicide cost on Saturday within the disappearance of Steven Cozzi, who was final seen Tuesday at Blanchard Legislation, the agency the place he labored.
Police stated Sunday that whereas Cozzi’s physique has not been discovered, they’ve proof that he was killed by Kosowski.
They stated Cozzi’s pockets, cellphone and keys have been discovered within the regulation workplace together with a big quantity of blood within the toilet. They are saying a suspicious particular person and automobile have been seen on the workplace, main them to Kosowski. A search of the physician’s Tarpon Springs residence discovered proof that led to his arrest, police stated. They didn’t elaborate.
Kosowski, 44, who goes by “Dr. Ok,” was being held with out bail on Sunday on the Pinellas County Jail. Courtroom and jail data don’t point out if he has employed an legal professional.
Blanchard Legislation has been representing Kosowski’s former employer and associates in a lawsuit he filed towards them 4 years in the past and is ongoing. Jake Blanchard, the agency’s principal associate, didn’t instantly reply Sunday to an e-mail and cellphone message searching for remark.
Within the lawsuit, Kosowski stated he started working for Laufer Institute of Plastic Surgical procedure in 2016, largely doing breast reconstruction surgical procedure. He stated the lady Laufer Institute assigned to do his insurance coverage billing didn’t file claims and lied to his sufferers, costing him tens of 1000’s of {dollars} and leading to destructive evaluations of him to be posted on-line.
“Dr. Ok’s promising younger profession has primarily been obliterated” by the lady’s actions, Kosowski lawsuit says. “Via no fault of his personal, his profession was put immediately in jeopardy and his status has been deeply tarnished.”
He left Laufer Institute in 2018 and had arrange his personal apply. Laufer Institute didn’t instantly return a name searching for remark Sunday.
AP/