Man Who Fatally Stabbed His Girlfriend At Manatee Motel Convicted: SAO

BRADENTON, FL — A man will spend decades in prison for fatally stabbing his girlfriend after an argument at a Bradenton motel two years ago, according to a news release from State Attorney Ed Brodsky’s office.

Stephen Joseph Cozens, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, was convicted Thursday at the Manatee County Courthouse.

He was sentenced to 60 years in the Department of Corrections, the state attorney said.

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Cozens, then 34, and his 26-year-old girlfriend were living at the Americas Best Value Inn off State Road 64 East when they got into an argument on Aug. 28, 2022.

After the argument, he armed himself with a knife and stabbed the victim repeatedly, killing her, Brodsky’s office said.

He then cleaned the room, hid her body under one of the beds and left the motel room.

A maid who came to clean the room later that day found the body under the bed and called authorities.

Within a few hours, Cozens was taken into custody not far from the scene. He made a full confession, telling investigators that he stabbed the victim “a lot,” the state attorney’s office said.