WCSO Arrests Santa Rosa Beach Man for Homicide
For Immediate Release
June 17, 2011
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) today announces the arrest of Steven Anthony Cozzie, 21, of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. for the murder of a 15 year-old female from Georgia.
The WCSO received a call at approximately 4:06 p.m. yesterday from the victim’s mother who stated that her daughter had not returned from a walk with an acquaintance that she met while vacationing in Walton County. She was missing for approximately three hours before the WCSO was contacted.
The WCSO obtained a description of the juvenile’s acquaintance and issued a “be on the lookout” (BOLO) to area law enforcement to search for the missing teen. The case has evolved into a homicide investigation and the victim’s body was located near Cypress Grove Lane in Seagrove, Fla.
Steven Anthony Cozzie was charged with an open count of murder and booked into the Walton County Jail.
The WCSO has provided basic information about the case to the public while it continues to conduct a thorough and methodical criminal investigation to ensure the information that is released by the agency is clear and factual.
The WCSO will host a press conference today at 3 p.m. to discuss the facts of the case and to mitigate misinformation released to the public from sources outside the WCSO. No media interviews will be granted prior to the press conference.
WHAT: Press conference
WHERE: Walton County Sheriff’s Office
752 Triple G Road
DeFuniak Springs, Fla.
WHEN: 3 p.m.
SEAGROVE BEACH — An arrest has been made in connection with the murder of a 15-year-old visitor to Seagrove Beach in Walton County.
Steven Cozzie, 21, has been charged with murder, according to Stan Sunday, the director of the Walton County Jail.
Sunday said Cozzie is a local man and he believed he lived in the area where the murder took place.
Sheriff Mike Adkinson said his agency’s investigation, launched Thursday about 3 p.m. when the girl’s parents called to report her missing, had slowed after a suspect was identified and taken into custody. The present pace, he said is one that will allow a deliberate, careful collection of evidence.
“I’m confident we’re going to see this through to a successful conclusion,” Adkinson said.
He said a press conference would be held this afternoon to release more details of the case.
The 15-year-old girl was reported missing from the 1 SeaGrove Place condominiums on County Road 30A in Seagrove Beach, according to Adkinson and 911 dispatch records.
She had been last seen about three hours earlier with a 21-year-old man who is a friend of her brother, according to dispatch records.
The body was found off Cypress Grove Lane near Seaside, Sheriff’s Office Spokesman Mike Morrison said Thursday night.
Deputies began interviewing “persons of interest” Thursday night, Morrison said.
WCSO Arrests Santa Rosa Beach Man for Homicide
For Immediate Release
June 17, 2011
The Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) today announces the arrest of Steven Anthony Cozzie, 21, of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. for the murder of a 15 year-old female from Georgia.
The WCSO received a call at approximately 4:06 p.m. yesterday from the victim’s mother who stated that her daughter had not returned from a walk with an acquaintance that she met while vacationing in Walton County. She was missing for approximately three hours before the WCSO was contacted.
The WCSO obtained a description of the juvenile’s acquaintance and issued a “be on the lookout” (BOLO) to area law enforcement to search for the missing teen. The case has evolved into a homicide investigation and the victim’s body was located near Cypress Grove Lane in Seagrove, Fla.
Steven Anthony Cozzie was charged with an open count of murder and booked into the Walton County Jail.
The WCSO has provided basic information about the case to the public while it continues to conduct a thorough and methodical criminal investigation to ensure the information that is released by the agency is clear and factual.
The WCSO will host a press conference today at 3 p.m. to discuss the facts of the case and to mitigate misinformation released to the public from sources outside the WCSO. No media interviews will be granted prior to the press conference.
WHAT: Press conference
WHERE: Walton County Sheriff’s Office
752 Triple G Road
DeFuniak Springs, Fla.
WHEN: 3 p.m.
SEAGROVE BEACH — An arrest has been made in connection with the murder of a 15-year-old visitor to Seagrove Beach in Walton County.
Steven Cozzie, 21, has been charged with murder, according to Stan Sunday, the director of the Walton County Jail.
Sunday said Cozzie is a local man and he believed he lived in the area where the murder took place.
Sheriff Mike Adkinson said his agency’s investigation, launched Thursday about 3 p.m. when the girl’s parents called to report her missing, had slowed after a suspect was identified and taken into custody. The present pace, he said is one that will allow a deliberate, careful collection of evidence.
“I’m confident we’re going to see this through to a successful conclusion,” Adkinson said.
He said a press conference would be held this afternoon to release more details of the case.
The 15-year-old girl was reported missing from the 1 SeaGrove Place condominiums on County Road 30A in Seagrove Beach, according to Adkinson and 911 dispatch records.
She had been last seen about three hours earlier with a 21-year-old man who is a friend of her brother, according to dispatch records.
The body was found off Cypress Grove Lane near Seaside, Sheriff’s Office Spokesman Mike Morrison said Thursday night.
Deputies began interviewing “persons of interest” Thursday night, Morrison said.
