An orthopedic surgeon accused of attempted murder at Zodo’s bowling alley in Goleta last year has pleaded not guilty.
On Monday, Theresa Lynn Colosi, 55, appeared for arraignment on information before Judge Michael Carrozzo in the Figueroa Division of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court.
On Feb. 5, Judge Carrozzo held Dr. Colosi’s preliminary hearing and determined there was enough evidence for her to stand trial for attempted murder, attempted kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon.
Ms. Colosi first pleaded not guilty on Dec. 27, 2019. She pleaded not guilty again Monday because Judge Carrozzo upheld the charges.
According to court documents, on Dec. 8, Dr. Colosi had a three-hour court-ordered visitation session with her 12-year-old son at a coffee shop.
Prosecutors say during the visit, Dr. Colosi drove the group to Zodo’s in her car.
Dr. Colosi allegedly struck a court-appointed visitation supervisor in the head with what prosecutors believe to be a SodaStream oxygen canister.
Sheriff’s Detective Christopher MacAuley found that Dr. Colosi withdrew around $900,000 from a checking account in Lompoc on Dec. 6.
On the day of the attack, Dr. Colosi chartered a flight to Whitefish, Mont., using false names for herself, her son and a dog, investigators say. After the incident at Zodo’s, she boarded the flight with a dog according to a bail motion filed by prosecutors.
Sheriff’s spokeswoman Raquel Zick announced Dr. Colosi was extradited back to Santa Barbara on Dec. 19, 2019. Officers arrested her on the way to Glacier International Airport carrying $4,000 in cash, two U.S. passports and itineraries for Spain and Portugal.
Dr. Colosi is a licensed physician specializing in orthopedic surgery and oncology. She was also licensed to practice in Oregon until her license expired in 2018. She primarily practiced in Los Gatos and San Jose.
Her attorney, Robert Sanger, has filed and withdrawn multiple bail motions.
The California Attorney General’s Office moved to restrict Ms. Colosi’s medical license, but Judge Carrozzo declined to hear the motion until Ms. Colosi is released on bail.
“I felt that if she’s not released, it’s a moot point, so I don’t plan on entertaining that motion. If the situation comes where she is released…outside an acquittal I’d ask the people to provide notice (to the Attorney General’s Office) so if you want to have a hearing on that you can,” said Judge Carrozzo to a representative from the AG’s Office.
Ms. Colosi will appear in court for a settlement conference on Feb. 24.
email: pgonzalez@newspress.com
