Dad who vanished during family vacation has cause of death revealed
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Tragic news is unfolding on Hilton Head Island today as authorities have disclosed the cause of death for a father and husband who mysteriously disappeared while on a family vacation. The man, identified as 60-year-old Stanley Kotowski, is reported to have taken his own life.
Kotowski’s Tragic Disappearance and Subsequent Discovery
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Stanley Kotowski was last seen leaving a vacation rental property on the morning of August 16th, barefoot according to doorbell camera footage. Authorities now estimate that this was the day he died after being found deceased under a home close to the rental property.
In an intensive 11-day search operation involving drones, trained sniffer dogs, and door-to-door canvassing, authorities discovered a crawl space beneath a nearby residence that hadn’t been fully searched. On review, Beaufort County Sherrif P.J. Tanner stated, “I completely understand why he was not found (sooner)… until there was some evidence that led us in that direction.”
Uncovering the Truth
On August 26th, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office announced that they were alerted to suspicious activity connected with a property in Sea Pines. Further investigation led to the discovery of a body beneath this residence, later identified as Stanley Kotowski.
“Throughout the course of the investigation, the body of a deceased male was located underneath a residence,” the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office said, “It is believed that the deceased male is 60-year-old Stanley Kotowski of Massachusetts.”
Kotowski’s State of Mind
Jackie Kotowski, Stanley’s widow, gave a profound insight into her husband’s mental health in the days preceding his disappearance. Stanley was suffering from severe insomnia, and an increasing sense of paranoia was evident. “His anxiety just kept getting worse and worse and worse. And he started to get a little paranoid. He thought someone was chasing him,” Jackie Kotowski shared with the media.
A Plea for Mental Health Awareness
As this tragedy underlines the depth of distress that mental health issues can cause, it brings to the forefront of the public mind the importance of awareness and support available for those suffering. Anyone struggling with thoughts of self-harm or who may be in crisis can contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or incline to seek support at 988lifeline.org.
Details still remain unclear concerning what led police to the home and the specific events surrounding this tragic story. As further information becomes available, this post will be updated.
