Cause of death revealed for Massachusetts dad found dead ‘underneath residence’ during Hilton Head vacation
Massachusetts dad Stanley Kotowski died by hanging during his family vacation to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.
Tragic Suicide: Massachusetts Father Found Dead on Family Vacation in Hilton Head Island
A Massachusetts father, identified as Stanley Kotowski, 60, has been confirmed to have died by suicide during a family vacation in Hilton Head Island. The tragic incident occurred on August 16th, when Kotowski vanished in a mental health crisis.
According to Beaufort County Coroner David Ott, forensic examination reveals that Kotowski hanged himself "underneath" a home near the rental property where he disappeared. The coroner estimates that the day of death coincides with the day of his disappearance.
Law enforcement officials have not disclosed specific details of Kotowski's death, but have confirmed that he utilized an "apparatus" to asphyxiate himself. Coroner Ott declined to provide further details, stating that the manner of death is definitively characterized as hanging.
Prior to the family vacation, Kotowski had been experiencing paranoia and had sought medical attention. The search for the missing father involved an extensive manhunt with the deployment of canines, drones, and door-to-door inquiries over a period of 11 days.
Investigators later discovered that Kotowski had uncovered a small hatch near the outdoor shower of an adjacent villa. This hatch served as an entry point to a crawl space, where his body was ultimately found on Monday. Search teams had previously attempted to search the crawl space but were unsuccessful.
Beaufort County Sheriff PJ Tanner explained the difficulty in locating Kotowski's body, stating that the crawl space entrance was well-concealed. He believes that without specific evidence directing the search to that location, it would have been extremely challenging to discover the body sooner.
Kotowski's wife, Jackie, had expressed concern about her husband's mental state in a Facebook post. She described his struggles with insomnia and increasing anxiety. During the vacation, Kotowski exhibited heightened anxiety related to fears of the ocean, including exposure to the sun, jellyfish, and sharks.
Ring camera footage from August 16th captured the moment Kotowski exited the rental property, barefoot and disoriented. The video shows him pausing and looking around cautiously in the middle of the street before proceeding.
For individuals contemplating suicide , the National Suicide Prevention hotline is available around the clock at 988. Support is also accessible through SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
A Massachusetts father, identified as Stanley Kotowski, 60, has been confirmed to have died by suicide during a family vacation in Hilton Head Island. The tragic incident occurred on August 16th, when Kotowski vanished in a mental health crisis.
According to Beaufort County Coroner David Ott, forensic examination reveals that Kotowski hanged himself "underneath" a home near the rental property where he disappeared. The coroner estimates that the day of death coincides with the day of his disappearance.
Law enforcement officials have not disclosed specific details of Kotowski's death, but have confirmed that he utilized an "apparatus" to asphyxiate himself. Coroner Ott declined to provide further details, stating that the manner of death is definitively characterized as hanging.
Prior to the family vacation, Kotowski had been experiencing paranoia and had sought medical attention. The search for the missing father involved an extensive manhunt with the deployment of canines, drones, and door-to-door inquiries over a period of 11 days.
Investigators later discovered that Kotowski had uncovered a small hatch near the outdoor shower of an adjacent villa. This hatch served as an entry point to a crawl space, where his body was ultimately found on Monday. Search teams had previously attempted to search the crawl space but were unsuccessful.
Beaufort County Sheriff PJ Tanner explained the difficulty in locating Kotowski's body, stating that the crawl space entrance was well-concealed. He believes that without specific evidence directing the search to that location, it would have been extremely challenging to discover the body sooner.
Kotowski's wife, Jackie, had expressed concern about her husband's mental state in a Facebook post. She described his struggles with insomnia and increasing anxiety. During the vacation, Kotowski exhibited heightened anxiety related to fears of the ocean, including exposure to the sun, jellyfish, and sharks.
Ring camera footage from August 16th captured the moment Kotowski exited the rental property, barefoot and disoriented. The video shows him pausing and looking around cautiously in the middle of the street before proceeding.
For individuals contemplating suicide , the National Suicide Prevention hotline is available around the clock at 988. Support is also accessible through SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.