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Authorities provide update on death of missing man

A Massachusetts man who disappeared on Hilton Head Island over a week ago has been found dead. His family confirmed the news Monday afternoon, saying his body was found four houses down from their rental home. Stanley Kotowski, 60, was last seen around 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 16 when he left the family's vacation rental at 226 South Sea Pines Drive, barefoot and without a phone or driver's license. “He just walked out the door. He suffered from severe insomnia for about a month. He doesn't have dementia. His anxiety just got worse and worse and worse and he started to get a little paranoid,” his wife, Jackie Kotowski, told WJCL 22 News. Video below: When Stanley Kotowski was last seen An extensive search lasted 10 days until a Sea Pines security officer noticed a foul odor and vermin on Monday. Officers found Kotowski in the crawl space of a home just four houses down from his family home. Beaufort County Coroner David Ott confirmed Tuesday that Kotowski committed suicide the day he disappeared. Ott said Kotowski hanged himself and died of asphyxiation. The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office arrived at the home at 12:42 p.m. the day he disappeared. They launched an extensive search operation, using dogs, drones and helicopters to find Kotowski. According to a BCSO report, Jackie Kotowski told officers her husband “believed Sea Pines was a 'trap' and was plotting to convince him that people here were after him.” She stated Stanley made several statements that people at this location were 'watching' him. She also told officers Stanley told her before he left, 'Promise me you'll go on without me.'” Support for the family poured in on social media, where people offered their homes so the family could stay while search efforts continued. Video below: The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office released more details Tuesday following the discovery of Stanley Kotowski's body. BREAKING STORIESFamily: Missing Hilton Head Island vacationer found deadUSGS confirms weekend earthquake in GeorgiaDaufuskie Island residents demand action on disrupted ferry service

A Massachusetts man who disappeared on Hilton Head Island over a week ago has been found dead.

His family confirmed the news Monday afternoon, saying his body was found under the house four doors down from their rental apartment.

Stanley Kotowski, 60, was last seen around 10:30 a.m. on August 16 when he left the family's vacation home at 226 South Sea Pines Drive without shoes and without a phone or driver's license.

“He just walked out the door. He suffered from severe insomnia for about a month. He doesn't have dementia. His anxiety just got worse and worse and he started to get a little paranoid,” his wife, Jackie Kotowski, told WJCL 22 News.

Below in the video: When Stanley Kotowski was last seen

An extensive search lasted ten days until a Sea Pines security officer noticed a foul odor and vermin on Monday.

Officers found Kotowski in the crawl space of a house just four houses away from his family's home.

Beaufort County Coroner David Ott confirmed Tuesday that Kotowski killed himself the day he disappeared. Ott said Kotowski hanged himself and died of suffocation.

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office arrived at the home at 12:42 p.m. the day he disappeared. They launched an extensive search operation, using dogs, drones and helicopters to find Kotowski.

According to a BCSO report, Jackie Kotowski told officers that her husband “believed Sea Pines was a 'trap' and that there was a conspiracy that people here were out to get him. She stated that Stanley made several statements that people at that location were 'watching' him.”

She also told MPs that before he left, Stanley told her, “Promise me you'll carry on without me.”

On social media, people poured in with cries of support and offered the family their homes as a place to stay while the search continued.

The video below: The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office released more details Tuesday following the discovery of Stanley Kotowski's body.


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