Authorities have provided an update following the tragic discovery of the body of Stanley Kotowski, a 60-year-old man who went missing on August 16 while vacationing with his family at the Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island. Kotowski left his family’s villa without shoes or a phone and was last seen walking to the right of the property. His family noted that he had been struggling with mental health issues prior to his disappearance. In a heartbreaking conversation before he left, he told his wife, “Promise me you will go on without me.”
After days of searching with no leads, a Sea Pines security officer walking through the neighborhood on Monday noticed a foul odor and flies in the vicinity, which led him to contact the sheriff’s office. Beaufort deputies found Kotowski’s body in a crawl space near the family’s rental home. An autopsy conducted on Tuesday determined that he died by suicide through hanging.
Kotowski’s family expressed their shock and grief at the situation, especially considering he was found just four houses away from their vacation rental. This raised questions about the search effort, particularly regarding the bloodhounds’ inability to locate him sooner. However, investigators reassured that while dogs are effective tools in searches, they have limitations.
Kotowski’s wife, Jackie, shared her sorrow on Facebook, thanking the community for their support and stating, “Our hearts are heavy with grief as we begin to process this unimaginable loss. As we take the time to come to terms with this news, we ask for your continued thoughts and prayers.”
Kotowski is survived by his wife and two sons, Zak and Ryan. Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced, and updates will be provided if the family chooses to share them.
If anyone is struggling with mental health issues, assistance is available by calling 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.