Stanley Kotowski’s body was found 10 days after he was seen leaving his family’s rental property in South Carolina, with his wife describing him as suffering from “the worst insomnia” and “paranoia.”
New details are emerging in the case of a South Carolina man who disappeared from his family’s rental property on Hilton Head Island earlier this month.
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office found his remains Monday morning after responding to a call about suspicious activity near a home in Sea Pines. According to a department news release, after arriving at the scene, officers conducted an investigation that led to the discovery of the body of a deceased man underneath the home.
“The deceased man is believed to be 60-year-old Stanley Kotowski of Massachusetts,” the press release said.
FOX 4
“Deadpool Killer” trial: Doctor explains alleged brain damage to Wade Wilson before gruesome murders
Show story
Kotowski’s family confirmed to a local news channel: WJCL, that the remains were his and were found under a house “four doors down” from their rental apartment.
The Massachusetts native was last seen in the area of South Sea Pines Drive around 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 16. Footage from Ring shows him walking out of the house before stopping in the street and then walking out of frame.
Waiting for your permission to load the Facebook video.
In a press conference on Tuesday, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office released further information about Kotowski’s death. Officials explained that Kotowski left the apartment building without personal items such as his cell phone or wallet after suffering a mental breakdown.
The body was found after a patrol officer smelled a “foul odor” before authorities found “a hatch next to the outdoor shower on the patio” of a nearby home – before the remains were discovered in a “very small” and “unique” crawl space beneath the house. His body was found “maximum 450-600 feet” from the rental property.
According to the county medical examiner, who positively identified the body as Kotowski’s, his death was ruled a suicide, with the cause of death being “asphyxiation by hanging.” When asked by reporters how he could have hanged himself in such a small space, the sheriff said there was “a device that reduced the amount of oxygen you could take in.”
It is believed that he died on August 16, the day of his disappearance.
Since there were also other holidaymakers in the densely populated area, the officials did not want to go into further details and did not provide any further information about the incident.
“If there is one message we can take from all this, it is that we need to pay more attention to mental illness,” the sheriff added.
Getty
Partner gets upset about her husband’s “pooping habits”, Reddit causes a stir with advice
Show story
Stanley’s wife, Jackie Kotowski, spoke WJCL Before the conference on Tuesday, he told the outlet, “He just walked out the door. He suffered from severe insomnia for about a month… His anxiety just got worse and worse and he started to get a little paranoid.”
According to an officer report, Jackie also told BCSO that her husband believed “Sea Pines was a trap and there was a conspiracy that people here were after 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.”
If you or someone you know is suffering from depression or is thinking about harming themselves or ending their life, Get helpThe National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) offers free, confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for people in need.
