The Massachusetts father found dead Monday during a family vacation on Hilton Head Island committed suicide, authorities said.
Stanley Kotowski, 60, hanged himself “under” a home near the rental property where he disappeared Aug. 16 during a mental health crisis, Beaufort County Coroner David Ott said at a news conference Tuesday.
“We believe the day of death is the day he disappeared,” Ott said.
Police officials have not released details about Kotowski’s death, but said the father used a “device” to cut off the flow of oxygen.
Ott declined to elaborate, saying: “It is asphyxiation, but there is no other word for it than hanging. Unfortunately, people think hanging means hanging from a ceiling and falling. It is certainly not like that.”
Kotowski had been paranoid in the days leading up to his disappearance and had even sought medical assistance before and during a family vacation, police said.
Authorities also revealed why it took an intensive manhunt with dogs, drones and an 11-day door-to-door campaign to find the missing man.
Kotowski apparently discovered a small hatch near the outdoor shower of a neighboring villa that served as an entry point to a crawl space.
Search and rescue teams have attempted to enter the crawl space during previous investigations but have been unable to do so, Beaufort County Sheriff PJ Tanner said.
“Once I had a chance to look at the location where the body was found, I completely understood why it wasn’t found (earlier), until there was evidence that led us in that direction,” Tanner said.
Kotowski’s body was found Monday near the Sea Pines rental where he was vacationing with his family.
“Over the past month he has suffered from severe insomnia and has become increasingly anxious,” his wife Jackie wrote on Facebook.
“Stan became paranoid, thinking that people, including the authorities, were after him.”
On the family trip, Kotowski was concerned about the ocean because of “exposure to the sun, jellyfish and sharks,” she noted.
Ring camera footage from August 16 shows Kotowski walking out the front door of the rental, barefoot, and onto the street.
He appeared confused in the video – at one point he stopped and looked around in the middle of the street before continuing.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can call the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or visit SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
