A Boston man who disappeared during a family vacation because he suffered from insomnia has died by suicide, authorities confirmed.
Stanley Kotowski, 60, was last seen leaving the South Carolina condominium without shoes or a phone around 10:30 a.m. on Aug. 16. His body was found ten days later beneath the townhomes at the Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island.
County Coroner David Ott said at a news conference today that Kotowski died by hanging and ruled the incident a suicide.
His wife Jackie, 59, previously revealed he was suffering from increasing sleep deprivation and battling anxiety.
Sheriff PJ Tanner stressed today that the situation was “very unusual.”
Stanley Kotowski, 60, was found dead near his family’s vacation property after disappearing during a trip to the luxurious Hilton Head Island in South Carolina.
During a press conference today, County Coroner David Ott revealed that the father died of asphyxiation by hanging and ruled the incident a suicide.
“Even considering this as an entry point for the crawl space is something you would probably overlook,” Tanner said.
He also told reporters that “there was a device used to reduce the amount of oxygen that could actually be ingested” when asked if his death was an accident or intentional.
The day her father disappeared, Jackie said her husband told her: “Promise me you’ll move on without me.”
“He just walked out the door,” he said previously. He told Boston 25 Newsadding that she was already worried about his mental state before he disappeared.
“He had very bad insomnia for a month,” she said. “This is something new. He doesn’t have dementia.
But, according to Jackie, “his anxiety got worse and he started to get a little paranoid. He thought someone was after him.”
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office eventually expanded its search efforts to include helicopters, boats, drones and dogs.
His wife, Jackie, said she was already concerned about his mental state before he disappeared.
The loving father pictured here with his wife, Jackie and son, Zak.
Officials searched wood lines and unoccupied buildings and entered Kotowski’s information into a national database of missing persons as they increased their presence across the island.
His son Zak had previously revealed that it was possible his father could have been anywhere in the area while he was missing.
“He’s a strong person,” Zak said. “He’s athletic. Even in a delirious state, without shoes, he could walk through several towns, especially in 72 hours.”
He was eventually found by a security officer at the Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island, who contacted the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office after noticing a foul odor and flies near one of the buildings.
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