Body of Missing Man from Hilton Head Rental Found Underneath Nearby Home

The body of a man who went missing from a rental property in Hilton Head, South Carolina over a week ago, has been discovered tragically under a home in the same vicinity. The deceased individual is believed to be 60-year-old Stanley Kotowski who was last seen in the vicinity of South Sea Pines Drive on Friday, August 16, around 10:30 a.m.

Discovery of the Body

On Monday, August 26, around 11:30 a.m, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of suspicious activity at a Sea Pines home. Upon their arrival, the officers initiated an investigation, following which they made the horrifying discovery of a body hidden under the dwelling.

Investigation and Identification

The body was scheduled for an autopsy by the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office on Tuesday, August 27, to officially identify the deceased and ascertain the cause of his death. Although the identification process is underway, the family of the missing man, Stanley Kotowski, has confirmed to local media outlets that the remains are indeed his. They revealed that the body was found beneath a house just “four houses down” from where they had been staying.

A Series of Distressing Events

Upon his mysterious disappearance, Stanley Kotowski was seen leaving their vacation rental home, apparently barefoot, as captured by a doorbell camera. He did not carry any personal belongings with him, his wallet and cellphone left behind. The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office had released the said footage in hopes to facilitate a more efficient search for the Massachusetts native.

On-going Investigation

Since the day of his unexpected disappearance, the Sheriff’s Office has continued the search for Mr. Kotowski. All possible methods and resources, including K9 units, helicopters, drones, boats, and foot patrols have been deployed in the pursuit. Other agencies and Sea Pines Security have also been contributing to the investigation.

A Disturbing Pattern and Rising Concerns

Stanley Kotowski’s wife, Jackie Kotowski, reported to WJCL that her husband had started showing signs of deteriorating mental health. She said, “He just walked out the door. He had really bad insomnia for about a month. He doesn’t have dementia. His anxiety just kept getting worse and worse and worse, and he started to get a little paranoid.”

Next Steps in the Investigation

As of now, there is no word whether or not Mr. Kotowski’s death is being treated as foul play, or merely a tragic accident resulting from his declining mental health. Further updates will follow as the investigation proceeds, and the official autopsy results are released.