Deceased body believed to be Stanley Kotowski found in ‘general area’ of HHI vacation home
After an 11-day search for Stanley Kotowski, Beaufort County officials said a man who they believe to be Kotowski was found deceased beneath a house in the “general area” of the family’s vacation rental, according to Master Sgt. Danny Allen of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office.
Allen confirmed Monday afternoon that a body believed to be Kotowski, a 60-year-old Hilton Head Island vacationer who went missing Aug. 16, had been located. The Beaufort County coroner will need to confirm the man’s identity and the time and cause of death in an autopsy within the coming days.
The sheriff’s office was notified of suspicious activity in the area of Sea Pines around 11:30 a.m., and in the course of that investigation discovered the body. The body was transported around 3:30 p.m., Allen said.
“It is strongly felt” that this man is Kotowski, Allen said.
This discovery, if confirmed, brings to conclusion a tragic and heartbreaking two-week period for Kotowski’s wife Jackie, their children and other family members and friends back home in Methuen, Massachusetts.
Locally, Beaufort County residents conveyed support to the family through social media throughout the 11-day search. Some offered up their homes where the family could stay during the search, while others provided meals and offered their assistance in searching for Kotowski.
As more information is available, we will update the story.
This story was originally published August 26, 2024 at 4:45 PM.
