Charleston police recovered the body of a missing student and ruled the death as a suicide. The tragedy unfolded over the course of a week.
Starting the Disappearance
Owen Tillman Kenney, a 19 year old freshman at the College of Charleston, went missing in the early hours of Halloween. Friends allegedly last saw him at about 2 a.m. on October 31 near King Street and Burns Lane. He apparently departed a party on his own. His roommate attempted to track his phone; however, it died shortly afterward.
The police reported him missing on November 1. Kenney was from Tinton Falls, New Jersey, and graduated from Red Bank Catholic High School in 2024. He was also wearing a green and white Boston Celtics jersey that night. The video shows him in black sweatpants, a black hooded jacket, and black Nike sneakers.
Investigation Leads to Breakthroughs
Detectives acted quickly to review the video evidence. They thus tracked him walking onto the Ravenel Bridge pedestrian walkway just after 3 a.m. on October 31. More specifically, at 3:49 a.m., he entered the Cooper River waters above. That is where his phone last pinged.
With this evidence, on November 6, police declared that Kenney had taken his own life. Meanwhile, teams were searching in the water. Agencies using underwater recovery teams and drones joined in. Further assistance was provided by New Jersey teams.
Body Recovery Provides Closure
On November 8, Harbor Patrol units discovered Kenney’s body. They found it about 8:45 a.m. near Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant. As a result, the Charleston County Coroner’s Office confirmed his identity, and police moved to a recovery operation.
Chief Chito Walker expressed gratitude to everyone involved, stating, “We hope this recovery brings some measure of closure to a family experiencing unimaginable loss.” He also requested respect for the family’s privacy.
Responses From the Community and Support
The College of Charleston expressed sorrow by stating, “The College community continues to keep Owen and his family in our thoughts and prayers.” Support is also available from numerous resources, including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.To sum up, this case indicates the significance of mental health. Thus, support must be given to individuals in need from the communities.
