Massachusetts man goes missing while on vacation in South Carolina

A man from Massachusetts, vacationing with his family in South Carolina, has been reported missing since Friday and is considered endangered, authorities have stated.

Stanley Kotowski, 60, was last seen on Friday morning departing his family's vacation rental on Hilton Head Island, according to his family. He is believed to be without shoes and did not take any personal belongings such as his phone or wallet, according to the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office .

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office released this Ring camera still of Stanley Kotowski in the clothes he was last seen wearing before going missing.
Beaufort County Sheriff's Office

Kotowski has been experiencing anxiety lately, his family told ABC Savannah, Georgia, affiliate WJCL .

"He had been experiencing severe insomnia for about a month. This is completely new," his wife, Jackie Kotowski, told WJCL. "He doesn't have dementia. His anxiety just kept escalating and he started to feel a bit paranoid, and he thought someone was pursuing him."

His son, Zak Kotowski, informed WJCL that his father is otherwise in good health.

"He's physically fit and strong. Even in a disoriented state, without shoes, he could have traveled several miles away," Zak Kotowski told the station.

Kotowski's family reported him missing about two hours after his last sighting, according to Beaufort County Sheriff's Office Master Sergeant Daniel Allen. He has been classified as endangered due to his mental condition, the duration of his absence, and the fact that he was last captured on a Ring camera without any shoes, Allen explained.

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office continued their search for Kotowski on Tuesday.

Search efforts have encompassed K9 units, helicopters, drones, boats, and foot patrols, the sheriff's office reported. While there have been some leads, none have proven fruitful, Allen mentioned.

"Unfortunately with all the efforts that they've been putting out, from literally air, land and water, we have not made contact with him at this point," Allen told
on Tuesday.

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office released this missing person flyer for Stanley Kotowski.
Beaufort County Sheriff's Office

Kotowski's details have been entered into national databases and shared with agencies across the state, the sheriff's office reported.

His family stated they are not leaving Hilton Head Island until he is found, while urging people to assist in the search.

“We just want him to return home,” Jackie Kotowski told WJCL. “We need assistance from anyone who can help us find him.”

Zak Kotowski also had a message for his dad: "We love you. Please come home, we just want you home."

Kotowski was last seen wearing a gray Coors Light T-shirt, dark-colored shorts, and no shoes, as captured in a Ring camera video released by the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office. He is approximately 6 feet tall and weighs around 200 pounds, with short brown hair and brown eyes and a thick Boston accent.

The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office has requested that residents review their security cameras and check their property for any sign of Kotowski. Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact the sheriff's office at 843-524-2777.