19-year-old College of Charleston student who disappeared on Halloween died by suicide: police
Police confirmed that the 19-year-old College of Charleston student who vanished on Halloween near his home took his own life. They are now continuing efforts to locate his body.
Owen Tillman Kenney, originally from New Jersey, was last seen around 2 a.m. on October 31 by friends near King Street and Burns Lane. His family noted this area was only minutes from his residence.
The Ravenel Bridge, where he was later seen, is roughly three miles from where Kenney was last spotted. Charleston police reported they found video footage indicating that Kenney walked onto the Ravenel Bridge pedestrian walkway over the Cooper River before taking his own life.
“Our priority has always been and will remain Owen’s family. This is a real case involving a real family living through unimaginable pain, and they deserve compassion, privacy, and support from all of us,” said Chief Chito Walker.
Multiple units, including the Charleston Police Underwater Recovery Team, Harbor Patrol, and an Unmanned Aerial System Team, continue to search the Cooper River and surrounding areas for the missing student. Federal, state, and local agencies, including teams from New Jersey, are assisting in the operation.
Kenney was a graduate of Red Bank Catholic High School in Tinton Falls, New Jersey.
Author’s summary
Police confirmed that missing College of Charleston student Owen Kenney died by suicide on the Ravenel Bridge, with multi-agency efforts underway to recover his body.