Police in South Carolina have shifted from search to recovery efforts in the case of missing College of Charleston student Owen Kenney, who cops said Thursday died by suicide in the early morning hours of Halloween.
Kenney, a 19-year-old Red Bank, N.J. native, was last seen by friends around 2 a.m. on Oct. 31 after attending a Halloween party in the city. Cops later said he was captured on surveillance video walking alone shortly after 3 a.m.
On Thursday, the Charleston Police Department said new video evidence confirmed Kenney “took his own life” around 3:49 a.m. after walking onto the Ravenel Bridge pedestrian walkway, which crosses over the Cooper River, the morning he disappeared.
Police said Kenney’s death by suicide was “confirmed through direct observation,” but offered no additional details.
“Our priority has always been and will remain Owen’s family,” said Police Chief Chito Walker. “This is a real case involving a real family living through unimaginable pain, and they deserve compassion, privacy and support from all of us.”
The police department’s Underwater Recovery Team, Harbor Patrol and an Unmanned Aerial System Team are leading the recovery effort. The FBI and New Jersey State Police had participated in the initial search.
Hundreds of students and staff gathered on the College of Charleston campus Wednesday night for a vigil to pray for his safe return.
