The week-long search for 19-year-old College of Charleston student Owen Tillman Kenney has ended in heartbreak. Authorities confirmed that Kenney’s body was found in the waters near Patriots Point on Saturday morning, a week after he vanished on Halloween night.
Charleston Police said they received a call around 8:45 a.m. on November 8 reporting a “body in the water.” Within hours, the Charleston County Coroner’s Office identified the remains as belonging to the missing college freshman from New Jersey.
Police Chief Chito Walker expressed gratitude to everyone who joined the search and recovery effort. “We hope this recovery brings some measure of closure to a family experiencing unimaginable loss,” he said. “We ask that everyone continue to respect the privacy of the Kenney family during this difficult time.”
Kenney was last seen walking alone onto the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge pedestrian walkway at about 3:49 a.m. on October 31, according to police surveillance footage. His phone last pinged from the same location around that time.
Originally believed to be wearing a Boston Celtics jersey for Halloween, new video footage revealed he was actually dressed in a black hooded jacket, light-colored pants, and black Nike sneakers with white soles.
On November 6, investigators confirmed that Kenney took his own life and shifted from an active search to recovery efforts. Police deployed K9 units, underwater recovery divers, drones, and harbor patrol boats in the days that followed.
Owen Kenney had transferred to the College of Charleston earlier this year from New Jersey, eager to build a new chapter of his college life. His former high school, Red Bank Catholic, posted a heartfelt tribute describing him as “a cherished member of our community.”
“Owen has been a beloved part of our school community, and his presence, kindness, and spirit have touched many,” the school wrote in a Facebook post. “Please keep Owen, his family, and his friends in your prayers.”
A spokesperson for the College of Charleston told The Post and Courier that Kenney was in the middle of his second semester as a freshman and had been “adjusting well” before his sudden disappearance.
Students gathered on campus over the weekend to leave flowers and candles in his memory near the college’s main lawn. “He was the kind of person who always made others feel included,” said sophomore Ava Daniels, who took a freshman seminar with Kenney. “Everyone’s just in shock. It doesn’t feel real.”
Authorities have not released additional details about the recovery operation but emphasized that there is no foul play suspected.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm, depression, or emotional distress, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day.
Source: Charleston Police Department / The Post and Courier
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