Police say missing NJ student died by suicide; search now a recovery mission
The search in South Carolina for a missing young man from New Jersey has turned into a recovery effort to find his body.
Charleston police announced Thursday that 19-year-old Owen Kenney, a College of Charleston student from Tinton Falls who had been missing for more than a week, died by suicide.
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Police confirm death after weeklong search
Kenney was last seen alone on the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge pedestrian walkway around 3 a.m. on Oct. 31. His phone’s last recorded location was also traced to the bridge — a 2.5-mile-long span over the Cooper River, about 5 miles from the college campus.
Recovery teams remain active in Charleston Bay
Authorities said specialized underwater recovery units, K-9 teams and aerial search crews continue to scour the waters below the bridge. Police urged the public to avoid sharing unverified information about the case, citing concerns that online speculation had complicated earlier search efforts.
“While we recognize the tremendous public interest and concern surrounding this case, it is important to remember that at the heart of this investigation is a family searching for their loved one,” the department said. “Misinformation can hinder progress by diverting attention and resources away from verifiable leads.”
From New Jersey to South Carolina
Kenney, a 2024 graduate of Red Bank Catholic High School, was a freshman at the College of Charleston. Friends last saw him around 2 a.m. on Oct. 31, walking near campus after attending a Halloween gathering. His family said he had been wearing a Boston Celtics jersey that night.
Kenney’s parents, Tanya and Tillman Kenney, have been in Charleston since the search began, working closely with police and local volunteers.
