Police: Kawamoto swimming pool death ruled a suicide
Police have identified the victim found in the Sparky Kawamoto Swim Stadium swimming pool in Hilo as 24-year-old Tyler Michael Thor Withers.
Shortly after 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, South Hilo patrol officers and Hawaii Fire Department personnel responded to the swim stadium on Kalanikoa Street after receiving a report of a body at the bottom of the pool.
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County lifeguards had discovered the body and extricated the victim from the water. The victim reportedly had a bag of rocks on his back.
An autopsy was performed, and the forensic pathologist ruled the manner of death suicide by drowning. The final autopsy report is pending toxicology results.
Withers was a native of Oregon but relocated to Hawaii Island sometime last year.
Police ask anyone who may have information relative to this case to call the police department’s nonemergency number at (808) 935-3311, or Detective Casey Cabral of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2384 or email Casey.Cabral@hawaiicounty.gov.
