Hawai‘i Island police have identified 24 year-old Tyler Michael Thor Withers as the victim found in the Sparky Kawamoto Swim Stadium swimming pool last week. Withers is a native of Oregon, however relocated to Hawai‘i Island sometime last year.
On Tuesday, October 18, South Hilo patrol officers and Hawai‘i Fire Department personnel responded to the swim stadium after receiving a report of a body at the bottom of the pool. When first responders arrived they determined that County lifeguards had discovered the body and extricated the victim from the water.
An autopsy was performed and the forensic pathologist ruled the manner of death suicide by drowning. The final autopsy report is pending toxicology results.
Police ask anyone who may have information relative to this case to call the police department’s non-emergency 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.