Hawai‘i 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, October 18, 2022, South Hilo patrol officers and Hawai‘i Fire Department personnel responded to the swim stadium on Kalanikoa Street, after receiving a report of a body at the bottom of the pool. When first responders arrived on scene, they determined that County lifeguards had discovered the body and extricated the victim from the water.

Detectives with the Area I Criminal Investigation Section responded to the scene to continue this investigation.

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 is a native of Oregon, however relocated to Hawai‘i Island sometime last year. 

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.