(26 Feb 2010)
1. Various of Walter and Judith Koenig, parents of missing man, walking down building of Vancouver Mounted Police Department at Stanley Park to news conference
3. Wide of Constable Janna McGuiness, Walter and Judith Koenig sitting down
4. Cutaway of media
5. SOUNBITE: (English) Walter Koenig, Father of Andrew Koenig:
"Kishen phoned us saying that he found Andrew''s body. Maggie went to get Judith, her leg and back is in pretty bad shape and she can''t walk too far. And I went to the site. My son took his own life."
6. Cutaway of policeman listening
7. SOUNDBITE: (English) Walter Koenig, Father of Andrew Koenig:
"The only thing I want to say is if you''re one of those people who really can feel that you can''t handle it anymore, you know, if you can learn anything from this it''s that there are people out there who really care. You may not think so and it may not, ultimately it may not be enough, but there are people that really, really care. And before you take that final, make that final decision, check it out again. Talk to somebody. And for those families who have members who they fear are susceptible to this kind of behaviour, don''t ignore it, don''t rationalise it, extend a hand."
8. Wide of media and police surrounding news conference
9. Wide of Bridle Path in Stanley Park
10. Area of brush off Bridle Path, corpse on ground
11. Trail with wood sign reading "bridle"
STORYLINE:
Former "Growing Pains" actor Andrew Koenig was found dead on Thursday in a wooded area of a sprawling downtown park in Vancouver, Canada, where he enjoyed spending time, apparently after committing suicide.
The actor''s father, Walter Koenig, said "my son took his own life."
Walter Koenig said his son was obviously in a lot of pain, referring his son''s lifelong depression.
Constable Janna McGuiness, speaking at a news conference at the park, said foul play was not involved, but said she could not be more specific because the coroner was conducting an investigation.
Andrew Koenig, 41, had a recurring role on the 1980s sitcom as Richard "Boner" Stabone, a pal of star Kirk Cameron''s character, Mike. The native of Venice, California, hadn''t been seen since February 14, while visiting friends in Vancouver.
He was supposed to return home two days later. His parents reported him missing February 18, then asked the public for help finding him a few days later.
On Tuesday, Vancouver police and three search-and-rescue teams looked for any signs of Koenig throughout Stanley Park, which covers more than 1,000 acres (400 hectares).
Friends and family decided to try again on their own on Thursday and one of them found Koenig''s body near a marsh in a heavily wooded area about 100 feet (30 metres) off the Bridle Path. McGuinness said the body could not be seen from the walking path.
The elder Koenig, who played Pavel Chekov on the original "Star Trek" TV series, was nearby when the body was found.
Hours later, Koenig and his wife, Judith, issued the statement at a police station in the park.
They said Andrew had been depressed, and had said earlier that he had given away his belongings and had been off his medication. They urged others who are having trouble coping to seek help.
"If you are one of those people who can''t handle it any more, know people are out there who really care before you make that final decision," Walter Koenig said. "Talk to somebody."
Andrew Koenig also appeared in "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "My Two Dads," and "G.I. Joe," and the films "NonSeNse," "InAlienable" and "The Theory of Everything."
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