The parents of a 5-year-old autistic girl who wandered away from a rental home in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, were arrested Tuesday in Carter County, Tennessee, and charged with unlawfully placing a child at risk and willfully abandoning a child in connection with her death.
The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Saylor Hayes’ body was found in nearby waters the day after she went missing. Her parents, John Herb Hayes III (70) and Geordyn Nichole Hayes (31), were arrested and are awaiting extradition to South Carolina to face charges.
Immediate Response & Core Facts
The search for Saylor began Sunday after she wandered away from the family’s rental home. Authorities reported that hundreds of people and multiple agencies participated in the search, which concluded Monday with the discovery of her body near Hagley Landing. The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office stated that the investigation led to the arrests of her parents, who were taken into custody in Tennessee.
Charges & Allegations
According to arrest warrants, the Hayeses are accused of failing to provide appropriate supervision for Saylor, who was severely nonverbal, autistic, and had a known affinity for water. The warrants allege that the couple removed a monitoring device Saylor had been equipped with since 2024 before leaving Virginia, leaving her unsupervised near a body of water.
The warrants further state that after Saylor’s disappearance, the parents allegedly directed search efforts toward tracking technology despite knowing she was not wearing the device. The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office described the case as a “heartbreaking tragedy”, emphasizing the responsibility of caregivers to protect vulnerable children.
Background on Saylor’s Care
Court records indicate that Saylor had been part of the Project Lifesaver program, which provides monitoring devices for individuals with cognitive conditions who are prone to wandering. The warrants allege that the device was removed prior to the family’s departure from Virginia, leaving Saylor without the safeguard.
Next Steps
The Hayeses are currently held in the Carter County Jail and are awaiting extradition to South Carolina to face charges. The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office has not provided further details on the investigation, stating that additional information will be released as the case progresses.