5-Year-Old Virginia Girl Found Dead After Disappearing in South Carolina; Parents Arrested

Saylor Hayes, a 5-year-old girl from Virginia, was found dead in South Carolina after disappearing from her family’s rental home, prompting a massive search and the subsequent arrest of her parents.

Saylor, who was described as nonverbal and autistic, disappeared on August 30, 2026, after reportedly wandering away from the family’s rental property in Pawleys Island, South Carolina.

According to information provided about the case, Saylor had a history of wandering and had previously been equipped with a tracking device through the Project Lifesaver program, which assists in locating individuals at risk of wandering.

However, authorities said she was not wearing the tracking device when she went missing.

A large-scale search was launched, involving hundreds of people and multiple law enforcement agencies. The search continued through the area as authorities worked to determine where the child had gone.

On August 31, Saylor’s body was discovered in the water near Hagley Landing, bringing a tragic end to the search.

The case then took another turn.

On September 1, Saylor’s parents, John Herb Hayes III, 70, and Geordyn Nichole Hayes, 31, were arrested in Tennessee.

Both parents face charges of child endangerment and willful child neglect in connection with the circumstances surrounding their daughter’s death.

The arrests are allegations, and the charges must be resolved through the court system. Authorities have not indicated that the parents have been convicted of the offenses.

The investigation into Saylor’s disappearance and death remains ongoing as authorities work to establish the full circumstances that led to the tragedy.

Source: ABC News