The parents of five-year-old Saylor Hayes have been arrested after their daughter's body was found near the family's vacation rental in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, following an extensive search.
What happened
Saylor, who was nonverbal and autistic, reportedly wandered away from the property during a family holiday. She was reported missing shortly after 12:30pm on Sunday, prompting a large-scale search involving drones, K-9 units, divers, and helicopters. Her body was later found in nearby water by agents with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. She showed no visible signs of trauma, and the cause of death remains undetermined pending autopsy, according to Georgetown County Coroner Chase Ridgeway.
Why the parents were arrested
John Herb Hayes III, 70, and Geordyn Nichole Hayes, 31, were arrested in Tennessee on charges of unlawfully placing a child at risk and willfully abandoning a child. Authorities say Saylor had a documented tendency to wander and an affinity for water, and had previously been issued a Project Lifesaver monitoring transmitter since 2024 due to those risks. According to the arrest documents, that device had been removed before the family travelled from Virginia to South Carolina, though investigators haven't confirmed who removed it or when.
During the search, rescue teams initially believed a helicopter equipped with Project Lifesaver tracking technology had located Saylor, only to later discover the signal was coming from a vehicle rather than the missing child. Police allege the parents knew Saylor wasn't wearing the device but allowed search efforts to continue relying on the tracking technology regardless, and further allege the couple directed investigators away from the waterway where she was ultimately found.
The tribute shared before the arrests
Hours before her arrest, Geordyn Hayes posted an emotional tribute to Saylor online, sharing a photo of her daughter smiling on a slide, edited with a halo and angel wings, captioned "Mommy's little angel." She also shared videos of Saylor playing on an inflatable water slide.
Sheriff's statement
Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver said parents and caregivers carry a responsibility to protect children who can't protect themselves, describing Saylor as a vulnerable child who depended on the adults responsible for her care, and who deserved to be kept safe.
The couple are expected to be returned to Georgetown County following extradition proceedings in Tennessee. The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations against them have not been proven in court.
