Virginia Couple Arrested After Daughter Found Dead in South Carolina Waters

Incident Overview

A Virginia couple, John Herb Hayes III, 70, and Geordyn Nichole Hayes, 31, face charges after their 5-year-old daughter, Saylor Hayes, was found deceased in South Carolina waters. Saylor, who was autistic and nonverbal, went missing on Sunday and was discovered Monday morning near Hagley Landing in Pawleys Island.

Details of the Arrest

The couple was arrested in Carter County, Tennessee. Charges include unlawfully placing a child at risk and willfully abandoning a child. They remain held without bond awaiting extradition. The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office provided these details.

The arrest affidavit highlighted that Saylor was exposed to harm due to a lack of proper supervision, especially given her affinity for water and history of wandering.

Search and Rescue Efforts

Saylor was last seen in a swimsuit, reportedly wandering from a rental home. Efforts to locate her involved a Project Lifesaver transmitter, a device meant to track individuals at risk of wandering. However, this device had been removed before leaving Virginia. The parents allegedly misled search teams by directing them towards the use of the tracker while knowing Saylor wasn’t wearing it.

Community Reaction and Statement from Authorities

Sheriff Carter Weaver called the situation a “heartbreaking tragedy” impacting the community deeply. He expressed that Saylor was a vulnerable child in need of protection.

Earlier, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia, which hosts Saylor’s Project Lifesaver program, confirmed that Saylor’s transmitter was found in a vehicle at the Hayes’ home, not with her in South Carolina.

The transmitter, secured with a special band, requires cutting for removal and cannot be unclasped easily.

Sheriff Weaver emphasized the importance of seeking accountability through the justice system while continuing efforts to protect vulnerable community members.