SC Parents Charged After 5-Year-Old’s Body Found in Pawleys Island Waters

Key points

• John Herb Hayes III, 70, and Geordyn Nichole Hayes, 31, were arrested in Carter County, Tennessee, on Tuesday.
• Saylor Hayes, a nonverbal 5-year-old with autism, was found dead in the water near Hagley Landing on Monday morning.
• The couple faces charges for unlawfully placing a child at risk and willfully abandoning a child.
• Investigators claim the parents removed Saylor's Project Lifesaver tracking device before the family vacation.
• The parents allegedly directed search teams away from the water and encouraged them to use the tracking device despite knowing it was not on Saylor.

Background

Saylor Hayes was reported missing on Sunday afternoon from a rental home on Pawleys Island. She was enrolled in the Project Lifesaver program in Washington County, Virginia, since June 2024. A massive multi-agency search involving drones, K-9s, and hundreds of residents took place before her body was recovered by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources on Monday.

How outlets are covering it

WYFF and WMBF both report that the parents were charged with willful abandonment and placing a child at risk. WYFF highlights that the arrest warrants allege the parents failed to provide appropriate supervision for a child with a known affinity for water. WMBF emphasizes the technical failure of the Project Lifesaver program, noting that the transmitter was found in a vehicle in Virginia, confirming it was not on Saylor when she went missing. Both outlets cite Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver, who stated the arrests are based on evidence but are not a determination of guilt. Washington County Sheriff Blake Andis, cited by both, stressed that the tracking technology works as designed and that the child's safety was compromised by the removal of the device.

Why it matters

This case highlights the critical importance of safety protocols for vulnerable children with cognitive conditions. The removal of a tracking device and the alleged misdirection of search teams raise serious questions about parental responsibility and the effectiveness of emergency response systems for at-risk individuals.

What to watch

Extradition proceedings are underway to transport the parents back to Georgetown County, South Carolina. An autopsy is scheduled for Friday at the Medical University of South Carolina to determine the cause and manner of death, which remains undetermined pending further testing.