Extradition arranged for parents in death of 5-year-old nonverbal daughter

Geordyn Nichole Hayes and John Herb Hayes III waived extradition in Tennessee and will be transported to South Carolina within about 10 days to face charges of unlawfully placing a child at risk or willfully abandoning a child after their 5-year-old nonverbal daughter, Saylor Hayes, was found dead near Hagley Landing in the Waccamaw River at Pawleys Island. Prosecutors allege the couple diverted search efforts and tried to locate Saylor’s Project Lifesaver device; Saylor had been missing, and John Hayes had a 2023 child-abuse case that was dismissed. The pair appeared in Carter County court in Tennessee in handcuffs and waived their rights to counsel while awaiting extradition.