Parents arrested after South Carolina search for autistic daughter, 5, ends in tragedy near coastal getaway
A massive search for a missing 5-year-old autistic girl ended after authorities found her body in waters near Pawleys Island, South Carolina , and arrested her parents in Tennessee.
The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office said John Herb Hayes III, 70, and Geordyn Nichole Hayes, 31, were arrested Tuesday evening in Tennessee and booked into the Carter County Jail on fugitive-from-justice charges.
The couple is accused of putting their daughter in danger or abandoning her under South Carolina law.
NEWBORN VANISHED AFTER SECRET BIRTH, PARENTS ALLEGEDLY CLAIMED BABY 'WAS A PRANK': COPS The body of their daughter, Saylor Hayes, was found near Hagley Landing after an intensive search involving hundreds of people and multiple agencies.
The sheriff’s office said the effort included deputies, investigators, first responders, partner agencies and local residents.
The couple will be transported back to South Carolina once extradition proceedings are completed.
Carter County jail records show both were booked Tuesday evening.
POLICE DOG FOLLOWS HIS NOSE TO FIND MISSING AUTISTIC TEEN SCREAMING FOR HELP Arrest warrants issued in Georgetown County describe Saylor as severely nonverbal and autistic, with a strong attraction to water and a history of wandering away from her caregivers.
SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS The warrants allege that Saylor had been equipped with a monitoring device since 2024, but the device was removed before the family left Virginia.
She was then allegedly left unsupervised within approximately 15 meters, or about 49 feet, of a body of water.
FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X After Saylor was discovered missing, the warrants allege that the Hayeses directed search efforts toward tracking technology despite knowing she was not wearing the device.
The couple also allegedly directed search efforts away from the nearby body of water.
Virginia court records show John Herb Hayes previously faced two felony cases involving allegations of child abuse or injury.
The charges stemmed from a July 3, 2023, incident and were presented to a grand jury.
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