A quiet vacation in Pawleys Island ended in heartbreak and handcuffs this week after a five year old girl was found dead in the waters of the Waccamaw River. John Herb Hayes III, 70, and Geordyn Nichole Hayes, 31, both residents of Bristol, Virginia, were arrested Monday evening in Tennessee. They face charges of unlawfully placing a child at risk or willfully abandoning a child following the death of their daughter, Saylor. The young girl, who was autistic and nonverbal, had been reported missing Sunday afternoon from a rental home in Hagley Estates.

The discovery of Saylor’s body on Monday morning near Hagley Landing came after an exhaustive search involving hundreds of volunteers and multiple law enforcement agencies. According to arrest affidavits, authorities believe the parents failed to provide necessary supervision for a child with a known history of wandering and an affinity for water. Investigators allege that Saylor was left unsupervised within fifteen meters of the river while wearing only her swimsuit, leaving her dangerously exposed despite her vulnerability.

Adding to the gravity of the case are allegations that the parents intentionally misled searchers during those critical first hours. While deputies attempted to locate Saylor using Project Lifesaver, a tracking device designed for individuals with cognitive disabilities, investigators later discovered the transmitter had never actually traveled to South Carolina. Officers in Virginia eventually located the device inside a vehicle at the family’s home. Because these transmitters require a specialized band that must be physically cut to be removed, officials say it is unlikely she lost it accidentally.

Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver described the incident as a heartbreaking tragedy that has deeply shaken the local community. He emphasized that Saylor was a vulnerable child who relied entirely on her caregivers for protection and safety. As the legal process moves forward, the couple remains held without bond at the Carter County Detention Center pending an extradition hearing to bring them back to South Carolina to answer for their actions.