Source: Fox News
Introduction
An urgent 911 audio recording has shed light on the frantic initial moments following the disappearance of a 5-year-old autistic girl in South Carolina. The tragic case culminated in the recovery of the child's body from local waters and the subsequent apprehension of her parents across state lines.
The harrowing dispatch call captures the father realizing his nonverbal daughter had vanished from a coastal rental property. Authorities later arrested both parents in Tennessee on fugitive-from-justice charges as the investigation into the young girl's death deepened.
What Happened
John Herb Hayes III contacted emergency services shortly before 11:40 a.m. on August 30 from a vacation home situated on Old Waccamaw Drive in Pawleys Island. During the phone call, the father reported that his 5-year-old daughter, Saylor Hayes, had slipped away while he stepped inside to retrieve juice and preparation items for a planned beach outing. The child had previously been secured inside a vehicle before she wandered off.
Emergency dispatch logs indicate that a Georgetown County deputy arrived at the rental property within minutes of the distress call. Law enforcement officers, firefighters, state agents, and more than 200 local residents launched an intensive multi-agency search covering nearby residential properties, local docks, and surrounding waters. The response ultimately utilized a South Carolina Department of Natural Resources dive team, aerial drones, a marine unit, and a helicopter.
Search operations ended the following morning when Department of Natural Resources personnel discovered Saylor's body at approximately 9:45 a.m. in the waters near her last known location. Arrest warrants subsequently filed by law enforcement allege that the parents intentionally misdirected search efforts toward a tracking device that had already been removed from the child prior to leaving Virginia, while diverting attention away from the nearby body of water.
Background
The tragedy unfolded within the Hagley Estates community of Pawleys Island during a family coastal getaway. Incident records reveal that dispatchers initially attempted to leverage a Project Lifesaver tracking technology associated with the missing child. Because the necessary equipment frequency and activation code were registered in Washington County, Virginia, emergency personnel coordinated across state lines to retrieve the required data during the active search.
Official police documents note that the child was nonverbal and diagnosed with severe autism. While initial emergency communications documented the pursuit of both tracking technology and water-based searches, subsequent legal filings allege deceptive actions by the family regarding the child's tracking equipment.
Timeline
| Date & Time | Event Description |
|---|---|
| August 30, just before 11:40 a.m. | John Hayes places a 911 call reporting his 5-year-old autistic daughter missing from a Pawleys Island rental home. |
| August 30 (Morning/Afternoon) | More than 200 residents, deputies, firefighters, and state agencies deploy drones, marine units, and dive teams to search local waters and properties. |
| August 31, approximately 9:45 a.m. | Department of Natural Resources agents discover Saylor Hayes' body in waters near Pawleys Island. |
| September 2 (Tuesday evening) | John Herb Hayes III, 70, and Geordyn Nichole Hayes, 31, are arrested in Tennessee and booked into the Carter County Jail. |
Key Details
The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the identities of the arrested individuals as 70-year-old John Herb Hayes III and 31-year-old Geordyn Nichole Hayes. Both adults were taken into custody on Tuesday evening in Tennessee and booked as fugitives from justice under local jail records. Investigators accuse the couple of placing their daughter in danger or abandoning her under South Carolina statutes.
Official arrest warrants detail that the parents directed search personnel away from the water and toward a tracking device they allegedly knew the victim was not wearing. Investigators stated that the device had been detached from the child before the family departed from Virginia. At the time of reporting, the warrants did not publicly establish a definitive cause or manner of death.
Impact
The incident has drawn intense scrutiny regarding child safety protocols, emergency response coordination, and the critical importance of accurate information during missing persons investigations. The community-wide mobilization in Pawleys Island underscored the rapid local response to endangered missing children, while official allegations highlighted the severe legal consequences of allegedly providing misleading data to search and rescue teams.
What Happens Next
Following their arrest in Carter County, Tennessee, John and Geordyn Hayes face extradition proceedings. Authorities confirmed that the couple will be transferred back to South Carolina to face the pending charges.
