The body of 5-year-old Saylor Hayes was discovered in the water near her family’s vacation rental home. The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the discovery, marking the end of an intensive search effort that pulled in hundreds of volunteers and multiple government agencies.
As reported by the NY Post, Saylor, who was visiting from Virginia, had reportedly wandered away from the residence in Hagley Estates, located in Pawleys Island. The search for the nonverbal child was a massive undertaking that utilized a wide range of specialized technology and local support. Because Saylor had a tracking device attached to a pink and white lanyard around her ankle, authorities initially hoped for a quick recovery.
The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office utilized Project Lifesaver equipment to scan the area by land and by helicopter for hours. This program is a critical tool for search-and-rescue operations, specifically designed to help locate individuals with cognitive conditions such as autism, Alzheimer’s, or dementia who are known to wander. Despite the deployment of this technology, the search teams faced a difficult environment.
The residents tried their best
Beyond the tracking equipment, the search effort reportedly involved a diverse set of resources. Drones were deployed to survey the landscape from above, while K-9 units and dive teams were brought in to inspect the terrain and the nearby waterways. The local community in Pawleys Island, which sits about 30 miles from Myrtle Beach, proved to be an essential part of the response.
Residents reportedly went to great lengths to assist, with many searching their own properties and keeping close watch over local docks. One neighbor, Ronald Gagliardi, noted that he and other volunteers remained out all night to continue looking for the young girl. Gagliardi returned to the search site later that morning, expressing that while the news of her recovery was devastating, it provided a sense of closure for the family.
Agents with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources eventually reportedly located Saylor’s body in the water near the location where she was last seen. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a one-piece light blue bathing suit. While the recovery brings a definitive end to the search, authorities have not yet released a cause of death for the young girl.
The emotional toll of the search was felt by volunteers who reportedly traveled from across the region to help. Crystal Cooper, who drove approximately 80 miles from her home in Peedee, SC, to join the effort, described her experience to local reporters. “I just got so emotionally invested in it yesterday because this little girl needed us and my momma heart was in it,” Cooper said.
When the discovery was confirmed, she added, “It was really sad. I mean, I’m emotional now,” and stated, “It’s just — it’s just heartbreaking, like really heartbreaking.” Volunteers attempted creative methods to locate the child throughout the neighborhood during the search. According to accounts from residents, people walked their pets through the area in hopes of coaxing Saylor out of hiding.
Published: Sep 1, 2026 07:15 pm