Virginia couple arrested after 5-year-old nonverbal daughter is found dead in South Carolina waters
A Virginia couple has been arrested and charged with child endangerment after their nonverbal, autistic daughter was found dead in a South Carolina river. Authorities allege the parents failed to provide necessary supervision and misled search efforts regarding a tracking device.
Why it matters
The case raises serious questions about child safety protocols for neurodivergent children and the legal responsibilities of caregivers.
A Virginia couple have been arrested after their 5-year-old daughter, described as autistic and nonverbal, was found dead in South Carolina waters this week. John Herb Hayes III, 70, and Geordyn Nichole Hayes, 31, of Bristol, were arrested Monday evening in Carter County, Tennessee, and charged with unlawfully placing a child at risk or willfully abandoning a child, the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office announced. Their daughter, Saylor Hayes, was reported missing Sunday afternoon. Her body was found Monday morning in the waters near Hagley Landing, a boat ramp leading to the Waccamaw River in the small town of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, following an extensive search involving hundreds of people and multiple agencies.
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