Parents of 5-year-old Saylor Hayes criminally charged in South Carolina

Developments occurred Tuesday afternoon in the case of 5-year-old Saylor Hayes who was found dead Monday morning near a vacation rental home on Pawley’s Island, South Carolina.

Saylor’s parents, Geordyn Hayes, 30, and John Hayes, 70, are both charged in Georgetown County, with unlawfully placing a child at risk/willfully abandoning a child based on their investigation over the past 72 hours.

Police noted in the couple’s criminal affidavit that they did not provide the supervision or safeguards needed to keep an autistic child out of the water that was just 15 meters away from their vacation rental on Sunday.

After news broke of Saylor’s tracking bracelet being left in a vehicle on their Bristol property, the criminal affidavit said the couple directed searchers to use tracking technology although they knew Salyor’s bracelet was back in Virginia.

The Saylors were traveling back to their home when they were stopped and taken into custody by officers in Carter County, Tennessee, Tuesday afternoon. That’s where an extradition hearing will take place to bring the couple back to South Carolina.

Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver said his department will make sure Saylor is not forgotten and her parents were irresponsible for not keeping her safe and protected.

Back in South Carolina, a temporary tribute to Saylor has been made near the spot where her body was found Monday.

(Contributed photo)