Tennessee – (WOKI / WVLT) – Newly obtained court and law enforcement documents are shedding additional light on a prior criminal case involving Geordyn Hayes, the mother of 5-year-old Saylor Hayes, whose death has led to criminal charges against both parents.
Saylor Hayes, described by authorities as autistic and nonverbal, was found dead Monday morning in waters near Hagley Landing in the Pawleys Island area of Georgetown County, South Carolina. The child had been reported missing after wandering away from a family rental home in the Hagley Community. Following the discovery of her body, the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office charged her parents, John Hayes III, 70, and Geordyn Hayes, 31, with unlawfully placing a child at risk and willfully abandoning a child.
Prior Virginia Charges
According to documents obtained from Washington County, Virginia, Geordyn Hayes was arrested in February on separate child-related charges.
Authorities said one charge of child cruelty was later dismissed. A second charge, initially filed as child abuse with disregard for life, was subsequently reduced to contributing to the delinquency of a minor and remains pending.
The arrest warrants identify the alleged victim in that case as a male minor, indicating the case did not involve Saylor Hayes.
While the warrants state Hayes recklessly endangered the child’s life, much of the narrative section detailing the allegations was redacted from the publicly available report.
Arrested in Tennessee
Following the filing of charges in South Carolina, both John and Geordyn Hayes were arrested Tuesday by the Carter County Sheriff’s Office in Tennessee.
The couple appeared briefly in court Thursday and waived extradition proceedings, agreeing to be transported back to South Carolina to face the charges.
Both remain jailed without bond. During the hearing, a judge stated South Carolina authorities have up to 10 days to take custody of the pair.
Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Heather Pelham said the couple was not considered fugitives and had not been actively evading authorities. Officials expect them to be transferred to South Carolina in the coming days.
A status hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 14 if the transfer has not occurred before then.
Investigation Into Saylor’s Death
According to arrest warrants, Saylor Hayes had a documented history of wandering and was known to have a strong attraction to water. Investigators allege she was left unsupervised approximately 15 meters from a body of water before she disappeared Sunday.
Authorities also revealed new information involving Washington County’s Project Lifesaver program, a tracking system used to locate individuals prone to wandering due to cognitive disabilities or special needs.
Washington County Sheriff Blake Andis said Saylor had been enrolled in the program since June 2024 and had previously worn a functioning transmitter on her ankle.
Authorities said the device had been removed before the family traveled from Virginia to South Carolina.
Sheriff Andis said deputies later located the transmitter inside a vehicle at the family’s Virginia residence. Investigators allege Saylor’s parents encouraged search crews to utilize Project Lifesaver resources despite knowing she was not wearing the tracking device when she disappeared.
Officials also allege the parents attempted to steer search efforts away from nearby bodies of water during the response.
Family Responds
A cousin of Geordyn Hayes described Saylor’s death as a tragic accident and said Hayes loved being a mother.
Family members have also stated that the couple’s other two children are safe.
The investigation into Saylor Hayes’ death remains active as South Carolina authorities prepare to bring the parents back to Georgetown County to face the charges.
