Pawleys Island Girl Found Dead; Tracking Device Not Worn, Sheriff Says

A 5-year-old nonverbal girl, Saylor Hayes, went missing near Pawleys Island, South Carolina, prompting a large search that involved Project Lifesaver technology used to track individuals who wander due to cognitive conditions. Authorities say Saylor was enrolled in the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver program since June 2024, and the program’s transmitter helped guide the search efforts, including a helicopter deployment. However, Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver said they could not get a ping from Saylor, and investigators later confirmed she was not wearing the transmitter when she disappeared. The transmitter was later found inside a vehicle at the Hayes family’s Virginia home, after deputies checked the property, and officials stressed that the device is a voluntary program requiring guardians to ensure the transmitter remains secure. Saylor’s body was discovered in the water near where she was last seen, and authorities say that wearing the transmitter could have potentially aided responders, though no technology can guarantee an outcome. The case remains under review as investigators continue to examine how the transmitter was not with Saylor and what more could have aided the search.