Saylor Hayes’ Parents Face New Scrutiny as Disturbing Details Emerge About Their Past

New details are emerging about the family of 5-year-old Saylor Hayes following the discovery of her body in South Carolina.

According to a report published Thursday, September 3, by News 5, the outlet obtained records from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office through a Freedom of Information Act request showing Saylor’s mother, Geordyn Nichole Hayes, was arrested on February 17 on a child abuse and neglect charge involving another child in connection with an incident in the Abingdon, Virginia, area.

A second warrant alleged Geordyn “willfully or negligently” caused or permitted the child’s life to be endangered, the outlet reported. The documents obtained by WCYB showed that Geordyn was charged, and the outlet said it was unable to determine the final outcome of the case because the Washington County courthouse was closed due to microbial growth.

Saylor’s body was recovered on Monday, August 31, from the waters near Hagley Landing, a boat ramp leading to the Waccamaw River in Pawleys Island, South Carolina, according to NBC News. Saylor, who was nonverbal, had been reported missing the previous day after Geordyn told authorities her daughter had wandered away from a rental home in Hagley Estates and was last seen wearing her swimsuit.

Saylor’s father, John Herb Hayes III, and Geordyn have been charged in South Carolina with unlawfully placing a child at risk/willfully abandoning a child in connection with Saylor’s disappearance and death. Geordyn and John, 70, were arrested Tuesday, September 1, in Carter County, Tennessee.

The parents appeared in a Carter County courtroom two days later. At that time both waived their right to an attorney and waived extradition to South Carolina, agreeing to return to the state to face the charges, according to Live 5 News.

Geordyn and John will remain jailed in Tennessee until South Carolina authorities retrieve them, which the judge ordered must happen within 10 days, the outlet reported. A status hearing was scheduled for September 14 in the event they have not been picked up by then, per the report.

According to arrest warrants cited by the Live 5 News, the parents are accused of directing search efforts away from the body of water where Saylor was ultimately found. Authorities also allege they encouraged deputies to use Saylor’s Project Lifesaver device — which is intended to track the autistic child — to locate her despite knowing the girl did not have her transmitter with her. Deputies said the transmitter had been removed before the family left their Washington County, Virginia, home, per the report.

Live 5 News also clarified what happened with Geordyn’s earlier charges in Virginia. According to the outlet, a child cruelty charge was dismissed. A separate charge of child abuse with disregard for life was reduced to contributing to the delinquency of a minor and remains pending. That case involved a male minor, not Saylor.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.