09/02/2026
🚨𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝟓-𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑-𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐒𝐀𝐘𝐋𝐎𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐃
The parents of 5-year-old Saylor Hayes have been arrested following an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and death.
John Herb Hayes III and Geordyn Nichole Hayes were taken into custody Tuesday evening in Carter County, Tennessee. Both are charged with unlawfully placing a child at risk or willfully abandoning a child.
They allegedly had been told not to leave South Carolina, but did. Some comments say the mother is from the are where they were arrested.
Geordyn’s cousin commented on a previous post saying that Geordyn has previously had addiction issues, but had been to rehab and was clean. Im my professional opinion, she was under the influence in the video posted by GAB news.
After the extradition process is completed, the couple is expected to be returned to Georgetown County, South Carolina, to face the charge.
Their arrests came one day after Saylor’s body was recovered from the water near Hagley Landing. Her disappearance had prompted an extensive search involving hundreds of volunteers and personnel from local, state and federal agencies.
Deputies, investigators, firefighters, boat crews, divers, K9 teams and community members searched through the night in hopes of finding the little girl alive.
According to the arrest warrants, Saylor was allegedly left without supervision approximately 15 meters from a body of water.
The warrants also contain allegations concerning the Project Lifesaver tracking device assigned to Saylor. She had reportedly participated in the program since 2024, but the device had allegedly been removed before the family traveled from Virginia.
After Saylor was reported missing, the warrants allege that John Hayes encouraged searchers to follow the direction in which the tracking technology would have led them, despite allegedly knowing that Saylor was not wearing the device. He is further accused of directing attention away from the nearby water.
Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver said investigators followed the available evidence and ultimately determined that probable cause existed to arrest both parents under a South Carolina law addressing the endangerment or willful abandonment of a child.
Weaver described Saylor as a vulnerable 5-year-old who depended on the adults responsible for her care. He said she deserved to be safe and protected.
The sheriff also thanked the law enforcement officers, first responders, assisting agencies and citizens who worked tirelessly to locate Saylor and determine what happened to her.
These arrests are not convictions. John and Geordyn Hayes are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Saylor’s disappearance brought an entire community together in the hope that she would be found safely. Instead, the search ended with the devastating recovery of her body and allegations that raise serious questions about the circumstances that placed her in danger.
Yes, the old man is Saylor’s dad. There is allegedly a 40 year age gap between him and Geordyn.
