Coty Taylor, the suspect in Faye Swetlik’s killing, died by suicide, police say

The man suspected of killing Faye Swetlik, 6, died by suicide, authorities said.

Coty Taylor, 30, was found after police discovered evidence that implicated him in Swetlik’s death.

Swetlik, a student at Springdale Elementary, was reported missing last week after being last seen playing in her yard.

Here is what we know about Taylor and his connection to the crime.

How did he die?

Shortly after police found Swetlik’s body, they heard a report of a man on his back porch bleeding from the neck. Police identified him as Coty Taylor.

Taylor’s death was ruled a suicide, according to Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher. He died from an injury to the neck, which coroner described in a news release as an “incised wound.”

How did he get caught?

Police had established a perimeter around the Churchill Heights neighborhood after Swetlik’s mother reported her missing. That perimeter included talking to every neighbor, searching cars that went in and out of the neighborhood and asking to search residents’ homes, said Byron Snellgrove, the director of the Cayce Department of Public Safety.

On Thursday, police followed garbage collectors on their routine rounds and searched through each trash can for evidence, Snellgrove said. When police searched the trash outside 602 Picadilly Square, they discovered a polka-dot boot and a soup ladle that contained freshly-dug dirt, Snellgrove said. Reports said Faye was wearing polka-dot boots when she disappeared.

Police searched his house and found Swetlik’s DNA inside, Snellgrove said.

Had police ever interacted with Taylor before?

Yes. When police searched the neighborhood and spoke to neighbors, Taylor was one of those they spoke to, Snellgrove said. Taylor even gave police permission to look around his house, but police did not find anything. Snellgrove said the police interview with Taylor did not yield any useful information.

Are there any other suspects?

No. Taylor did have a roommate at 602 Picadilly Square, but police have no evidence the roommate was involved, Snellgrove said.

“He appears to be the sole perpitrator,” Snellgrove said.

This story was originally published February 18, 2020 at 4:51 PM.