Missing 6-year-old girl found dead in South Carolina. Here’s what we know so far
The search for a missing 6-year-old girl in South Carolina has turned into a murder investigation after police found her body Thursday near her family’s home.
The body of Faye Swetlik, who went missing Monday afternoon, was found Thursday near the body of a “deceased male,” the Cayce Police Department said.
Police did not identify any suspects and said they had not made any arrests.
Here’s what we know so far:
Missing since Monday
Faye was reportedly last seen by her family about 3:45 p.m. Monday when she was playing in their yard in Cayce, just southwest of Columbia, according to The State newspaper.
Her family reported her missing at 5 p.m. Monday, and 50 police officers and first responders swarmed the Churchill Heights neighborhood within 40 minutes, Sgt. Evan Antley said.
Police locked down the neighborhood during the search, only allowing residents and people who work there to go into the area, The State reported.
“Talking with everyone who was in Churchill Heights at the time Faye was last seen is an important part of our work,” investigators said.
Two vehicles
Investigators said they were looking for people in two vehicles seen in the neighborhood around the time Faye went missing. On Thursday, police told reporters they were able to talk to the people in one vehicle but were still looking for those in the other vehicle.
“Our investigators have yet to identify or interview the occupants,” the department said on Facebook.
Found Thursday
“It is with extremely heavy hearts we’re announcing we found a body the coroner identified as Faye Marie Swetlik,” said Byron Snellgrove, public safety director of the police department.
He held back tears as he made the announcement during a press conference.
Police did not release details about the dead male found near Faye’s body.
This story was originally published February 13, 2020 at 3:49 PM.
