Full Breakdown
Search for Missing 5-Year-Old Sailor Hayes Intensifies in Georgetown County, South Carolina
8/31/2026, 11:34:50 AM
Core Event – Ongoing Multi-Agency Search
A 5-year-old nonverbal girl, Sailor Hayes, disappeared from her family’s rental home in the Hagley Community near Old Waccamaw Drive on Pawleys Island. She was last seen wearing a light-blue one-piece bathing suit and a pink-and-white lanyard around her ankle. Authorities describe her as approximately 3 feet 6 inches tall with blond hair and blue eyes. A coordinated response involving deputies, K-9 units, divers, drones, helicopters, and volunteer residents has been deployed to search both the neighborhood and the adjacent waterways.
Key Figures & Groups
- Carter Weaver – Georgetown County Sheriff, leading the search effort.
- Heather Pelham – Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, providing public updates.
- South Carolina Department of Natural Resources – Divers conducting underwater searches.
- Horry County divers – Examined roughly 200 yards of water near the rental property.
- Charleston County Sheriff’s Office – Provided a helicopter equipped with Project Lifesaver technology.
- Midway Fire Department – Patrolling shoreline and assisting marine patrol.
- Georgetown County Emergency Management – Supporting logistical coordination.
- Aiden Cooper – Local resident who assisted in the search.
Official Statements & Responses
Spokesperson Heather Pelham confirmed that deputies, neighborhood volunteers, and multiple agencies are conducting ground, aerial, and water searches around the Hagley Boat Landing, which remains closed for safety. The sheriff’s office has asked residents to review any home-security footage that might show Sailor and to call 911 if she is sighted. Officials also warned that, because Sailor is nonverbal, she may not respond verbally but is likely to react positively to a gentle tone, smiles, and slow movements.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Community has really came together, really, really started to focus on finding her, and I really hope we can, we can bring her back home safely,” — Aiden Cooper
Data & Statistics
- Height: 3 ft 6 in; hair: blond; eyes: blue.
- Clothing: light-blue one-piece bathing suit and pink-and-white ankle lanyard.
- Search assets: multiple K-9 units, Charleston County helicopter, drones operated by the Sheriff’s Office and County Fire, Midway Fire Department marine patrol, and volunteer dock guards.
- Water effort: ?200 yards of shoreline examined by Horry County divers; additional underwater searches scheduled for the following day.
Why It Matters
Sailor’s nonverbal status heightens the urgency of a careful, calm approach from anyone who encounters her, as she may not be able to signal distress verbally. The extensive multi-agency mobilization illustrates the community’s rapid response to a child-abduction-type incident and underscores the importance of coordinated use of technologies such as Project Lifesaver in locating vulnerable individuals.
What’s Next
- Underwater searches by South Carolina Department of Natural Resources divers are slated to continue the next day.
- Project Lifesaver signals will remain active from ground units and the helicopter throughout the night.
- Community outreach continues, with officials urging residents to monitor security cameras and report any sightings immediately.
The search remains active, with law-enforcement and volunteer teams working through the night to locate Sailor Hayes and bring her safely home.
