Missing child Faye Swetlik (6) has been found deceased

(Updates can be found at the bottom of the post)

Faye Swetlik got off the school bus after a day at first grade on Monday February 10, 2020 in Cayce, SC and has seemingly vanished off the face of the earth.

Surveillance footage from the bus shows her arriving home at about 2.50pm on Monday.

Image may contain: one or more people
Footage from the bus

A neighbor whose son rides the bus with Faye confirmed that she was seen at that time. The same neighbor said Faye’s mother Selena met Faye at the bus stop and they headed home together.

Faye and Selena

Neighbors have said that Faye often plays on the front porch of the family home. It is assumed that Faye was playing out the front on Monday, and at 3.45pm, her family noticed that she was no longer there.

Faye was reported missing to police at about 5pm.

The search for Faye started straight away. Both state and federal agencies, including the FBI are involved in her case. More than 250 LE officials are participating in the search.

FBI agents search S.C. property where missing 6-year-old was last seen, neighbors share more info
Faye’s home

Law Enforcement have been seen looking in many coolers and containers that litter the family property.

Image may contain: outdoor, possible text that says 'Greg Suskin, Channel 9 3 hrs The home in Cayce that 6-yr-old Faye Swetlik disappeared from yesterday afternoon. There's crime scene tape on the door, and a huge search involving hundreds of people. FBI, sled agents and many local police, fire and rescue agencies as well. I spoke to neighbors who stayed out all night searching with them. Details ahead at noon on Channel 9.'

The front door of the family home has been sealed with crime scene tape.

On Tuesday February 11, Faye’s family released this statement:

Image may contain: 3 people, people smiling, possible text that says 'FAYE SWETLIK'S FAMILY STAT TATEMENT: FAYE AYEI IS A BUBBLY AND HAPPY LITTLE GIRL. SHE ALWAYS WANTS TO PLAY AND HAVE FUN. SHE'S NOT THE TYPE OF KID THAT WILL UP AND WALK AWAY. HER MOM WAS VERY ATTENTIVE IN WATCHING FAYE. FAYE PAYS ATTENTION TO HER SURROUNDINGS. HER GRANDMOTHER IS VERY DISTRAUGHT ABOUT WHAT HAS HAS HAPPENED THEY ARE VERY CLOSE. WE JUST WANT FIND FAYE AND BRING HER HOME. -SWETLIK FAMILY Foxi Actual lothing'

A news conference was held at 5pm on February 11 and little information was revealed. Police have asked anyone that may have surveillance footage of the area to come forward so that it may be examined.

News station WIS is also reporting that two cars have been towed away from the area.

Image may contain: possible text that says 'Emily Wakeman @emily_wakema... 1m Two cars near the home of missing 6 yr old old Faye Swetlik just towed away. About 10-20 officers and investigators going door to door of neighboring homes as it happened. @wis10 5 views'
Image may contain: car, possible text that says 'Emily Wakeman @emily_wakema... 1m Two cars near the home of missing 6 yr old Faye Swetlik just towed away. About 10-20 officers and investigators going door to door of neighboring homes as it happened. @wis10 5 views'

Faye has been described as bubbly, artistic and kind child. She loves to color and draw, and eat freeze-pops after school.

Faye is caucasian with strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes. She’s 3-foot-10-inches tall and weighs about 65 pounds. Officials said she has a speech impediment and is lactose intolerant.

She was last seen Monday afternoon wearing a black shirt with neon colors, a floral print skirt and polka dot rain boots.

A flyer from the Cayce Department of Public Safety said they contacted all known relatives of the child, who have all said they have not seen her since she was reported missing.

Faye Swetlik missing person FBI poster released Wednesday

IF YOU HAVE A TIP OR HAVE SEEN FAYE – call 803-205-4444 ASAP!

Updates:

A press conference will be held at 11:45 a.m. to update the public on the investigation. Nothing has been confirmed yet, but there are rumors her body was found.

(This has been confirmed as untrue per the PC, so if you see rumors this is why)

Link to PC

The press conference explained that they still did not find her, but the family is cooperating.

The search for Faye is ongoing.

Image may contain: 1 person, smiling, possible text that says 'Cayce Department of Public Safety 17 mins There have been calls, DM's and social postings asking if the public be involved the search for Faye Swetlik ground searches to continue to be done by law enforcement and other first responders. Thorough ground searches require coordination and contact incident command, mapped methodical the terrain environment the area varies requiring special equipment and vehicles for safety. Please focus efforts in assisting with this investigation by sharing the most up to date postings from social media pages as all working together in bringing Faye home. home. #PrayforFaye #FayeSwetlik'

The Cayce Department of Public Safety are currently working to identify cars and occupants seen in the area when Faye disappeared.

Image may contain: 1 person, smiling, possible text that says 'Cayce Department of Public Safety 20 mins Please view and share this video. The two vehicles shown were the neighborhood during the time #FayeSwetlik was last seen. Our investigators have yet to identify or interview the occupants. Talking with everyone who was in #ChurchillHeights at the time Faye was last seen is an important part of our work to bring her home. #PrayforFaye 640 Like Comment Share'

The worst possible outcome was realized on February 13.

Police said search teams looking for Faye made a grim discovery on Thursday afternoon.

The child was found dead, police said during a news conference just after 2 p.m.

Cayce Public Safety Director Byron Snellgrove said Faye’s death was ruled a homicide.

Snellgrove said a deceased male was also found in the Churchill Heights neighborhood where Faye went missing. He said that death investigation is just beginning.

Snellgrove did not take any questions during the news conference and did not say if the two deaths are connected.

Update – February 14.

Coty Scott Taylor (30) has been identified as the deceased male. Police have said that Faye’s body was found in a wooded area. Coty’s body was found in his home. ‘Critical evidence’ relating to Faye’s case was found in Coty’s trash can.

During a news conference on February 14, Sergeant Evan Antley of Cayce CPS did not clarify what the evidence was but stated that it was an item that would have been listed on the missing person flyer. The evidence directed their attention back to a wooded area they had searched previously.

Police say during the three-day search for Faye, investigators had been inside Coty’s home and had spoken with him about the case.

The 911 call Faye’s mother made on the day of her disappearance has been released.

On February 15, a police procession escorted Faye’s tiny body home, following her autopsy.

The police escort was pictured accompanying Faye on the entire journey, setting off from MUSC in Charleston at 12 pm and heading to Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington.

FEBRUARY 18, 2020 – PRESS CONFERENCE UPDATE

Police held a press conference on Tuesday February 18. They released more information about the abduction and causes of death for both Faye and Coty.

  • Faye was kidnapped by Coty and was murdered by asphyxiation just hours after her abduction.
  • Police searched Coty’s property after Faye disappeared, but saw no sign of her.
  • Police searched neighborhood trash cans on Thursday February 13 and they found evidence relating to Faye’s case. It is believed they discovered Faye’s boot and also a soup ladle covered with dirt.
  • Law enforcement immediately conducted another search of the area, and that is when Faye’s body was discovered. It is believed that she was murdered in Coty’s home and was redressed and moved at a later date.
  • A source close to the investigation has also been in touch with True Crime Society and has said that Faye was sexually assaulted. This has not been confirmed by the Medical Examiner.
  • While police were in the process of doing the final search for Faye, Coty Taylor took his own life while watching the search on the back patio of his home. He slit his throat. Our source said that Cody made three cuts, the final one proving fatal.
Image may contain: possible text that says 'The guy is going to be ruled as a suicide. He had 3 cuts. One on each side of throat and one across the center that caused his death. Faye was sexually assaulted and redressed. Some information should be released today.'
TCS source info

Faye’s funeral is scheduled for Friday February 21.

The remembrance service will be held at 7 p.m. in the Trinity Baptist Church Worship center.

Attendees are asked to wear pink and purple in her honor.

Faye’s obituary

2 thoughts on “Missing child Faye Swetlik (6) has been found deceased

  1. Little Faye’s passing is haunting, I can’t imagine the fear she must have gone through in those last few hours of her life. It is our greatest fear (parents).

    “We are never so defenseless as when we love” Freud.

    “To have children is to give hostages to fate” John F. Kennedy

  2. Garden of the Gods – The Passing of Faye Swetlik

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuTLmTMrBMM

    “We are never so defenseless against suffering as when we love” – Sigmund Freud

    “To have children is to give hostages to fate” – John F. Kennedy

    Music: Temple of Silence
    by Deuter
    From the album: Garden of the Gods

    All things come to pass, but the passing of a child, we may never come to know the why or the how…

    May this beautiful child, Faye Swetlik, rest in peace and be free …

    February 21, 2020

    – Mike Legare

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