Missing South Carolina girl's body found
A body found in South Carolina is that of missing 6-year-old Faye Swetlik, the coroner confirmed on Thursday. Swetlik went missing outside her home three days ago.
"It is with extremely heavy hearts that we are announcing that we have found the body that the coroner has identified as Faye Marie Swetlik. We are now treating this case as a homicide," an emotional Cayce Public Safety Director Byron Snellgrove said at a news conference Thursday afternoon.
"As this community has been working hard to find Faye, and bring her home safely, we wanted you to know as soon as possible," he said.
He also announced that a second body was found during the course of the investigation in the same neighborhood. He said it is not clear whether the two deaths are connected. The body was identified as a male, but authorities have not released the age or identity.
"That investigation has just begun," he said.
Snellgrove said investigators believe there is no danger to the community. No arrests have been made in the case.
Law enforcement swarmed the neighborhood where Swetlik disappeared shortly before the news conference on Thursday, CBS affiliate WCSC reports. Snellgrove said "several developments" had been made in the case since a press briefing was held earlier on Thursday.
"You need to know that this is a fluid investigation and that we are working diligently on it."
Swetlik was last seen playing in the front yard of her home on Monday afternoon at approximately 3:45 p.m. after surveillance footage showed her getting off the school bus. A little over an hour later, at approximately 5 p.m., her family called 911 when they could not find her in the immediate area.
Director Byron Snellgrove just updated community and media that the body of Faye Swetlik has been found. Now begins the investigation into her homicide and the Cayce Department of Public Safety, along with local, state and federal law enforcement partners, will continue to work together to bring this case to a close. If you have any information that would assist in our investigation the #FayeSwetlik hotline is still operational and our is ongoing. 1-803-205-4444 #PrayforFaye
Posted by Cayce Department of Public Safety on Thursday, February 13, 2020
The school where Faye was a first-grader said it would have counselors on hand to assist grieving students, teachers and staff.
"We are heart-broken with news of the death of Faye Swetlik, a first-grade student at Springdale Elementary, who went missing earlier this week. When the school community experiences a tragedy like the loss of a child, it deeply affects all of us," the school said in a statement.