The parents of Saylor Hayes appeared before a Tennessee judge Thursday, marking their first public appearance since being taken into custody in connection with their daughter's death.
John Hayes III, 70, and Geordyn Hayes, 31, faced extradition proceedings at the Tennessee courthouse. Both individuals chose to forgo their right to legal representation during the extradition process and declined additional procedural hearings that would have delayed their transfer to South Carolina.
The 5-year-old autistic child's body was recovered from the Waccamaw River on Monday. Authorities arrested the parents in Tennessee on Tuesday.
According to reports, the couple had contacted authorities the day before their daughter was found, claiming she had disappeared from a South Carolina rental property where the family was staying.
Both parents face criminal accusations of willfully abandoning a child and unlawfully creating a dangerous situation for a minor. They remain in custody with no bond set.
While authorities plan to transfer the couple back to South Carolina to face charges, they are scheduled to return to the Tennessee courthouse on Saturday, September 14, for a procedural review—unless the extradition occurs before that date.
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Ava Hart
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