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Medicare Agent in Georgetown, SC
Trying to pick a health insurance plan can be a chore for anyone. For many people, just mentioning the word "open enrollment" sends shivers down the spine. It seems like there's always a nagging feeling that you're wasting money, choosing a plan with poor in-network care, or both. One would think that health insurance gets easier as you approach retirement age, but the truth is that picking an initial Medicare coverage plan can be daunting.
Unfortunately, the confusing process of signing up for Medicare causes many seniors to forego healthcare coverage altogether. After all, Medicare enrollment can involve several federal agencies, including the Social Security Administration (or SSA) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (or CMS).
At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, our passion is guiding seniors through the confusion of Medicare. That way, they can enjoy retirement with peace of mind knowing they are protected and ready for life after 65. We work with dozens of insurance companies, giving our clients the chance to choose a plan that best fits their lifestyle.
We choose to design our senior insurance plans with a focus on optimal benefits structure, lower costs, and personalized service. Some independent insurance agencies see their aging customers as nothing more than a financial transaction waiting to happen. In contrast, we treat each of our clients with respect and dignity as we help them navigate the confusing waters of Medicare. Combined with individualized service, we help older Americans make well-informed decisions about insurance. Whether you're in need of senior Medicare Supplement Plan insurance in Georgetown, SC or simply have questions about signing up for Medicare, our team is here to help.
- Helping Seniors Make Better-Informed Medicare Decisions
- What is Medicare?
- The amount of money you pay for your health care depends on several factors, including
- Senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Georgetown, SC
- Important Information About Senior Supplement Plan Insurance
- Medicare Agent in Georgetown, SC
- How Medicare Advantage Plans Work
- Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance Rules
- Paying for Your Medicare Agent
- The Senior Medicare Insurance Services Commitment
What is Medicare?
If you're approaching the golden years of your life, it's important you understand what Medicare is if you don't already.
Medicare is a federal health insurance program reserved for people older than 65 who have worked full-time for at least ten years. The Medicare program is paid for by a combination of worker payroll tax, premiums paid by Medicare enrollees, and the U.S. government.
There are four parts of Medicare:
This type of Medicare is free for most U.S. citizens. Medicare Part A helps older adults pay for care in a nursing facility, hospital visits, and some forms of in-home senior care.
This tier costs around $100 per month. It covers different outpatient services like lab tests, preventative care, doctor's visits, mental health care, clinical trials, and some forms of surgery.
This type of Medicare is most often called Medicare Advantage. This tier of Medicare allows seniors to choose health plans provided by insurance companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Individuals who use Medicare Advantage commonly use Medicare supplement plan insurance to help pay for health care costs that Original Medicare won't cover, like coinsurance, deductibles, and copayments.
Sometimes called "PDPs," these plans add drug coverage to standard Medicare, some Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS), some Medicare Cost Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans (MSA).
The amount of money you pay for your health care depends on several factors, including:
- What kind of care you need, and how often it is needed.
- The type of Medicare coverage you choose.
- Whether there are alternative insurance policies that will help fill gaps in your coverage
- Whether a doctor agrees to charge you the same amount that Medicare will cover for a medical service
At Senior Medicare Insurance Services, we offer a number of health insurance solutions for seniors. Two of our most used services include Medicare Advantage plan insurance and Medicare supplement plan insurance.
Senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Georgetown, SC
Sometimes called Medigap, the purpose of Medicare Supplement Insurance is to help fill in "gaps" that might not be covered by Original Medicare. You can think of a Medigap policy as a supplement for your Original Medicare benefits.
Private companies like Senior Medicare Insurance Services sell this type of insurance right here in South Carolina. While Original Medicare will pay for much of the cost associated with health care services you need, it may not cover all of your expenses. Generally, Medigap policies do not cover costs stemming from eyeglasses, private-duty nurses, dental care, hearing aids, or long-term care.
Depending on the Medicare Supplement Plan that you choose, it may cover out-of-the-country medical services when you travel abroad. Assuming you have Original Medicare coverage, your policy will cover its share of Medicare-approved health care costs. Once your Original Medicare coverage reaches its limit, your Medigap policy will pay its share of the fees.
Our Medigap policies are drafted to meet your specific needs, and can help cover remaining health care costs such as:
Deductibles
Copayments
Coinsurance
Important Information About Senior Supplement Plan Insurance
To dispel some confusion, you should know that a Medigap policy is not the same as a Medicare Advantage Plan. The latter helps you receive Medicare benefits, while the former supplements the benefits you obtain through your Original Medicare plan. As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:
As you begin to explore Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans, keep the following important information in mind:
- To qualify for a Medigap policy, you must first have Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.
- Payments on your Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan will be made to the private insurance company that you choose, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. These payments are made every month and are paid in addition to the monthly payment you make for Medicare Part B.
- If you are the holder of a Medicare Advantage Plan, it is illegal for an insurance company to sell you a senior Medicare Supplement Policy. If you plan on switching back to an Original Medicare plan, you may be able to purchase a Medigap policy.
- If you have health problems as you age, your standardized Medigap policy is guaranteed to be renewable. So long as you pay your monthly premium, your insurance provider cannot cancel your policy.
- Medigap policies only cover one person. If you have a spouse or family member that would like coverage, they must purchase a separate policy.
- You may only buy a Senior Medicare Supplement Plan from an insurance agent that is licensed to sell them in your state. Senior Medicare Insurance Services has been licensed to sell Medigap policies in South Carolina for years. We have helped countless seniors get the Medicare coverage they need and continue to do so to this day.
- In the past, Medigap policies were able to cover costs related to prescription drugs. As of January 1st, 2006, prescription drug coverage is not available on Medicare Supplement Plans. The best way to get coverage for your prescription drugs is to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, often called Part D. Contact our office today to learn more about paying premiums on Medigap and Medicare plans.
For many people, the best time to buy senior Medicare Supplement Plan Insurance in Georgetown, SC is during the 7 months Medigap Open Enrollment Period. This period starts the day you turn 65 years old, so long as you hold Medical Insurance (Medicare Part B). Generally, during the enrollment period, you get more policy choices and better pricing. Once the enrollment period is over, you may not be able to purchase a Medigap policy. Contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services today to determine if you qualify for a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan.
Medicare Agent in Georgetown, SC
A Medicare Advantage Plan is a kind of Medicare health coverage designed to provide seniors with all their Part A and Part B Medicare benefits. Many Medicare Advantage Plans will often include coverage of the following:
- Preferred Provider Organizations
- Special Needs Plans
- Private Fee-for-Service
- Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans
- Health Maintenance Organizations
In addition, most Medicare Advantage Plans give seniors coverage for their prescription drug needs. When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan through Senior Medicare Insurance Services, your Medicare benefits are covered through your plan and will not be paid for by traditional Medicare.
How Medicare Advantage Plans Work
Sometimes called "MA Plans" or "Part C," Medicare Advantage Plans are considered an "all in one" solution to Original Medicare. Senior Medicare Advantage Plans are only offered by private companies that are approved, like Senior Medicare Insurance Services. Seniors who enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan are still on Medicare. However, these individuals enjoy bundled plans that give seniors the benefits of hospital insurance (Medicare Part A), medical insurance (Medicare Part B), and sometimes drug coverage (Part D).
Medicare Advantage Plans are very popular because they cover all Medicare services and make life a little easier for seniors who have trouble understanding the nuances of Medicare.
When you contact Senior Medicare Insurance Services to choose your Medicare Advantage Plan, ask your agent about Medicare prescription drug coverage. Unless you already have drug coverage (Part D), you should seriously consider Part D coverage to help reduce costs associated with prescription drugs. You may also want to consider a Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan to help fill gaps in coverage that Original Medicare will not cover.
Medicare Advantage Plan Insurance Rules
Medicare works by paying a set amount of money to the companies that offer Medicare Agent in Georgetown, SC. That money is used to pay for the care services that you need. Because Medicare Advantage Plans are different, you should expect out-of-pocket costs to vary depending on the plan you choose.
Different plans have different rules for how you receive services, such as:
If you must go to facilities, suppliers, or doctors that belong to your Advantage Plan for non-urgent and non-emergency care.-
Whether you must get a referral to see a specialized doctor
Companies that offer Medicare Advantage Plans must follow strict rules, which are set by Medicare and can change every year.
Paying for Your Medicare Agent
How much you pay for your Medicare Advantage Plan varies and depends on a few different factors. In most cases, if you need a kind of medical service, you will need to rely on the doctors and providers in your plan's service area and network to pay the lowest amounts. In some cases, if you choose to use a service outside of your plan's network of coverage, you may have to pay out-of-pocket.
We encourage you to contact our office today to learn more about Medicare Advantage Plans, how they work, what your options are, and how often you will have to pay out-of-pocket, if at all.
The Senior Medicare Insurance Services Commitment
Since our company was founded, we have led the insurance industry by providing our clients with the most valuable, helpful insurance solutions available. We are fully committed to our current and prospective clients by:
Choosing to focus on personalized, one-on-one service. When you work with our team, know that we will always design your health insurance plan with your best interests in mind.-
Listening to your specific needs. -
Responding to all inquiries and questions promptly and with a friendly attitude. -
Providing you with the best customer service in the senior health insurance industry, whether you have questions or are ready to move forward with a Medicare plan.
Our mission is to help give seniors the best Medicare assistance available so that they may understand the Medicare process and make an informed health coverage decision. We have the knowledge, skills, and experience to assist anyone interested in Medicare. Our personal goal is to become a lifetime resource for our clients and give them greater confidence in choosing their insurance plans.
We do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 8 organizations which offer 82 products in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-MEDICARE, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options.
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Latest News in Georgetown, SC
‘An update is necessary’: Georgetown County working on county’s first unified development ordinance
Maya Brownhttps://www.live5news.com/2026/08/31/an-update-is-necessary-georgetown-county-working-countys-first-unified-development-ordinance/
GEORGETOWN, S.C. (WCSC) — Georgetown County is in the process of seeking public input on its first draft of their unified development ordinance.County leaders say the new unified development would replace zoning rules that are decades out of date, some dating back to the 1970’s.The set of regulations would govern where various land uses are allowed and create rules for setbacks, parking, curb cuts and connections between developments. Planning leaders say the goal is to make the development process more predictable...
GEORGETOWN, S.C. (WCSC) — Georgetown County is in the process of seeking public input on its first draft of their unified development ordinance.
County leaders say the new unified development would replace zoning rules that are decades out of date, some dating back to the 1970’s.
The set of regulations would govern where various land uses are allowed and create rules for setbacks, parking, curb cuts and connections between developments. Planning leaders say the goal is to make the development process more predictable and straightforward for all involved, while also ensuring protections.
“That ordinance hasn’t been updated holistically for 20-plus years,” Holly Richardson, Georgetown County director of planning and code enforcement, says. “We’ve certainly had updates to sections of it, but a whole rewrite hasn’t happened for over 20 years. So that was a goal from the land use element of the comprehensive plan, and this is us moving forward with that goal.”
Currently, the county has rules around zoning and development, but they’re located in a variety of different documents. The update would ensure cohesion, so all the rules and regulations are folded into one consolidated rulebook.
“If you look at our ordinance today, it’s very text heavy,” Richardson says. “The graphics in it are very old. Some of them are probably even hand-drawn. We’ve updated some of them, but obviously there’s many different ways to do things, so we are working with them to have updated graphics, have more information and tables. It’s more user-friendly, easy to understand.”
Ordinances included in the UDO are zoning, land development regulations, access management, cell tower ordinance, and traffic impact regulations.
“We’re going to talk about areas of potential where we can change the zoning and decrease the density in those areas based on the kind of input and concerns that we’ve gotten,” Richardson says. “That was another policy goal from the comprehensive plan that we’re working to address with this.”
Richardson says the new ordinance would also address innovative techniques when considering growth.
“Our ordinance doesn’t address those,” Richardson says. “It kind of makes it harder on a developer who might want to do some of those good, for example, low-impact designs, things that would be better for the environment.”
She believes the ordinance would help provide avenues and make it easier for someone to do that kind of project.
“We love the natural environment,” Richardson says. “That’s Georgetown County, and we want to protect it. And again, the ordinances are the best way to do that. That’s the best tool we have from a public standpoint to be able to control that and do that. So I’d love for them to come in here, hear what the ideas are and the recommendations are.”
Environmental experts agree and are helping push for those environmental and conservation protections.
“This is a chance for those people that prioritize natural resources to provide their input into how the county’s zoning and land use decisions can protect the natural resources of the county,” Monica Whalen, South Carolina Environmental Law Project staff attorney, says.
The county did a land use survey where 96% of respondents said their priority was protecting natural resources.
Whalen says they’re also pushing for more walkability throughout the county to help with traffic congestion and getting cars off the roads. Another priority is including requirements to have trees preserved in development plans.
“When there is development, there’s open space and green space that’s preserved, and that’s part of the whole development plan,” Richardson says. “So just engaging in this process and advocating for land use practices that can protect our natural resources while also allowing for more sustainable, smart growth.”
This also comes after Georgetown County enacted a wetland protection ordinance earlier this year that established buffers and setbacks for both jurisdictional and non-jurisdictional wetlands in unincorporated parts of the county.
The process has been ongoing since September 2025, and leaders have gone through research and analysis, design, drafting, and various topic discussions.
The county is expected to adopt a unified development ordinance in late fall of this year.
County leaders are hosting a public workshop regarding the ordinance on Monday, Aug. 31 at 6 p.m. at the Georgetown Library. Residents will have the opportunity to learn more about major changes in a presentation and will be able to include their input to help guide the final draft.
911 Call details moments after 5-year-old went missing in Georgetown County
Hannah Bakerhttps://www.counton2.com/news/local-news/georgetown-county-news/911-call-details-moments-after-5-year-old-went-missing-in-georgetown-county/
GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – New details into the death of five-year-old Saylor Hayes, whose body was found in the water near the home where her family was staying after she allegedly wandered off over the weekend. Her parents, John and Geordyn Hayes, are now charged in connection with her death and are behind bars. 911 calls and arrest records are painting a clearer picture of the events leading up to her death.The call came in Sunday afternoon, after five-year-old Saylor Hayes reportedly wandered away from the home where h...
GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – New details into the death of five-year-old Saylor Hayes, whose body was found in the water near the home where her family was staying after she allegedly wandered off over the weekend. Her parents, John and Geordyn Hayes, are now charged in connection with her death and are behind bars. 911 calls and arrest records are painting a clearer picture of the events leading up to her death.
The call came in Sunday afternoon, after five-year-old Saylor Hayes reportedly wandered away from the home where her family was staying.
According to 911 dispatch calls, Hayes’ father, John Hayes, said, “I need help. My little, four-year-old or five-year-old girl who’s very autistic, just escaped. I’m at 76 Mile Drive. She just took off.”
In a call with dispatchers, Hayes’ father provided more details, saying, “That was when we were getting ready to go to the beach. So we had her buckled in the car, and I went inside to get her juice and some more stuff and to leave. I came back out. She’s gone. In a split second.”
Her parents told authorities she had on a wearable tracking device that could help them locate her. After Hayes’ body was recovered from the water near the home Monday morning, that device was found at their home in Virginia. Authorities say she could not have removed it on her own.
Resident Laura Tucker said, “I just really can’t comprehend; I don’t have words for that. I don’t know what would go through your mind to take that off. I think we were all just really devastated to hear that piece of the story as well.”
John and Geordyn Hayes were arrested in Carter County, Tennessee, Tuesday evening, for their alleged actions connected to her disappearance and death. Each is charged with placing a child at risk or willfully abandoning a child. Affidavits say they knew she wasn’t wearing her tracking device but told law enforcement she was. They also claim they left Saylor unsupervised for about 15 minutes near a body of water, then tried to direct search efforts away from it, despite specifically mentioning the need to search the water while on the phone with dispatchers. In the 911 call, her father said, “I need to look for her,” followed by her mother’s reply, “You need to guard the water”, and her father adding “I need to go look at the water,” before hanging up.
Records from Washington County, Virginia, courts show both parents have faced charges for crimes involving children before. In one case, both children tested positive for methadone and/or methamphetamine. Both parents are known users.
In another case, Geordyn was found in a broken-down car on the side of the road with one of the children. The heat was not on, and temperatures were near freezing. Authorities there say they are working with authorities in Georgetown on the investigation.
Residents say the community is rallying together to honor Saylor Hayes’ life amidst this tragic outcome. Laura Tucker said, “Whenever something like this happens, especially to a child, it impacts everybody in a different way. I just think that the community needs everyone’s prayers. I just hope that the little girl can rest in peace, and if there is justice to be served, I hope that that will be the outcome.”
Both parents are being held without bond pending extradition to Georgetown. The investigation is ongoing.
Warrants: Parents of autistic child Saylor Hayes misled deputies, diverted search away from water
Dylan Leatherwoodhttps://www.wmbfnews.com/2026/09/01/virginia-sheriff-tracking-device-wasnt-with-girl-found-dead-pawleys-island-area/
GEORGETOWN COUNTY, SC (WMBF) - The parents of an autistic, nonverbal 5-year-old found dead near Pawleys Island are facing child endangerment charges, with investigators alleging they misled deputies during the search for their daughter.The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office announced that authorities arrested John Hayes III and Geordyn Hayes Tuesday evening in Carter County, Tennessee.The two are facing charges of unlawfully placing a child at risk/willfully abandoning a child.The charges come after their daughter,...
GEORGETOWN COUNTY, SC (WMBF) - The parents of an autistic, nonverbal 5-year-old found dead near Pawleys Island are facing child endangerment charges, with investigators alleging they misled deputies during the search for their daughter.
The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office announced that authorities arrested John Hayes III and Geordyn Hayes Tuesday evening in Carter County, Tennessee.
The two are facing charges of unlawfully placing a child at risk/willfully abandoning a child.
The charges come after their daughter, 5-year-old Saylor Hayes, wandered from her family’s rental home Sunday along Old Waccamaw Drive in the Hagley Community.
According to arrest warrants, Saylor, described as severely nonverbal and autistic with a history of wandering and a known affinity for water, was left unsupervised about 15 meters from a body of water before she went missing.
Agents with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources recovered Saylor Hayes’ body around 9:45 a.m. Monday in the water near the Hagley Landing.
“Saylor was a vulnerable five-year-old child who depended upon the adults responsible for her care and protection,” Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver said. “She deserved to be safe. She deserved to be protected.”
Project Lifesaver
Washington County Sheriff Blake Andis said Saylor Hayes and her family are from the Bristol area of the county, and Hayes has been enrolled in the agency’s Project Lifesaver program since June of 2024.
Project Lifesaver helps authorities find people who are at risk of wandering because of cognitive conditions or special needs.
People in the program wear a small transmitter that emits a radio frequency, helping authorities track people who potentially go missing.
Andis said as of Aug. 11, Saylor Hayes’ band was on her ankle and working. It’s unclear exactly when the device was removed, but deputies said it had been taken off before the family left Virginia.
A helicopter equipped with the technology was deployed to help locate Hayes and was part of the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office search.
However, Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver said they couldn’t get a ping from Hayes Sunday evening.
Andis says Hayes did not have her transmitter when she went missing after wandering from her family’s rental home along Old Waccamaw Drive in the Hagley Community.
Andis said his deputies checked Hayes’ family’s home in Virginia and found the tracker inside a vehicle on the property.
According to arrest warrants, John Hayes III and Geordyn Hayes encouraged deputies to use Project Lifesaver despite knowing Saylor Hayes did not have her transmitter.
The two also allegedly tried to divert the search efforts away from the nearby water.
Andis said it is important to note that Project Lifesaver is a voluntary program.
“A parent, guardian, or caregiver is responsible for ensuring the transmitter remains properly secured to the client,” Andis said. “The transmitter is attached using a specialized band designed for continuous wear. It cannot simply be unclasped or removed by the client; the band must be physically cut in order to remove the transmitter.”
Gene Saunders, founder and CEO of Project Lifesaver International, said he does not recommend removing the band at any time.
“It can be used in bathing and in swimming,” Saunders said. “If they take it off, you’re gonna have the same situation that occurred in this particular search where you don’t have a means of locating them rapidly.”
Andis told WMBF he hasn’t seen a situation where a Project Lifesaver client takes off their band before leaving the state.
Andis reiterated that Project Lifesaver works, and he believed that if Hayes had been wearing her transmitter, deputies could have found her much sooner.
Georgetown County Coroner Chase Ridgeway said there were no visible signs of trauma.
An autopsy for Hayes is scheduled for Friday morning at the Medical University of South Carolina.
“The cause and manner of death remain undetermined pending the completion of the autopsy and any necessary additional testing,” Ridgeway said.
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Search efforts
The sheriff’s office spent hours searching on Sunday and continued the search through the night into Monday.
Multiple agencies and methods were deployed during the search, including drones, K-9s, divers, search crews along the water, and a Charleston County Sheriff’s Office helicopter equipped with Project Lifesaver equipment.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division sent a helicopter and underwater drone to assist with the search for several hours, and the U.S. Coast Guard sent a vessel to help with searches as well.
In addition, hundreds of neighbors from the area searched their own properties and surrounding areas and guarded docks, the sheriff’s office said.
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Virginia couple arrested after 5-year-old nonverbal daughter is found dead in South Carolina waters
Marlene Lenthanghttps://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/virginia-couple-arrested-daughter-found-dead-south-carolina-rcna595786
A Virginia couple have been arrested after their 5-year-old daughter, described as autistic and nonverbal, was found dead in South Carolina waters this week.John Herb Hayes III, 70, and Geordyn Nichole Hayes, 31, of Bristol, were arrested Monday evening in Carter County, Tennessee, and charged with unlawfully placing a child at risk or willfully abandoning a child, the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office announced.Their daughter, Saylor Hayes, was reported missing Sunday afternoon. Her body was found Monday morning in the ...
A Virginia couple have been arrested after their 5-year-old daughter, described as autistic and nonverbal, was found dead in South Carolina waters this week.
John Herb Hayes III, 70, and Geordyn Nichole Hayes, 31, of Bristol, were arrested Monday evening in Carter County, Tennessee, and charged with unlawfully placing a child at risk or willfully abandoning a child, the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office announced.
Their daughter, Saylor Hayes, was reported missing Sunday afternoon. Her body was found Monday morning in the waters near Hagley Landing, a boat ramp leading to the Waccamaw River in the small town of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, following an extensive search involving hundreds of people and multiple agencies.
The arrest warrant affidavits for the parents say that on Sunday, they placed Saylor at risk of harm by “failing to provide supervision and safeguards appropriate for a severely nonverbal, autistic five-year-old child with known affinity to water and history of elopement.”
The parents were being held at the Carter County Detention Center in Tennessee without bond pending an extradition hearing. It was not immediately clear Wednesday night whether they have attorneys.
Authorities initially said Saylor’s mother reported that her child had wandered off from a rental home in Hagley Estates in Pawleys Island and was last seen wearing her swimsuit.
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Deputies said they were trying to track her with a Project Lifesaver transmitter, a wearable device that emits a frequency that law enforcement can track if the wearer goes missing.
Saylor had been wearing a Project Lifesaver monitoring device since 2024, but it had been removed before the family left Virginia, the affidavits said. Then, once she was in South Carolina, Saylor was left unsupervised within 15 meters of a body of water, the filing said.
After she disappeared, the parents encouraged search efforts to be directed toward using the tracker even though they knew Saylor was not wearing the device, and they also directed search efforts away from the nearby body of water, the affidavits said.
Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver called Saylor’s death “a heartbreaking tragedy” that has “deeply affected our community.”
“Saylor was a vulnerable five-year-old child who depended upon the adults responsible for her care and protection,” he said in a statement. “She deserved to be safe. She deserved to be protected.”
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia said in a statement that it was the agency hosting the Project Lifesaver program that Saylor enrolled in back in June 2024. It said the program helps law enforcement find people at risk of wandering because of cognitive conditions or special needs.
After Saylor disappeared Sunday, it said, the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office reached out to request information about her Project Lifesaver transmitter.
When searchers in South Carolina were unable to detect her frequency, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was asked to check her home. When officers responded to the Hayes residence, they detected the frequency assigned to Saylor’s transmitter, which was inside a vehicle on the property, the sheriff’s office said.
“The transmitter was not with Saylor when she went missing in South Carolina,” the agency added.
The sheriff’s office noted that the transmitter is attached using a specialized band for continuous wear — “it cannot simply be unclasped or removed by the client; the band must be physically cut in order to remove the transmitter.”
“Nothing we do can bring Saylor back,” said Weaver, the Georgetown County sheriff. “What we can do is pursue the truth, seek accountability through our justice system, and continue doing everything within our authority to protect the most vulnerable members of our community.”
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Marlene Lenthang
Marlene Lenthang is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.
Parents charged after 5-year-old found dead near Pawleys Island in South Carolina
Zach Raineyhttps://www.wyff4.com/article/saylor-hayes-missing-south-carolina-parents-arrested/73586339
The parents of 5-year-old Saylor Hayes have been arrested after her body was found near Pawleys Island in South Carolina this week.The arrests come after the body of Saylor Hayes was found Monday morning in the waters near Hagley Landing on Pawleys Island.The Georgetown County Sheriff's Office said that 70-year-old John Herb Hayes III and 31-year-old Geordyn Nichole Hayes were arrested in Carter County, Tennessee, on Tuesday.CCSOBoth John and Geordyn were charged with unlawfully placing a child at risk/willfully a...
The parents of 5-year-old Saylor Hayes have been arrested after her body was found near Pawleys Island in South Carolina this week.
The arrests come after the body of Saylor Hayes was found Monday morning in the waters near Hagley Landing on Pawleys Island.
The Georgetown County Sheriff's Office said that 70-year-old John Herb Hayes III and 31-year-old Geordyn Nichole Hayes were arrested in Carter County, Tennessee, on Tuesday.
CCSO
Both John and Geordyn were charged with unlawfully placing a child at risk/willfully abandoning a child.
CCSO
John Herb Hayes III
Keep up with what's happening around our area by downloading the WYFF News 4 app on the App Store or Google Play.
According to the arrest warrants, Saylor's parents failed to provide supervision and safeguards appropriate for a "severely nonverbal" 5-year-old child with autism, who had a known affinity for the water.
GCSO
Authorities said that Saylor was part of the Project Lifesaver program, which is used to find missing people with a cognitive condition. However, the tracking device had been removed before the family left for vacation.
Arrest warrants say that after Saylor's body was found, the couple encouraged the search team to use the tracking device, despite knowing that she was not wearing the monitoring device. Furthermore, the couple is accused of directing the search away from the water.
Once extradition proceedings are complete, the couple will be transported back to Georgetown County.
Statement from Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver
"The death of Saylor Hayes is a heartbreaking tragedy that has deeply affected our community and everyone who worked so hard to find her.
"From the beginning, our responsibility has been to follow the evidence wherever it led. Following an extensive investigation, Saylor’s parents have been arrested and charged under South Carolina law relating to unlawfully placing a child at risk of or causing harm, or willfully abandoning a child.
"Parents and caregivers have a fundamental responsibility to protect children who cannot protect themselves. When the evidence establishes probable cause to believe that a child has been unlawfully placed in circumstances that endanger that child’s safety, law enforcement has a responsibility to act.
"Saylor was a vulnerable five-year-old child who depended upon the adults responsible for her care and protection. She deserved to be safe. She deserved to be protected.
"These arrests are based upon the evidence developed during this investigation and the applicable law. They should not be interpreted as a determination of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
"Nothing we do can bring Saylor back. What we can do is pursue the truth, seek accountability through our justice system, and continue doing everything within our authority to protect the most vulnerable members of our community.
"I remain extremely grateful to the deputies, investigators, first responders, partner agencies and citizens who worked tirelessly to find Saylor and determine what happened to her.
"This case is now entering the judicial process, and we will respect that process. Above all, we will remember Saylor and remain committed to ensuring that her life is not forgotten.
"Saylor deserved to be safe. She deserved to be protected."
Saylor Hayes reported missing on Pawleys Island
Saylor Hayes was reported missing on Sunday afternoon on Pawleys Island where she was staying in a rented home with her family.
Searchers said Saylor was part of the Project Lifesaver program, which is used to find missing people with cognitive condition. The Georgetown County Sheriff's Office said it deployed Project Lifesaver equipment throughout the search to try to get a signal from Saylor's device she was supposed to be wearing.
Georgetown County Sheriff's Office
What is Project Lifesaver?
Project Lifesaver assists law enforcement in locating individuals who are at risk of wandering due to cognitive conditions or other special needs. Clients wear a small transmitter that emits an individualized radio frequency, allowing specially trained personnel to track and locate them if they become missing.
Saylor's body found during search
Saylor's body was found Monday morning in the waters near the area where she was last seen.
Georgetown County Sheriff's Office
Authorities in her hometown speak out
On Tuesday, the Washington County, Virginia, Sheriff's Office made a Facebook post about Saylor's death and her participation in the Project Lifesaver program.
The sheriff's office said Saylor was from the Bristol area of Washington County, and had been enrolled in the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver program since June of 2024.
Authorities in Virginia said on Aug. 30, 2026, the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina contacted them after Saylor was reported missing and requested information regarding her Project Lifesaver transmitter.
They said they provided authorities in South Carolina the assigned frequency and other relevant information to assist with the search. They said after searchers in South Carolina were unable to detect Saylor’s frequency, they checked Saylor's home residence in Washington County and found the Project Lifesaver device inside a vehicle on the property.
"It is important to understand that Project Lifesaver is a voluntary program. A parent, guardian, or caregiver is responsible for ensuring the transmitter remains properly secured to the client," the sheriff's office social post said. "The transmitter is attached using a specialized band designed for continuous wear. It cannot simply be unclasped or removed by the client; the band must be physically cut in order to remove the transmitter."
Washington County Virginia Sheriff Blake Andis said the equipment did exactly what it was designed to do.
"What makes this situation especially heartbreaking is that Saylor did not have her transmitter with her when she went missing," Andis said. "Had Saylor been wearing her Project Lifesaver transmitter, we believe the technology could have assisted search teams in locating her much sooner. While no technology can guarantee an outcome, every minute matters when a vulnerable child or adult is missing.”
Andis said his office will continue to partner with authorities in South Carolina on Saylor's death investigation, but no additional information regarding the circumstances surrounding the removal or location of Saylor’s transmitter will be released at this time.
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