CAYCE, S.C. — Police have linked the disappearance and death of South Carolina first grader Faye Swetlik with the death of one of her neighbors, 30-year-old Coty Scott Taylor, WSOC-TV reported.
Investigators said they found Taylor's body Thursday in the same neighborhood where they found Faye's body. Authorities said the deaths were linked after finding significant evidence, but they declined to elaborate.
A homicide investigation is underway, WSOC-TV reported.
Police had searched Taylor’s home earlier and also talked to him. He had no criminal record. They say evidence found in trash can was listed on her missing persons report. More soon.
— Greg Suskin (@GSuskinWSOC9) February 14, 2020
Officials said Taylor was not related to Faye and was not a family friend, but was a neighbor. He did not have a criminal history and was not known to officers. Authorities said that during the search for Faye, they spoke with Taylor and had been inside his home at one point.
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Faye was last seen playing in front of her home Monday afternoon, shortly after she got off a school bus in the Churchill Heights neighborhood of Cayce, South Carolina.
The search for the missing girl had entered its fourth day before investigators found her body around 11 a.m. Thursday. Officers said initial information showed Faye had not been in the location where she was found for long.
Community members remembered Faye as a happy little girl, WSOC-TV reported.
"She was always smiling," Brandi Edmond said. "I've never seen her mad or sad."
Authorities continue to investigate.
The Cox Media Group National Content Desk contributed to this report.
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