Cayce, SC (Paul Kirby) – The Cayce Department of Public Safety announced Thursday afternoon they’ve located the body of Faye Marie Swetlik’s in the Churchill Heights area. The body of the little girl was found Thursday morning just before midday. According to Chief Byron Snellgrove, her death is being treated as a homicide.
Faye, 6, of Cayce, went missing Monday afternoon around 4:00 p.m. She had gone to school that day, ridden the bus home and then according to her mother, went missing while playing outside.
Chief Snellgrove said along with Faye’s body, they have also located the body of a deceased adult male in the Churchill Heights neighborhood. He provided no further information on that death. He also accepted no question after making the announcement.
Early into the investigation, several vehicles were towed from the townhome where the family lived. Investigators swarmed the area searching the thick woods and small waterways around the neighborhood. The search was joined by firefighters, SLED agents, and agents from the FBI. Flyers were made, passed out, and the power of the internet took over spreading her information worldwide.
Snellgrove held fast during the time that Faye was missing in his belief that the Faye was still in the area where she had disappeared.
Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher stood to the side as Chief Snellgrove made the announcement that Faye was dead. Fisher, known for her caring and compassion, was also visibly shaken. Her office will be key to the continued investigation into the unidentified man’s death and what exactly occurred.
Hundreds of law enforcement officers have been working nonstop since Faye went missing. There resolve to bring Faye home never wavered. Although these men and women are professionals in every way, a case like this would hit anyone hard. You could see the anguish in Snellgrove's and Fisher’s faces today as the outcome of this investigation was the worst kind of news. This only goes to show that like anyone else, these leaders are people too. They have feelings, know pain, and they can get personally involved, especially when a child is involved.
The chief said that their investigation into the man's death was just beginning.
