Coroner: 5-year-old Saylor Hayes died by drowning in Pawleys Island area

The Georgetown County Coroner's Office has concluded its investigation into the death of five-year-old Saylor Hayes, who was reported missing in August while vacationing with her family in the Pawleys Island area, WCBD reported.

Authorities found Hayes' body in the Waccamaw River a day after she was reported missing, according to ABC News 4 WCIV. The coroner determined the cause of death as asphyxia due to drowning, with child neglect identified as a contributory factor.

The manner of death was classified as undetermined, reflecting the inability to conclusively determine whether the death was accidental or homicidal, the coroner's office stated.

Saylor Hayes' parents were arrested in Tennessee and charged with unlawfully placing a child at risk and willfully abandoning a child. They were extradited to South Carolina to face charges, as reported by ABC News 4 WCIV.

The investigation involved multiple law enforcement agencies from South Carolina and Virginia, highlighting the coordinated effort to resolve the case, WCBD noted.