09/01/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SHERIFF ANDIS ISSUES STATEMENT REGARDING PROJECT LIFESAVER AND SAYLOR HAYES
Washington County, VA — Following the tragic death of 5-year-old Saylor Hayes, Sheriff Blake Andis and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office would like to provide information regarding Saylor’s participation in our Project Lifesaver program and reaffirm the importance and effectiveness of this lifesaving resource.
Saylor, who was from the Bristol area of Washington County, had been enrolled in the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Project Lifesaver program since June of 2024.
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. The program has been an extremely valuable and effective resource for our agency and the families we serve.
On August 30, 2026, the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office in South Carolina contacted WCSO after Saylor was reported missing and requested information regarding her Project Lifesaver transmitter. Our agency immediately provided them with the assigned frequency and other relevant information to assist with the search.
After search personnel in South Carolina were unable to detect Saylor’s frequency, Georgetown County contacted WCSO and asked personnel to check her residence in Washington County. Upon responding, WCSO personnel detected Saylor’s assigned frequency and tracked the signal to her Project Lifesaver transmitter, which was located inside a vehicle on the property. The transmitter was not with Saylor when she went missing in South Carolina.
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 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.
“Project Lifesaver works, and we believe strongly in this program,” said Sheriff Blake Andis. “When our personnel searched for Saylor’s assigned frequency, the equipment did exactly what it was designed to do. It detected her transmitter and led our personnel to its location.”
“What makes this situation especially heartbreaking is that Saylor did not have her transmitter with her when she went missing. 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.”
Sheriff Andis added, “We cannot emphasize enough how important it is for enrolled clients to wear their transmitters consistently. This technology is an incredible resource, but it can only help us locate someone when the transmitter remains secured to the client.”
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office remains fully committed to Project Lifesaver and will continue working closely with the families enrolled in the program.
The circumstances surrounding Saylor’s death remain part of an active investigation. WCSO continues to cooperate with the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office, and no additional information regarding the circumstances surrounding the removal or location of Saylor’s transmitter will be released at this time.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office mourns the loss of Saylor and remains committed to doing everything possible to protect the vulnerable members of our community through Project Lifesaver and the many other resources available to the families we serve.
