Man Abducted and Killed 6-Year-Old Girl Before Committing Suicide

A 6-year-old girl who disappeared from her home was killed by a neighbor who then killed himself, authorities ruled Tuesday.

According to a previous report from Latin Post, Faye Marie Swetlik, 6 years old, disappeared from outside her home in the afternoon of February 10.

Her body was then discovered by police in the wooded area between her home and a parts store around 11 am on February 13.

Police released the autopsy result Tuesday where it says Faye Swetlik died of asphyxiation a few hours after she was taken from her home. Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher refused to comment if Swetlik was strangled or suffocated.

Investigators had searched the home of the suspect, Coty Scott Taylor, the day before he killed himself. Authorities said they saw nothing to suggest the girl was ever there.

Shortly after the girl's body was found, authorities were called to the scene of another death.

Police found Taylor, 30, dead on his back porch, covered in blood. Authorities released his cause of death after Tuesday's news conference, saying Taylor slit his own throat.

During the initial investigation, police found no connection between Taylor and Swetlik. He was not a relative or a friend of the family.

Taylor also bore no criminal record, save for multiple traffic violations from February 2018 in Lexington County and at least four between 2013 and 2015 in Richland County. He also won a case against City Garage and Body Shop over a dispute about payment.

Faye's mother fetched her from a bus stop at 2:50 pm on February 10. Swetlik went inside their home to get a snack before she went outside to play.

Her family began searching for her at around 3:45 pm. The authorities were called in around 5 pm. More than 100 officers joined in on the search after they received the mother's call. FBI jumped in the next day with more than 250 officers.

After three days, authorities cracked the case when they found clues in Taylor's trash can. Inside his can, they found a rain boot matching one Faye Swetlik was wearing. They also found a ladle full of dirt.

Authorities focused on area 100 to 150 feet away from Faye's front yard. A search of the area revealed Swetlik's body which was "moved in the shadow of the night."

Taylor shared his home with a roommate who, at the time of the crime, was not home. Police said the roommate appeared to not know about the abduction, saying Taylor is the sole perpetrator of the crime.

Swetlik was last seen wearing flower print shorts, polka dot boots, and a black t-shirt with neon colors. She had just started school at Springdale Elementary in August.

A candlelight vigil was held in her honor Tuesday evening at Cayce City Hall. More than 100 people came out despite the pouring rain.

Principal Hope Vrana of Springdale Elementary shared the impact Faye made in her school. She also said Faye "brought sunshine into the school."

A public memorial will be held at 7 pm Friday at Trinity Baptist Church in Cayce.