On Sunday afternoon, tragedy struck in Saucier when 6-year-old Gracelyn Vick disappeared from her home. According to her family, Gracelyn went outside to play in the yard around midday but never returned.
Hours passed without any sign of the young girl, prompting her relatives to contact the authorities. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office in Mississippi launched an intense search that lasted for several hours. Local law enforcement, along with Gulf Coast Search and Rescue, helicopters, drones, and around 40 volunteers, all joined the desperate efforts to find her. Deputies cordoned off areas of the family property, including a swing set and spaces used for livestock, while crime scene investigators worked through the night to gather evidence. Around 8:00 p.m., Gracelyn’s body was found and removed from the property, sending shockwaves through the community.
On Monday, Harrison County Sheriff Matt Haley addressed the swirling rumors on social media, confirming that Gracelyn’s body was discovered near her home. “It’s too early to tell if foul play is involved in this case, and no one has been arrested yet,” Haley explained. “This investigation is still ongoing.” According to The Clarion-Ledger, an autopsy was scheduled for Monday at the state crime lab in Biloxi to determine the cause of Gracelyn’s death.
Since the heartbreaking loss, social media has been flooded with messages of support and condolences for Gracelyn’s grieving family, who are left to cope with the untimely passing of their beloved child.
