Missing 6-year-old South MS girl found dead, Harrison County sheriff confirms

Harrison County Sheriff Matt Haley said the search for 6-year-old Gracelynn Vick ended with the discovery of her body Sunday evening.

Harrison County deputies started a search for Gracelynn in the area of F. Taylor and Saucier Fairley roads in Saucier earlier Sunday. The search began after Gracelynn’s family reported that she went missing shortly after she went outside to play around noon.

During the search of the area, Gracelynn was located at approximately 6 p.m. near her home. Gracelynn was pronounced dead at that time. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday at the state crime lab in Biloxi.

Officials released no further details Sunday night and said they continue to investigate Gracelynn’s death.

This story will be updated.

This story was originally published April 13, 2025 at 5:38 PM.

Margaret Baker

Sun Herald

601-909-0541

Margaret is an investigative reporter whose search for truth exposed corrupt sheriffs, a police chief and various jailers and led to the first prosecution of a federal hate crime for the murder of a transgendered person. She worked on the Sun Herald’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Hurricane Katrina team. When she pursues a big story, she is relentless.