‘Absolutely no signs of foul play’ in Gracelynn’s death, South MS sheriff says
Gracelynn Vick, the 6-year-old girl found dead after her family reported her missing, had no visible injuries to her body to suggest any foul play, Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer said.
A member of a search crew found Gracelynn, a student at Saucier Elementary School, inside a 58-gallon barrel on the family’s farm in the area of F. Taylor and Saucier Fairley roads about six hours after she went missing Sunday, according to Harrison County Sheriff Matt Haley. The barrel has a top that either screws or snaps shut. Her family usually kept animal feed in it, but the barrel was empty that day and was sitting outside.
“There are absolutely no signs of foul play,” Haley said. “The residents had security cameras that covered the area where the barrel was located.
A review of the camera footage showed that no one else ever “walked to the area where Gracelynn was until after her family started searching,” Haley said.
“After reviewing the the video multiple times, it was determined that while playing outside, Gracelynn went inside the barrel herself and closed the lid from inside.” the sheriff said.
In addition, the sheriff said said deputies recreated the series of events multiple times before coming to the conclusion that “the only way that that lid (on the barrel) could have been in the position that it was in would be if ”it is was done by someone already inside the barrel.”
The sheriff shut down other social media rumors, saying, “There was no sign of trauma, sexual abuse or neglect.”
The little girl’s family had reported her missing after she went outside to play around noon.
Gracelynn had been outside with her mother, Vickie Lynn (Wedgeworth) Hutcherson, another relative, and his son before everyone but Gracelynn went back inside.
A short time later, Gracelynn went missing.
A preliminary autopsy performed Monday confirmed the child’s body had no signs of trauma, and no signs of any type of attack. The results of a full autopsy, which would include the manner and cause of death and the results of toxicology testing, are still pending, Switzer said.
Earlier in the week, Haley quashed rumors that someone had been arrested in connection with Gracelynn’s death.
“It’s really unfortunate and tragic,” Switzer told the Sun Herald. “I hate it for this family. This is the second accidental, tragic death that I’ve had to investigate for this family. “
Switzer first investigated the accidental death of Gracelynn’s older sister, Victoria Hutcherson, 13, in a car crash in March 2024.
Their older brother, Larry Hunt, died of a long-term medical condition at the age of 18 in July 2021, his obituary said
“You know, it’s been an emotional week for us all here,” Haley added. “I have a personal connection through my granddaughter because they went to school together. They were friends....
‘So, it’s been rough on my family and the people that work here,” Haley said.
A desperate search
The search for Gracelynn galvanized the community, leading to help from over 100 people, including residents and members of the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department, the Stone County Sheriff’s Department, the Harrison County Fire Service, Gulf Coast Search and Rescue, and others from surrounding law enforcement agencies.
In addition, the Sheriff’s Department used drones and dispatched its helicopter to aid in the search.
After the child’s body was found, the sheriff asked the public to pray for Gracelynn’s family and “all who are involved.”
A family’s pain
Gracelynn’s aunt, Jackie Polk, described her niece as a smart, loving, strong-willed little girl whose first love was spending time with her mother on the family farm named Gracelynn Heritage Farms in her honor.
“She was just a lovely girl,” Polk said. “She was smart, and she loved to be outside taking care of the animals.”
If she wasn’t caring for animals or hanging out with her family in Saucier, she spent a lot of time with her cousin at her aunt’s home in Kiln.
The girls enjoyed simple things, like rolling down a hill together, Polk said, or running through a sprinkler to cool off in the sweltering Mississippi heat. They also loved it when they wore matching dresses their aunt picked out for them for church services.
“They were friends and loved each other very much,” Polk said of the two cousins. “This is so hard on all of us.”
This story was originally published April 17, 2025 at 10:00 AM.
