SC - Faye Marie Swetlik, 6, Cayce, 10 Feb 2020*Media maps timeline no discussion

[PommyMommy]

FEB 21, 2020
A final act of magic in the life of Faye Marie Swetlik
She was magic before she was born.

She danced in her mother's pregnant belly, her mother later told her. It felt like her daughter twirled, wings fluttering, to a song only she could hear. So, when she was born, her mother made magic her name, and her name sounded like a song.

Faye Marie has a French translation: "Fairy Mary."

[...]

In Collins' eulogy, she asked that people honor Faye's memory through love, the most important magic. That they try to be a little bit more like Faye, "to be a little bit more kind, to compliment a stranger, to dance in the rain, to stop and smell the flowers, to show just a little more bit love to everyone you meet."

[...]

It was a service dedicated not just Faye but the world she believed in.

Her world was one that was purple and pink and sparkly, like the lights and flowers on the altar, one where even the rocks weren't really rocks if you looked close enough, just like the one with a painted smile in the lobby.

[...]

Faye's world was one where everyone could and should be complimented. Everyone deserved a kind word, the best hug, a shared giggle, the eulogy noted, even strangers. Faye's world was one where funerals should end with a round of applause and the offer of a lavender balloon or a coloring book to take home.

[...]

"She loved everything and everyone," the eulogy said. "She wanted everyone to be as happy as she was."

[...]

On Friday night, though, Faye was a particular girl with all of her own particularities. She was one who packed three cold hot dogs for school lunch. She loved wearing polka dots and floral patterns and bright stripes — and didn't care if other people said it didn't match.

[...]

Faye loved to write notes and get letters in the mail.

The family asked for something Friday night, according to Coakley. They wanted everyone there to write a message in journals set up at the front of the church, to dedicate a few words or draw a picture using one of the pink or green or orange pens.

The family asked that they address each note directly to Faye.

 

[PommyMommy]

FEB 21, 2020
Cayce community says goodbye to 6-year-old Faye Swetlik in special memorial service
[...]

Towing an angel home
A pink Diligent Towing tow truck carried Faye's bike to lead the funeral procession from Faye's neighborhood to the church.

Faye's mother rode in the truck as well, carrying Faye's ashes.

[...]

You Are My Sunshine
“You Are My Sunshine,” which Faye’s grandmother, Ruth Collins, said was the girl’s favorite song, was played to precede the memorial service. Collins said she and Faye would sing together every day.

[...]

The origin of Faye's name
[...]

The eulogy also noted Faye’s kindness and “uncanny ability to bring people together.” Faye hated fighting and was a noted peacemaker. She asked attendees to “love a little more, be a little more kind, compliment a stranger, dance in the rain, and stop and smell the flowers."

[...]

A child's heart
[...]

She packed her own lunches, and was very independent. She even liked the taste of onions, but didn't want to see them when she ate them. She loved sipping on lemon-lime soda too. She had lots of pillows and blankets, enjoyed trying on high heels, and even somehow had two boyfriends at her age.

[...]

"She felt it was her job to make sure people were loved and felt special," Coakley said. "She taught us to love each other more, and a little better."

[...]

 

[Seattle1]

https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article240508916.html

Feb 21, 2020

A public memorial service for Faye was held Friday evening, one week and one day after she was found slain in her Cayce neighborhood.

“Faye was designed by God for a very special purpose, and look at all she did in a short little time,” Trinity Baptist Church Pastor Eddie Coakley said in his funeral message. “She brought energy and color into our world. She brought a school and community together. She taught us to love each other a little bit more and much better. ...

“In our minds, of course, little Faye left us way before we were ready for her to leave. But God was ready for her.”

Coakley read a three-minute eulogy written by Faye’s mother, Selena Collins, who described how she gave her baby her name.

[..]

Many of the mourners wore pink and purple, the 6-year-old’s favorite colors.

They included teachers and students from Faye’s Springdale Elementary School, wearing matching lavender T-shirts; uniformed law enforcement officers; dozens of motorcycle bikers, who drove in procession, along with tow trucks, from the Churchill Heights neighborhood; S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster and his wife, Peggy; and hundreds more friends and strangers, young and old, who left few empty pews in the large church.

The first-grader went missing from her home in the Churchill Heights neighborhood last Monday afternoon, Feb. 10. Within hours, a desperate search had begun. News of her disappearance and prayers for her safe return spread around the country.

[..]

Faye loved to dress herself in pink and purple and pack her own lunch (complete with Kit Kat candy bars) to take to school, Coakley said. She loved to write cards and notes. She filled her bed with lots of blankets and pillows, and she loved dressing up in high heels.

“She loved to dance, she loved to move, she loved to play,” Coakley said. “And she loved to make people happy.”

[..]

The service included two of Faye’s favorite songs, “Better When I’m Dancing” from “The Peanuts Movie” and a mournful tune called “Good Night Moon.”

Video clips of Faye were played on the sanctuary’s two large screens: The child singing “You Are My Sunshine” with a choir of other children; jumping in rain puddles, laughing and shaking her rear like a duckling; feeding birds at the zoo; looking into a camera lens to say to her mother, “I love you.”

 

[PommyMommy]

FEB 21, 2020
'Rocks for Faye' is an international movement honoring Faye Swetlik - ABC Columbia
You may have seen the ‘Rocks for Faye’ hashtag or movement on social media, where people are painting rocks and placing them somewhere for someone else to find.

[...]

“So we’ve got most of the continental U.S., somebody from each state that says they’re participating. And somebody from Australia posted on the page and said they wanted to participate. And a lady from Ireland,” said JV.

JV said that Faye’s grandmother is in the group, and has commented about spreading the rocks in memory of her granddaughter.

[...]

Rocks for Faye is taking the sweet, 6-year-old girl on a never-ending journey around the world.

“The rocks with Faye’s name on it, the memory of her, she’ll get to travel to all these places that she never got a chance to, but her rocks will get to travel,” said JV.

[...]

There is a free community event this weekend at Art Smart Academy Community Center if you’d like to paint some rocks. Thousands of rocks were donated and are blank for you to decorate. You can head to Art Smart Academy in Irmo this Friday, Saturday or Sunday to paint some rocks.

For more information on that event, click here.

 

[PommyMommy]

FEB 23 updated FEB 24, 2020
SC program provides support to law enforcement who worked Faye Swetlik’s case
[...]

Their goal was to solve the case and keep the community safe, but just because the case closed, some law enforcement still brought the burdens of the job home with them.

[...]

S.C. LEAP or South Carolina Law Enforcement Assistance Program, is a part of SLED. It’s an employee-assistance program that provides South Carolina law enforcement with training, resources, and around-the-clock access to staff and volunteers to help with any mental, physical, or spiritual needs.

“When a human being experiences the impact of a critical incident, when they experience a situation of extreme vulnerability, or they see someone get injured or killed, or their friend or coworker right beside them is injured or killed, that kind of event in the life of any normal human being would have an impact that can be long-lasting,” Skidmore said.

[...]

“We try to walk with them through this journey...I don’t think anyone can ever say I tell them, ‘I know exactly what you are going through’ because I don’t,” Tafaoa said.

[...]

“Every single one of us officers are made differently, we have different experiences, and we process it differently,” Tafaoa said.

 

[PommyMommy]

FEB 25, 2020
Lexington County woman uses her art at Tenfold Collective to help honor Faye Swetlik at Springdale Elementary
[...]

...a woman in Lexington County is using her art to help raise money for the school community. MB owns Tenfold Collective, a small online jewelry business that she runs out of her home.

[...]

MB says it just so happened that she had purchased pink and purple leather months ago that she was saving for spring. "I find that’s how God works things out a lot of times. I pulled it out, and I thought OK, this is pink and purple, and it’s got these brush strokes on it, and now that it’s for Faye, it looked like little angel wings on it to me," MB explained.

MB posted the earrings for sale on social media last Wednesday and was overwhelmed by the response. She knew she wanted the proceeds to benefit Springdale Elementary students. After talking with Faye’s teacher, MB says she decided the money would go to purchase books for the Little Free Library at Springdale and to help the Cindy Roof Wilkerson Foundation, which is renovating the Springdale playground in honor of the school’s former P.E. teacher and MB’s best friend, who died suddenly 8 years ago.

[...]

MB has already sold more than 100 pairs of earrings and has a donation of more than $1,000 ready for the school, but she’s hoping to be able to double that donation.

She still has a small waitlist for the “Faye Earrings,” but she’s ordered more leather and is prepared to fill orders as quickly as possible. You can purchase the earrings here.

 

[PommyMommy]

Lexington Sheriff on Twitter
A recent case involving a little girl by the name of Faye Marie Swetlik has touched our entire community; a situation that will likely be on our minds and in our memories for a long time to come.
8:50 PM - 1 Mar 2020

With a grateful heart - Lexington County Sheriff's Department
[...]

I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who played a part in this case. I witnessed some of the greatest actions of support from many corners of our country. Local, State and federal agencies stepped in to offer investigative assistance and policing to the Cayce Department of Public Safety. It truly shows how powerful our community is. Over 250 law enforcement personnel were on-scene during the week searching for Faye.

[...]

May we never forget Faye and how she impacted all of our lives.

 

[PommyMommy]

EK on Twitter (Ellen Killoran - CrimeOnline)
Cayce DPS will *not* be holding a press conference on #FayeSwetlik case anytime soon. "There’s a lot of reasons why we are doing it the way we are doing it, and I think once we release more information it will be clear why we handled it the way we did."
2:17 PM - 5 Mar 2020

 

[PommyMommy]

MAR 5, 2020
Police not ready to release more information on Faye Swetlik murder case, as questions remain
[...]

Antley didn’t have a specific timeline on when his department would be able to release further information in response to public records requests but said he believed it would be a matter of weeks, not months.

Antley indicated that authorities do have answers to some key lingering questions––including where Faye or her body was in the days between her disappearance and when she was found dead––but said he did not know yet how much detail would be shared with the public about the circumstances of Faye’s apparent kidnapping and death.

He said that investigators were extremely confident that Taylor is the only suspect.

“There is absolutely no evidence that would lead any reasonable person to believe” anyone else was involved, Antley said.

“We are working towards addressing all the concerns that everyone has,” the spokesperson said, adding that the Cayce CPS was encouraging members of the media to send specific questions. Still, it is unclear if authorities plan to hold another news conference or release documents beyond those provided in response to public records requests.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

Caroline Hecker on Twitter
It has been one month since 6 y/o Faye Swetlik went missing and was killed. In that short time, I’ve moved halfway across the country, but continue to carry her story with me every day. #FlyHighFaye

10:03 PM - 10 Mar 2020

 

[PommyMommy]

FEB 9, 2021
Police: Faye Swetlik's investigation still open, case used in FBI trainings | WSET
[...]

"There's still some evidence that's out there that we have not received reports on, that's still being looked at. And once we receive that, we'll close the case. I don't think that there's anything out there that's going to change any opinion of what we have on the case, or any outcome of the case," said Snellgrove.

Authorities said 30-year-old Coty Taylor, a neighbor, was responsible for Faye's death. Taylor was found dead in his home and investigators ruled it a suicide.

[...]

"FBI is actually using some of this case to train nationwide now. How they should react to an abduction or a missing child like this, and they use this case as an example of how it should be done," said Snellgrove.

[...]

WACH FOX News learned that there are several officers in Cayce DPS that are of retirement age, and since the investigation, five officers had retired. While officials said Faye's death has taken an emotion and mental toll, they want to cherish the good memories.

"That portrait hangs up in my office. It was done by the wife of one of my employees. Keeps her, keeps her in our hearts," said Snellgrove.

 

[PommyMommy]

FEB 10, 2021
1 year later: Faye Swetlik murder case

 

[PommyMommy]

FEB 10, 2021
'God's Little Angel.' Remembering the life of Faye Marie Swetlik | wltx.com
[...]

"She was the epitome of that child-like energy that everyone wishes that they had from the moment that she woke up in the morning to the moment that she laid her head down at night," said Collins. "It was go, go, go, go, go, go."

Because of that energy, Faye rarely stopped to eat. She could be seen running around playing while having chicken nuggets in her hand.

[...]

The six-year-old also never wanted people to be sad. She made every effort to make sure the people around her were happy.

"She was always willing to be anybody’s friend," explained Collins. "She wanted to be everybody’s friend. No matter who you were or what you looked like or what you did, she wanted to be your friend.”

[...]

Director Snellgrove believes the investigation has had a tremendous impact on his department.

"We had several officers within the department that were of retirement age and had the years in to do that, it affected them enough to where they over a six-month period of time to decide to retire," said Snellgrove. "So we lost five of our officers to retirement after this case."

[...]

A portrait of the six-year-old is placed in Director Snellgrove's office as a reminder of Faye. He says a wife of one of his officers made the portrait.

When Director Snellgrove spoke with News 19, he wanted to say this to Faye:

“Faye, little girl, your life was a blessing and touched so very many. Your beautiful smile lit up a room every time you entered it. You touched the heart of every person that you encountered. Your memory remains a treasure for those you left behind and it always will. We know that you are now one of God’s little angels looking upon and guiding us as you fly high above... So fly high and watch over us. Fly high, God’s little angel, Faye Marie Swetlik.”

* Gallery with 23 photos from Faye's family in the article

 

[PommyMommy]

One year later, Faye Swetlik’s parents mourn her death

Feb 10, 2021

Faye’s mother, Selena Collins, and her father, Chad Swetlik, have spent the last year trying to process what happened to their bright and innocent little girl, while also trying to keep her memory alive.

“There was a decent amount of time that I was refusing to face what happened,” said Collins.

Collins wants people to remember Faye’s smile and her love and compassion for others. But most importantly, rather than focusing on how Faye died, her parents want people to remember how she lived.

[;;]

Faye’s laughs, smile, and spunky personality made her easy to love.

“She had boundless energy from the moment she woke up to the moment she went to sleep,” Collins laughed. “She was on ten 100 percent of the time.”

The inquisitive and adventurous 6-year-old loved animals, school, and make-up a lot.

“It was a struggle almost every morning, whenever she got up to brush her teeth and hair and get ready for school that she could not wear purple eyeshadow to school,” said Collins. “So, sometimes we had to have a compromise, and that day she wore purple eyeshadow to school because we could not miss the bus.”

 

[PommyMommy]

JUN 28, 2021
New information related to kidnapping, murder of 6-year-old Faye Swetlik to be released (wmbfnews.com)
[...]

Her neighbor, 30-year-old Coty Taylor, was found dead the same day. Police said at the time that Taylor killed Faye, and that he was the only one involved in her death.

[...]

Friday, July 2, 2021, the Cayce Department of Public Safety, which is the lead investigating agency of Faye’s death, said it will release new information, including video and photo evidence.

The evidence has been gathered in response to multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests from local media outlets.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

JUL 1, 2021
Faye Swetlik news conference abruptly canceled | WACH
[...]

The Cayce Department of Public Safety released the following statement:

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) press announcement for local members of the media with the Cayce Department of Public Safety Director, Byron Snellgrove, has been canceled. The previous invitation, information and guidelines for the FOIA press announcement were disregarded by some outlets and inaccurate information was reported on June 28 and June 29. All members of the media that submitted a FOIA request will have their responses mailed on Friday. The questions you each submitted this week will also be answered in the FOIA responses. We intend for that to conclude our communication on this case. The family of Faye Swetlik requests that you respect their privacy, honor her memory, and not contact them. Thank you for the compassion and professionalism you showed in reporting this case.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

JUL 3, 2021
New incriminating evidence against man accused of kidnapping, killing Faye Swetlik released (live5news.com)

Noting:

• Article includes video of CT at Walmart purchasing a 50 lb bag of potting soil and other gardening items on the 13th. Investigators found that bag nearly empty after CT was found dead.
• Video surveillance from the early morning hours of Feb. 13 appears to show a person emptying the contents of a bag in the area where Faye’s body was found.
• CT’s DNA was found under Faye’s fingernails.
• Both Faye and CT’s DNA was found in a black laundry bag inside CT’s home. (Laundry bag was noted full in initial search of CT's home and found empty on the day Faye's body was found.)
• One of the rain boots Faye had last been seen in was found in CT’s trash can Feb. 13, along with a ladle and some freshly-dug dirt.
• The ladle contained Faye and CT’s DNA.
• Moments after the discovery of Faye’s body, officers found Taylor dead on the back porch of his home. He had killed himself, investigators said.
• A knife found with Taylor’s body only contained his DNA.
• Summary of Coty Taylor's Movements (scribd.com)
• The crude grave where Faye was buried contained “dark potting type soil,” police said.
• His roommate said he was at work at the time of Faye’s disappearance, and police were able to confirm that.
• To read Cayce DPS’s investigative summary of the case, click or tap here.

More at the link.

 

[PommyMommy]

JUL 3, 2021
Faye Swetlik's killer masked smells in home, acted strangely as new case details revealed | Columbia | postandcourier.com
[...]

Taylor was at work when police first searched his apartment at 11 a.m. on Feb. 12 with the permission of his roommate. Police noticed a full black laundry bag — which was later found to have evidence of Swetlik’s DNA. At the time, investigators didn’t touch or further examine the bag. They saw nothing they deemed suspicious and left.

[...]

The townhouse had developed a strange smell since Faye had gone missing, the roommate said. He told police he initially dismissed the smell as being a low-quality deodorizer to conceal the smell of marijuana, as the two frequently smoked.

[...]

Taylor also coated the townhouse with a deodorizing spray, something he had never done before, his roommate said.

Police returned to search the townhouse again at 5:45 p.m. to interview Taylor, who couldn’t give them a strong alibi. He said he was sleeping at home, alone, at the time the girl went missing two days earlier.

Police left, again finding nothing they deemed suspicious.

[...]

Around 1 a.m. on Feb. 13, the camera captured a light beaming from a spot in the woods, purportedly carried by Taylor as he sought a spot to bury Faye’s body. The area, about 200 feet from Taylor’s apartment and 300 from the girl’s house, was one police had just searched.

Hours later, around 7 a.m. on Feb. 13, Taylor walked to Walmart and wandered the store’s garden department for 20 minutes. He told a store employee he was trying to build a garden but had not worked on one since childhood.

[...]

Eventually, he checked out of the store with several bags of soil and fertilizer, plus a box of Pop-Tarts. Those same Pop-Tarts wrappers were later found in Taylor’s trash can, along with Swetlik’s rain boot.

[...]

Surveillance footage showed a figure entering the woods where Swetlik was later found buried around 7:47 a.m. The figure held a bag the size of a typical 50-pound bag of potting soil.

Less than three hours later, Taylor dragged a knife across his own neck, killing himself on his back porch.

[...]

A polka-dot boot and a patch of her floral skirt could be seen poking from the shallow grave, which contained potting soil. Inside, investigators found Faye, still wearing her “Peace, love and music” T-shirt. A white plastic trash bag was wrapped around her neck.

[...]

Taylor’s roommate told police that Taylor had expressed feelings of depression as well as suicidal thoughts. Taylor had discussed the cost of shotguns with their boss at the restaurant where they worked. Taylor also had a paid subscription to *advertiser censored* website, though his roommate did not know what type of *advertiser censored* he watched.

The roommate called him childlike and a nerdy shut-in but did not think he was capable of “doing something like this.”

[...]

... An analysis of Taylor’s computer did not reveal any links between him and Faye’s mother Selena Collins, the mother’s boyfriend, or Faye.

Investigators repeatedly tried to examine his cellphone as well, but could not crack his password to gain entry.

[...]

Evidence from the FBI is still unavailable as the agency has yet to close their portion of the case. There is also pending evidence from SLED.

 

[PommyMommy]

JUL 2, 2021
Cayce Department of Public Safety closes Faye Marie Swetlik case | wltx.com
[...]

In a recorded statement, Cayce Department of Public Safety Director Byron Snellgrove provided more insight into the suspect's behavior in the hours before his death and the discovery of Faye's body.

"You will see a light in the woods early in the morning of February 13th. This occurred approximately 1 am. You will then see a series of videos showing (the suspect) walking towards Wal-Mart, purchasing potting soil, fertilizer and other supplies and then catching a ride share and returning to the Churchill Heights Neighborhood," said Chief Snellgrove. "I ask that you make note of the clothes that he is wearing, particularly the hooded dark long-sleeve top."

Chief Snellgrove went onto say in the recorded video, "At 7:24 am in that video, you will see a dark hooded figure coming from the area of (the suspect's) apartment. It's zoomed in. You will see him carrying a bag with what looks to be potting soil and fertilizer that was purchased from Walmart. You will see this person dump the bag into an area and onto an area on the edge of the woods and had spread it out and then walked back to the director of the apartments."

[...]

Police video evidence from investigation into Faye Swetlik's death | Raleigh News & Observer (newsobserver.com) - Video
Surveillance video released Friday, July 2, 2021, shows Faye Swetlik's killer buying gardening supplies at a Walmart the same day her body was discovered. It also shows a man believed to be her killer in the wooded area where her body was found.

 

[StarryStarryNight]

So sad. So few real answers.


https://www.wistv.com/2021/07/03/new-incriminating-evidence-against-man-accused-kidnapping-killing-faye-swetlik-released/