The small community of Saucier, Mississippi is reeling after the heartbreaking loss of 6-year-old Gracelyn Vick, who went missing Sunday afternoon while playing in her family’s yard. What began as a routine day turned to tragedy when the young girl failed to return home, prompting an immediate large-scale search effort.
Local authorities sprang into action, with the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office coordinating a massive search operation involving helicopters, drones, and dozens of volunteers. After nearly six tense hours, the unimaginable happened – Gracelyn was found deceased near her family’s property. Crime scene investigators worked late into the night documenting the area and collecting evidence, though officials stress it’s too early to determine if foul play was involved.
This devastating loss marks the third child Gracelyn’s mother has buried in recent years. The family previously lost Gracelyn’s 13-year-old stepsister Victoria in a 2024 traffic accident and her 18-year-old brother Larry to medical complications in 2021. Counselors have been brought into Saucier Elementary to help Gracelyn’s classmates process their grief.
As the community mourns, Sheriff Matt Haley urges patience while investigators work to uncover what happened to the bright-eyed little girl whose life ended far too soon. An autopsy at the Biloxi crime lab may provide crucial answers in the coming days.
