A six-year-old girl was found dead near her home in Saucier, Mississippi, hours after her family reported her missing on Sunday, April 13. The incident marks the third tragedy to strike the family in less than four years.
According to a news release from the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, Gracelynn Vick went outside to play in the front yard at approximately 12 p.m. local time on Sunday, before disappearing a short time later.
Authorities immediately launched a search operation. Multiple agencies joined the effort, including Gulf Coast Search and Rescue, other local law enforcement departments, and several neighbors from the area.
After approximately six hours of searching, first responders found Gracelynn’s body around 6 p.m. in the vicinity of the family’s property. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
“So far, no one has been arrested in the case, and it’s too early to determine if foul play is involved,” Harrison County Sheriff Matt Haley said on Monday, April 14, according to the Biloxi Sun Herald.
The sheriff’s office has been working to address speculation about the case circulating on social media. Sheriff Haley confirmed there are no arrests or charges filed in connection with the investigation.
Officials hope the autopsy examination will provide more information about what led to Gracelynn’s death. The Harrison County Coroner’s office is working with the sheriff’s office to analyze the results.
Jackie Polk, Gracelynn’s aunt, described her niece as a smart, loving, and strong-willed little girl who enjoyed spending time on the family farm with her mother. She indicated that Gracelynn had been emotionally struggling in recent years.
The family resides near F. Taylor and Saucier Fairley roads in Saucier, Mississippi. The rural community has rallied around the family to provide support during this difficult time.
Gracelynn’s death comes just over a year after another devastating family tragedy. In March 2024, Gracelynn’s 13-year-old sister, Victoria Hutcherson, was killed in a crash on U.S. 49 in Harrison County, according to the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
Polk stated that Gracelynn was still deeply affected by her sister’s death. The aunt conveyed that the child’s spirits remained broken from the loss.
This latest heartbreak follows yet another loss for the family. In July 2021, Gracelynn’s 17-year-old brother, Larry Hart, died due to a medical condition, according to his obituary.
The family has now suffered the loss of three children in less than four years, leaving them to navigate an almost unimaginable sequence of heartbreak. Gracelynn’s mother, Vicky Lynn Hutcherson, has received an outpouring of community support in the wake of this most recent tragedy.
“It doesn’t feel like reality,” a family member told reporters, expressing the shock and grief that has enveloped the household.
Local schools have responded to the situation by bringing in counselors to help Gracelynn’s classmates process her death. The community has mobilized to provide emotional and practical support for the grieving family.
Details about the circumstances surrounding Gracelynn’s disappearance and death remain limited as authorities continue their investigation. The sheriff’s office has asked the public to respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time.
The small community of Saucier, located in Harrison County, Mississippi, is approximately 25 miles north of Biloxi. The rural area is home to many families who know each other well, making the impact of such a loss deeply felt throughout the region.
As officials work to determine exactly what happened to Gracelynn, her family faces the painful task of making funeral arrangements for the third time in recent years.
Authorities have indicated they will release more information as the investigation progresses and once the autopsy results become available.
