The Heartbreaking Loss of 6-Year-Old Gracelyn Vick: What We Know So Far
Tragedy struck the quiet community of Saucier, Mississippi, on Sunday afternoon when 6-year-old Gracelyn Vick went missing near her home. According to her family, Gracelyn had stepped outside around noon to play in the yard but never came back inside.
As hours passed without any sign of her, concern quickly turned to panic. Her family contacted authorities, prompting the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office to launch an urgent search operation.
What followed was a massive community-wide effort. Gulf Coast Search and Rescue, helicopters, drones, and approximately 40 volunteers joined local law enforcement in a race against time to find the missing child.
Sadly, the search ended in heartbreak. Gracelyn’s body was found later that same day near her family’s property.
Meanwhile, speculation and unverified rumors have been spreading rapidly online, adding to the pain and confusion surrounding this devastating incident.
Authorities have not yet released further details, but the investigation is ongoing.
Tragedy in Saucier: What We Know About the Death of 6-Year-Old Gracelynn Vick
The Saucier community is grieving the devastating loss of 6-year-old Gracelynn Vick, whose body was discovered near her family’s home on Sunday after a frantic search effort.
According to her family, Gracelynn had gone outside around noon to play in the yard but never returned. As concern quickly grew, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office launched an urgent search, joined by Gulf Coast Search and Rescue, helicopters, drones, and more than 40 volunteers.
Hours later, the heartbreaking news came: Gracelynn’s body was found close to the property.
Investigation Underway
As of now, no arrests have been made. Deputies secured a section of the family’s land—including areas with livestock and a children’s swing set—to begin processing the scene. Crime scene investigators remained on-site well into the evening, meticulously gathering evidence.
Gracelynn’s body was removed from the scene around 8 p.m., according to WLOX.
On Monday, Harrison County Sheriff Matt Haley addressed the flood of speculation spreading across social media. While confirming that Gracelynn’s body was found near her home, he urged the public to be patient and allow investigators the space to do their work.
“No one has been taken into custody at this time, and it’s too early to determine if foul play is involved,” said Sheriff Haley. “This investigation is still ongoing.”
An autopsy is scheduled at the state crime lab in Biloxi to help determine Gracelynn’s cause of death, The Clarion-Ledger reports.
A Family Enduring Unimaginable Loss
The tragedy has sparked a massive outpouring of support online, with friends, neighbors, and strangers alike expressing their condolences and sharing memories of the little girl whose life was cut far too short.
For Gracelynn’s mother, Vicky Lynn (Wedgeworth) Hutcherson, this marks the third devastating loss of a child in recent years.
In March 2024, Gracelynn’s 13-year-old stepsister, Victoria Hutcherson, was killed in a tragic traffic accident on U.S. 49. She was remembered as a sweet, protective sister and a bright presence at West Wortham Elementary.
In July 2021, 18-year-old Larry Hart, Gracelynn’s older brother, passed away due to a medical condition, according to his obituary.
The heartbreak is almost unimaginable.
At Saucier Elementary School, grief counselors have been made available to support classmates and staff grappling with the shocking loss of their young peer.