Faye Swetlik died of asphyxiation, but it was not revealed how.

Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher was visibly upset and said little about her death at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.

Coty Scott Taylor, 30, killed the 6-year-old girl.

Faye vanished from the yard of her Churchill Heights home in Cayce on Monday afternoon, Feb. 10.

Cayce Department of Public Safety Director Byron Snellgrove said at about 10 am Thursday, Feb. 13, Cayce officers found a polka-dot boot and a soup ladle that had freshly dug dirt on it.

It was in the trash can that belonged to 602 Piccadilly Square, Taylor’s home.

Snellgrove said those were clues related to Faye’s murder.

That sent investigators into the woods behind Taylor’s home

Just before 10:30 am, Snellgrove found her body.

Taylor was found bleeding on his back porch.

The coroner issued a release stating that Taylor committed suicide, cutting his own throat.  

Fisher also said Faye’s death took place only a few hours after she vanished Monday.

Fisher declined to release any more information, or describe the condition of Faye’s body, out of respect for the child’s family.  

“No parent should have to know such pain,” she said.

She and Snellgrove, who choked back tears as he spoke, said it is a case they would never forget. Nor would they ever forget little Faye.

Snellgrove said Taylor had been interviewed and his home searched.

He also had a roommate, but Snellgrove said there was no evidence the roommate was aware of the abduction or the murder.

Snellgrove said Cayce police arrived at Faye’s home at 5:03 p.m., Feb. 10, Monday after getting a call about 5 pm that Faye had been missing since about 3:45 pm.

He said Faye’s frantic mother had looked everywhere for her daughter before calling 911.

“Her mother did what most parents would do,” Snellgrove said.

By 6 pm Monday, Snellgrove said immediate assistance was requested from SLED and the FBI. Soon the Churchill Heights neighborhood was blanketed. 

By 7 pm, 90 people, from several agencies, were searching for Faye and the SLED helicopter was deployed and several K9 teams were searching. 

National Crime Information Center and BOLO (Be on the Lookout) bulletins were issued to every regional agency. Before the end of the search more than 300 police, firefighters and other colunteers were on the scene looking for Faye. 

Snellgrove said law enforcement shut down the neighborhood and stopped anyone coming in.

Police also set up roadblocks and looked in vehicles. 

Snellgrove thanked the neighbors and all who aided the search for their help.

“Everyone was very cooperative,” he said.