Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon was disappointed by a headline in the July 8 edition of the Chronicle.

The headline read, “Clues missed in child’s death.”

The front page headline accompanied a story about the investigation into the kidnapping and killing of 6-year-old Faye Marie Swetlik.

On February 10, 2020, she disappeared from her home’s front yard in the Churchill Heights neighborhood of Cayce.

Her body was found later and Coty Scott Taylor was found to be responsible for her death. He committed suicide, police said.

“It’s a tragic case that will stay with all those who assisted and supported the Cayce Department of Public Safety during the search for Faye,” the sheriff wrote in a letter to the Chronicle.

“Reference is made to a laundry bag in the home of Faye’s killer. Officers saw the bag during their first search of the killer’s home. But as Cayce Public Safety Director Byron Snellgrove said, there was nothing overtly suspicious about the bag and nothing that made the killer’s home notable from other residences in the

“In that search of doz ens of homes over a 4-day period, that wasn’t a clue. It was a random item inside a home that officers had received permission to search.

“For The Chronicle to insinuate an actual clue was missed that could have prevented Faye’s death or led to a more speedy end to the search for her is irresponsible,” he wrote.

“Scores of local, county, state and federal law enforcement gave everything they had during those 4 days. We hoped and we prayed right along with the community. I encourage readers to look past that headline and read the story as they continue to remember Faye and those who worked so hard to find her and bring her home.”

The Chronicle’s editors welcome letters from the sheriff and other readers.

We care what you think.

We respect and support all the men and women in law enforcement, fire service and EMS and what they do for all of us.

We apologize if our article upset anyone.