HARRISON COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – Harrison County investigators said there are no signs of foul play in the death of a six-year-old girl.
According to Harrison County Sheriff Matt Haley, deputies responded to the area of F. Taylor Road and Saucier Fairley Road on Sunday, April 13 in reference to the missing child.
The family of Gracelynn Vick said she went outside to play in the front yard around 12:00 p.m. and was missing shortly afterwards. During a search of the area, officials said Vick was located inside a 58-gallon barrel around 6:00 p.m. in the vicinity of the home. She was pronounced deceased at that time.
According to the Sun Herald, the family usually kept animal feed in the barrel, but the barrel had been empty that day.
Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer said there were no visible injuries to Vick’s body. Haley said investigators believe that Vick went inside the barrel herself and closed the lid from inside.
The results of a toxicology test are still pending in the case.