Tragedy in Mississippi: 6-Year-Old Gracelynn Vick Found Dead Hours After Disappearance

Young Gracelynn Vick, pictured here in an outdoor setting, was tragically found dead near her Mississippi home shortly after being reported missing. Her death is the third tragedy to impact her family in recent years.

Harrison County, Mississippi — A small Mississippi community is mourning the devastating loss of 6-year-old Gracelynn Vick, who was found dead just hours after she was reported missing from her family’s front yard.

Gracelynn was last seen around noon on Sunday, April 13, after going outside to play near her home in Harrison County. When she suddenly vanished, her family quickly contacted authorities, sparking an urgent search that continued into the evening.

By approximately 6 p.m., Gracelynn was located near the property where she was last seen. Emergency personnel confirmed she had died at the scene. The Harrison County Sheriff’s Office announced the tragic update later that night.

While the case is being actively investigated, authorities have not yet determined whether foul play was involved. Harrison County Sheriff Matt Haley addressed growing speculation on social media the following day, urging the public to remain patient as the investigation continues.

“So far, no one has been arrested in the case, and it’s too early to determine if foul play is involved,” Sheriff Haley said on Monday, April 14, according to the Biloxi Sun Herald. An autopsy was scheduled for that day, though additional details have not yet been made public.

The tragedy has shaken the Vick family, who have already endured immense loss in recent years. Gracelynn’s 13-year-old sister, Victoria, was killed in a car crash in March 2024 on U.S. 49 in Harrison County. Her death was a devastating blow, and relatives say Gracelynn was still grieving that loss just a year later.

“She was still broken over her sister,” said their aunt, Jackie Polk, in an interview with the Biloxi Sun Herald.

Adding to the family’s grief, Gracelynn’s older brother, 17-year-old Larry Hart, died in July 2021 from a medical condition, according to his obituary.

With three children now gone in less than four years, the family is left grappling with an unimaginable series of heartbreaks. As the community awaits answers from investigators, many have offered their support and condolences, recognizing the deep sorrow this family continues to endure.