New details revealed in Gracelynn Vick’s death

Harrison County, Miss. (WXXV)- New details are coming in regards to the death of six-year-old Gracelynn Vick in Saucier this past Sunday.

Investigators releasing new details into her disappearance at Harrison County Sheriff’s press conference.

The big news coming out of the press conference – investigators say Gracelynn died after climbing into a barrel and closing the lid on herself, leading to her being trapped inside. Foul play is not a factor in this case.

Officials say they obtained video from the Vick family’s surveillance camera showing the area around the barrel where Gracelynn was found. Sheriff Matt Haley says the footage revealed that no one was in the area around the barrel leading up to the search for Gracelynn, supporting their belief that foul play was not a factor.

Autopsy results also revealed that there was no signs of trauma, neglect, or sexual abuse.

The exact cause of Gracelynn’s death is still under investigation, but based on a forensic recreation of the incident, officials believe that she died from a combination of heat stress and lack of oxygen.

Sheriff Matt Haley compared the conditions inside of barrel to being stuck inside of a car on a summer’s day.

At this time it’s unclear when official results will return with the exact cause of death.

Gracelynn was first reported missing on Sunday April 13th, and her body was found approximately six hours later inside of a barrel, close to the family’s backyard.