THE body of a six-year-old girl who police say was strangled to death by her neighbor was apparently hidden in his house as cops searched for her.

Faye Swetlik's remains were kept in Coty Taylor's home for two days before being found in a shallow grave in a nearby woods last year, a new report details.

Police had searched that property twice during that period but found no evidence linking him to the crime. It is not clear why her body was not found at that time.

Taylor's roommate later described how he noticed an odd smell in the home, telling cops he "had never smelled a dead person before but there was something not right.”

Fast food worker Taylor is also said to have used a deodorizing spray to mask the smell, the friend said.

Faye had been abducted while playing in her front yard in South Carolina on February 10, 2020.

Her remains were found three days later on February 13; the body of Taylor was found the same day at his home following a suspected suicide.

Police had first searched Taylor's home – while he was out – two days after Faye went missing on February 12, The Post and Courier reports.

There they noted a full black laundry bag but did not deem it suspicious. It was later determined that this bag showed traces of Faye's DNA.

Taylor's DNA was found under Faye's fingernails, police said.

Cops returned to interview Taylor – who had no criminal history – once he was home that same day.

An autopsy determined Faye died within hours of going missing.

Taylor is thought to have buried her three days later, in the early hours of February 13 after shopping for soil at a garden center.

Swetlik’s body was found hours later. Taylor – described as "childlike and depressed" by his roomate – was found with a self-inflicted knife wound the same day.

The two are not thought to have known one another and police have not discussed any motive.

Cayce Department of Public Safety Director Byron Snellgrove told WIS-TV: "All endings, evidence, and facts point to the exact same conclusion: Coty Taylor abducted and murdered Faye Marie Swetlik and was the sole perpetrator in this horrible case."

Taylor was found dead in his home, which was 150 feet away from where Faye lived with her mom in Churchill Heights, Cayce.

Their deaths were linked after a little girl's polka-dot rain boot and a soup ladle with dirt on it were found in his trash.

Faye was wearing polka dot rain boots when she disappeared.

Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher shed tears as she revealed that Faye died from asphyxiation within a few hours of being abducted.

She added that she did not die at the same location her body was discovered days later.

Snellgrove said Taylor had given officers permission to search his property.

"[Taylor] had been contacted and interviewed at [his home] on Wednesday afternoon … he was cooperative. He did not seem in any way involved in Faye's disappearance at that time.”

The Springdale Elementary student disappeared on February 10 after being last seen playing in her front yard on Londonderry Lane in Cayce, just off Highway 302.

Faye had just gotten off the school bus.

Her mother made a harrowing 911 call to report her daughter missing.

In the audio recording, Selena Collins could be heard emotionally telling Lexington police she saw her daughter less than an hour ago.

"I need to report a missing child," sobbed Collins, revealing she last saw her in the front yard. "We can't find my daughter.

"She was playing outside. I can't find her [inaudible]," Collins said. "She's six. She's going to be seven in June."

As the dispatcher connected her to the police department, Collins described little Faye's outfit, weight, and height.

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"I last saw her probably about an hour ago," Collins said, audibly trying to hold back tears during the heartwrenching call.

"She was right in front of my front porch," Faye's mom told cops, adding she "checked all the houses in my neighborhoood."

More than 200 officers searched for her over three days, knocking on every door in her neighborhood and checking every vehicle going in and out.

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