Indiana authorities say the disappearance of 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee has taken a tragic turn, with investigators now believing the teenager is dead and a man in custody as the case shifts from a search to recovery efforts.
During a press conference on Sunday, the Fishers Police Department confirmed that 39-year-old Tyler Thomas of Columbus, Ohio, is being held in connection with Buzbee’s disappearance. Officials said the investigation, which has involved multiple states and the FBI, now centers on locating the teen’s remains.
“I know that her family is devastated, and I am confident that our community will rally in the coming hours, days and weeks to stand with that family in their grief, and share in the burden of mending and healing,” Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness said.
Buzbee was last seen on Monday, Jan. 5, in Hamilton County, Indiana. Investigators previously said she likely left her home late that night or in the early hours of January 6. At the outset, police believed she may have left willingly and classified the case as a runaway situation, which meant no statewide alert was issued.
As the investigation progressed, detectives tracked a vehicle seen in Buzbee’s neighborhood to Thomas. Authorities said he admitted to picking her up, telling police the two had met through online gaming. However, Fishers Police Chief Ed Gebhart said Thomas’s initial account did not align with evidence gathered later.
“We made contact with him in Ohio, and he admitted to picking Buzbee up at her home and he told us he dropped her off on a road in western Ohio,” Gebhart said. “However, through continued investigation, his initial story was untrue.”
According to court records, investigators believe Thomas transported Buzbee across state lines to Columbus, Ohio. Police say evidence indicates she was also with him at a short-term rental property in Hocking County, Ohio. Authorities now believe Buzbee died days after she was reported missing, though her body has not yet been recovered.
Thomas was booked into the Franklin County Jail on January 31. He has not been charged with murder, but faces charges including tampering with evidence and producing or selling obscene materials involving children. He is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
Mayor Fadness said he had spoken with Buzbee’s family and shared their reflections on her life.
“Their wishes were to express what an incredible human being Hailey was,” he said. “She was a bright light in the family. She was a wonderful big sister, she had a tremendous promise and hope, and she was an incredible human being.”
In a Facebook post, Buzbee’s father described his daughter as “smart, beautiful, and kind,” and said the family hopes her case will lead to changes in how missing teen cases are handled. He has advocated for the creation of a new alert system — tentatively called a “Pink Alert” or “Hailey’s Law” — to be issued when credible risk indicators exist, even if a teen is initially believed to have left voluntarily.
“Hailey and her story have been shared nationwide between the tips you had shared with us and the support you have shown the family,” Gebhart said. “This is not the outcome any of us wanted. We will stay committed to supporting her family during this tragic time.”
Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing as they continue efforts to locate Buzbee’s remains and pursue additional charges if warranted.
