An Ohio man has been arrested in the disappearance of 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee, who is believed to be dead after she went missing from her Indiana home nearly a month ago, according to police.
“After extensive investigation, we feel that Hailey is deceased,” Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness said at a Sunday, February 1, news conference, where he was joined by Fishers Police and the FBI.
Detectives identified 39-year-old Tyler Thomas, of Columbus, Ohio, as a suspect in the case when they learned his car had been spotted in Hailey’s neighborhood in Fishers “the night she had gone missing,” according to Fishers Police Department Chief Ed Gebhart.
Thomas and Buzbee had met while gaming online, Gebhart said at the news conference.
Thomas “is in police custody in Ohio on charges associated with this case but has not been charged with the murder at this time,” the police chief said.
During Thomas’ initial court appearance on Monday, February 2, his defense attorney, Samuel Shamansky, said that Thomas brought authorities to Buzbee’s remains, which were found in Perry County the evening of February 1, WRTV reported. Perry is about a 50-mile drive southwest from Columbus.
In response to an inquiry from Us Weekly regarding Buzbee’s remains, the Fishers Police Department said on February 2 that the agency “is no longer the lead agency on the case” and referred inquiries to FBI Indianapolis.
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Buzbee was last seen at her home the night of January 5, police said, Us previously reported. Her parents told investigators that she had left overnight, according to Gebhart.
“Using technology, our detectives identified Thomas as the suspect she had left with,” Gebhart said.
Authorities ultimately located Thomas in Ohio, where “he admitted picking Hailey up at her home,” Gebhart added.
Thomas claimed to have dropped Buzbee off on the side of the road in western Ohio, according to Gebhart, who said that the investigation ultimately revealed his claim was a lie.
Authorities found evidence that Buzbee had been at Thomas’ home in Columbus as well as at a “short-term rental” in Hocking County after executing search warrants at both locations, Gebhart said.
Buzbee is believed to have died “within a few days after she was picked up,” Gebhart shared.
Thomas was initially booked in jail on a charge of tampering with evidence in Franklin County, Ohio, on Saturday, January 31, according to jail records.
He is also charged with another felony, pandering obscenity, Gebhart said.
Jail records show that the pandering charge relates to sexually oriented matter involving a minor.
The investigation into Buzbee’s disappearance continues in Ohio, Gebhart said.
“Hailey was a smart, beautiful, kind, and caring young lady with a bright future,” her father, Beau Buzbee, said in a statement shared to Facebook on Sunday, February 1. “She had a deep love for her family and holds a very special place in so many hearts”
“Our family is devastated,” Beau wrote. “We want the community and others to know that we are so thankful for the support we received.”
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Buzbee attended Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, according to Gebhart.
“Our hearts are with her family, her friends and our community as we try to get through this terrible time together,” Gebhart said of Hailey.
Tim O’Malley, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office, promised that the FBI is committed to pursuing justice for the teen.
