On Feb 2. authorities reported that missing teen Hailey Buzbee’s body was found. Buzbee was a junior at Hamilton Southeastern School located in Fishers, IN.
This case began on Jan.5 when Buzbee left her home around 10 p.m. on Jan. 5 near Flat Fork Creek Park in Fishers, IN. Buzbee was reported as missing on Jan. 6 as authorities began the search for the teen. It was not until Jan. 20 that Buzbee’s case was upgraded from what was initially considered a runaway to an “endangered missing juvenile” said officials from the Fishers Police Department.
Tyler Thomas, a 39-year-old resident from Columbus, Ohio, was originally a person of interest in the case due to his car being viewed in the neighborhood around the time of Buzbee’s disappearance. It was later discovered that Thomas had been in contact with Buzbee through an online gaming platform.
Authorities questioned Thomas about his relationship with the Fishers teen, and it was later revealed that he had picked Buzbee on the night of Jan. 5. He originally told officials that he had dropped Buzbee off on the side of the road in western Ohio. Officials would later discover that his account of this incident was false.
Thomas was arrested in Franklin County, Ohio on Jan. 31 after evidence of his involvement with the teen was discovered. On Jan. 21, Ohio law enforcement executed a search warrant for Thomas’ home in the 900 block of Hunter Ave. in Columbus. Various digital devices were discovered during the search. Analysis of those devices uncovered videos of Buzbee that were sexual in nature.
The affidavit filed in the case also implies Thomas made an attempt to cover up the video he had of Buzbee during the police investigation.
On Feb. 1 Thomas’ lawyer, Sam Shamansky, told the public that authorities were led to Buzbee’s body by Thomas who is expected to receive further charges in the future.
“At our client’s insistence, we assisted law enforcement on Saturday afternoon and later Sunday, and that goal has now been met with bringing complete closure, at least with respect to this stage of the investigation, for everybody involved, but most important, the family of Miss Buzbee,” Shamansky said.
Thomas is currently being held in custody in Franklin County charged with pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor and tampering with evidence in connection with Buzbee’s disappearance.
“This is not the outcome that any of us have wanted,” Chief Ed Gebhart of the Fishers Police Department stated at a press conference on Feb.1.
Thomas has yet to be charged with Busbee’s death. However, “We anticipate charges will come from Hocking County,” Shamansky said.
Contact Staff Writer Malik Simon at 317-762-7847.
Malik Simon is a Staff Writer for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Memphis, TN, he graduated from Mississippi Valley State University with a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies concentrating on journalism. Before joining the Recorder, he wrote for the Devil’s Gazette newspaper at MVSU and served as a freelance content and video editor. He seeks to use media to help communities flourish through literacy and factual reporting.
