Nationwide — Hailey Buzbee, a 17-year-old African American teen from Fishers, Indiana who went missing in early January, is believed to have been found dead in Perry County, Ohio. dead. A 39-year-old man, allegedly the last person with her, led police to the remains but has not been charged in connection with her death.
According to NBC News, Hailey disappeared from her home on January 5. Her parents said they were “caught off guard,” as they never expected their daughter to leave on her own. Police initially treated her case as a runaway situation, but suspected she didn’t act alone.
Authorities soon identified 39-year-old Tyler Thomas, an Ohio resident, as the person Hailey had left with. Investigators said the two first connected online through gaming. Thomas admitted to picking her up but gave false details about where he had left her.
Thomas was arrested on January 31 on charges related to Hailey’s disappearance. In early February, his attorney said Thomas helped police locate Hailey’s remains in Perry County, Ohio, providing closure for her family at this stage. He appeared in court for felony charges and faces a $1.5 million bond, but he has not yet been charged in connection with her death.
Investigators confirmed Hailey had been at Thomas’s home in Columbus and a short-term rental in Hocking County. Search efforts used drones, dogs, and physical searches to track her. Officials believe Hailey died within days of leaving her home. Authorities anticipate homicide charges will come from Hocking County.
Hailey’s father, Beau Buzbee, shared memories of his daughter online, calling her kind and full of potential. He also launched a petition for “Hailey’s Law,” which would create a new alert system for missing children who don’t meet Amber Alert criteria and promote online predator awareness in schools.
Police continue investigating the case and urge anyone with information to contact the FBI Indianapolis office. The community mourns Hailey’s loss while seeking accountability for her death.