Fisher Police now believe 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee, who was last seen leaving her Vermilion, Ohio, home on Jan. 5, is dead. Investigators say she met 39-year-old Tyler Thomas through online gaming and went missing within days after he picked her up. Thomas is jailed without bond on charges of pandering obscenity and tampering with evidence; he has not been charged with murder. Multiple agencies, including the FBI, continue to assist in the active investigation.
Teen Presumed Dead After Meeting Man Through Online Gaming; Suspect Arrested on Related Charges
Hailey BuzbeeFind Hailey Buzbee/Facebook
Authorities say 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee, who vanished from her Vermilion, Ohio, home on Jan. 5, is now presumed dead following a weeks-long investigation. Detectives say she met 39-year-old Tyler Thomas through online gaming before she disappeared.
Police Update and Timeline
The Fisher Police Department (FPD) announced at a Feb. 1 press briefing that detectives used technological leads to identify Thomas as the person who picked Hailey up from her neighborhood in early January. According to authorities, Thomas initially admitted giving Buzbee a ride and claimed he dropped her off on the side of a road in western Ohio. Investigators later determined that his account was false.
Tyler ThomasFranklin County Jail
“On Jan. 6, we responded to the Buzbee residence. Her parents had reported that she left overnight,” Fisher Police Chief Ed Gebhart said. “Throughout the investigation, we were able to identify an unknown vehicle that had been in Hailey’s neighborhood the night she had gone missing.”
Evidence and Whereabouts
Police say evidence indicates Buzbee and Thomas stayed together at a short-term rental after he picked her up. When officers later searched that property, Hailey was not found. Thomas is currently held without bond at the Franklin County Jail on two felony counts connected to the probe: pandering obscenity and tampering with evidence. He has not been charged with murder.
Community Response and Ongoing Investigation
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness told reporters Buzbee’s family is "devastated" and asked the community to support them through their grief. The FPD is being assisted by the FBI, Indiana State Police, Columbus Police and the Hocking County Sheriff's Office as the investigation continues. Thomas is scheduled to appear in court on the existing charges on Monday, Feb. 2.
Note: The investigation remains active. Police have not publicly released additional evidence details, and charges could change as new information emerges.
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