Hailey Buzbee dies in fatal Perry County discovery
Fatal Perry County discovery death of Hailey Buzbee – Obituary
Hailey Buzbee, a 17-year-old from Indiana who had been reported missing, was found dead in Perry County, Ohio, authorities confirmed. Buzbee’s disappearance had sparked a multi-county investigation after her last known location was in southeastern Ohio.
Tyler Thomas, 39, of Columbus, is a suspect in the case and is represented by attorney Samuel Shamansky. Court records indicate Thomas is facing charges of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor and tampering with evidence, stemming from his possession of sexual images of Buzbee at a residence in Victorian Village.
Although no charges related to her death or abduction have been filed yet, additional charges are anticipated in Hocking County, where Buzbee and Thomas were known to have stayed at a rental property. Shamansky said he and law enforcement, including the FBI, assisted in locating Buzbee’s body in Perry County.
Buzbee was reported missing from her Fishers, Indiana, home on January 6. Fishers Police Chief Ed Gebhart said the investigation shifted to recovery efforts once evidence and statements from Thomas indicated her likely death. Authorities noted that Buzbee and Thomas had connected through online gaming.
Investigators traced Thomas after identifying an unknown vehicle near Buzbee’s neighborhood on the night she disappeared. While Thomas claimed he had dropped Buzbee off safely, evidence contradicted his account.
A January 21 search warrant at Thomas’s Victorian Village residence uncovered deleted digital files containing images and a video of Buzbee. Thomas remains in Franklin County Jail with a $1.5 million bond and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on February 10.