A 39-year-old Columbus man accused in the disappearance of a 17-year-old Indiana teenager has led investigators to her buried remains in Perry County, Ohio, according to authorities and his attorney.
Timeline of the Investigation
Hailey Buzbee was reported missing from Fishers, Indiana, on January 6. Tyler Thomas emerged as a suspect after investigators identified his vehicle in Buzbee’s neighborhood the night she disappeared. Columbus police began assisting Fishers authorities on January 16, leading to the discovery that Buzbee had visited Thomas at his Hunter Avenue home in north Columbus.
TRAGIC UPDATE: 17-Year-Old Hailey Buzbee Believed DEAD After Online Grooming by 39-Year-Old Man She Met Gaming — Suspect Tyler Thomas Arrested in Ohio
📍Fishers, Indiana
Body not yet recovered. pic.twitter.com/pcLso1lvhx
— i Expose Racists & Pedos (@SeeRacists) February 2, 2026
Police believe the pair met through online gaming. On January 21, homicide detectives executed search warrants at Thomas’s residence and on electronic devices, allegedly discovering child sexual abuse material involving Buzbee. Thomas faces charges of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor and tampering with evidence, with a bond set at $1.5 million during his Monday arraignment.
Discovery at Rental Property
The investigation revealed Buzbee accompanied Thomas to a short-term rental property on Walnut Dowler Road in Hocking County, where authorities believe she was killed. FBI crime scene investigators and county deputies searched the location on Monday, recovering forensic evidence suggesting a crime occurred there. The exact property location remains undisclosed to preserve investigation integrity.
Authorities say they have located what they believe to be the body of Indiana teenager Hailey Buzbee, who went missing in early January.
Her disappearance was initially treated as a runaway before being reclassified as an endangered missing person, meaning no Amber Alert was… pic.twitter.com/at5aaObBnK
— Change.org (@Change) February 3, 2026
Cooperation and Legal Proceedings
Thomas’s attorney, Sam Shamansky, confirmed his client voluntarily surrendered and cooperated with law enforcement to locate Buzbee’s remains. Multiple agencies, including the FBI, Hocking and Perry County sheriff’s offices, U.S. Forest Service, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, participated in the recovery operation. The remains were transported to the Licking County Coroner’s Office for autopsy and identification, though findings await release from the Perry County Coroner. Shamansky indicated Thomas will plead not guilty if charged with homicide, while authorities expect additional charges from the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office.