IN HAILEY BUZBEE: Missing from Fishers, IN - 5 Jan 2026 - Age 17 *Found Deceased* (2 Viewers)

https://www.newsnationnow.com/missing/police-hailey-buzbee-missing-endangered-teen/

Police search for Hailey Buzbee, missing ‘endangered teen’​

Police in Indiana are asking for the public’s help in the search for missing teen Hailey Buzbee, who is described as an “endangered missing juvenile.”

Hailey, 17, of Fishers, Indiana, was last seen at home on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, and her family believes she ran away. They believe she left the house between 10 p.m. and the early hours of the next morning.

Hailey’s father, Beau Buzbee, said his family had a normal day and he believes that his daughter had help from someone to leave the house.

Buzbee stated that his daughter does not have the resources she would need to run away, which is one of the reasons the family thinks she didn’t run away by herself.

Investigators have currently classified Hailey as a runaway because she left home voluntarily. Although many details of the search have not been shared, investigators did confirm that she didn’t act alone.

Based on information gathered during the search, police now consider her endangered.

Hailey’s family fears someone outside of her immediate social circle used social media to influence her. Investigators are examining social media along with interviewing Hailey’s friends.

Hailey reportedly left the home on foot, and her cell phone last pinged from her home, although the phone has not been located.


MEDIA - HAILEY BUZBEE: Missing from Fishers, IN - 5 Jan 2026 - Age 17

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Indiana officials: Missing 17-year-old believed dead; Columbus man arrested

Fishers Police Department Chief Ed Gebhart said in a press conference Sunday that Thomas does not currently face any charges related to Buzbee's death.

www.10tv.com

Indiana officials: Missing 17-year-old believed dead; Columbus man arrested​

A Columbus man was arrested Saturday after he was accused of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a 17-year-old girl, who Indiana officials say is believed to be dead.

Franklin County Municipal Court records show 39-year-old Tyler Thomas is charged with pandering obscenity involving a minor and tampering with evidence in connection with Hailey Buzbee.

Fishers Police Department Chief Ed Gebhart said in a press conference Sunday that Thomas does not currently face any charges related to Buzbee's death but was named a suspect.

Gebhart confirmed the department is investigating the death as a homicide, working with the Columbus Division of Police Homicide Unit and the Hocking County Sheriff's Office.


According to court documents, Thomas allegedly picked up the teen out of state on Jan. 6 and brought her back to Columbus. Investigators say videos and photos found on Thomas’ phone show the minor engaged in sexual acts.

Gebhart said Thomas reportedly told police he dropped Buzbee off on the side of the road in western Ohio. However, that was determined to be untrue, police said.

An affidavit states Buzbee was last known to be in Thomas’ company. An investigation revealed Buzbee was at Thomas' home in Columbus and a short-term rental property in Hocking County.

According to Gebhart, investigators with all the involved agencies coordinated the search for Buzbee using aerial drones, K-9 units and physical search techniques.
Authorities executed a search warrant at Thomas’ home and on his electronic devices on Jan. 21, where they allegedly found child sexual abuse material involving a juvenile.

Gebhart said police believe Buzbee and Thomas met via online gaming. Indiana police reportedly encountered Thomas within days of Buzbee being reported missing.

After he was booked into the Franklin County jail, Thomas was on furlough with the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Sunday.

Criminal defense attorney Sam Shamansky, who is representing Thomas, told 10TV's Lacey Crisp, “We are working closely with federal and local authorities."

 

[RoundPeg]

 

[Kimster]

She looks like a person whose smile would light up a room! I have no words.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Body of Hailey Buzbee Found in Perry County, Ohio

Thomas appeared in court Monday for what his attorney described as a procedural hearing.

wibc.com

Body of Hailey Buzbee Found in Perry County, Ohio​

An attorney for the man charged in Hailey Buzbee’s disappearance says authorities have confirmed her body was recovered in Perry County, Ohio, southeast of Columbus.

Police say Buzbee was last seen on January 5 or 6, when she left with Tyler Thomas, a man she had met while gaming online. Thomas has since been charged in connection with her disappearance, though police say that he has not been charged with murder at this time.

Remains of missing Indiana teen found in Ohio; Columbus man held on $1.5 million bond

According to attorney Sam Shamansky, officials in Perry County have recovered what they believe is Buzbee’s remains.

www.10tv.com

Remains of missing Indiana teen found in Ohio; Columbus man held on $1.5 million bond​

The attorney representing a man accused in the disappearance of a 17-year-old Indiana girl, Hailey Buzbee, said that her remains were found in Ohio.

According to Sam Shamansky, officials in Perry County have recovered what they believe is Buzbee’s remains.


According to Albert, the investigation confirmed Buzbee was with Thomas at a short-term rental property in Hocking County, where detectives believe she was killed.

Homicide detectives executed a search warrant at Thomas’ home and on his electronic devices on Jan. 21, where they allegedly found child sexual abuse material involving Buzbee.

Thomas was charged with pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor. He appeared in Franklin County Municipal Court for his arraignment on Monday and was given a $1.5 million bond.

Following the arraignment, Shamansky told 10TV’s Lacey Crisp that Thomas has been cooperating with investigators to help bring the Buzbee family as much closure as possible.

Shamansky said Thomas willingly turned himself in on Saturday and worked with the FBI and other law enforcement to locate Buzbee’s remains. Investigators are looking at additional evidence in Franklin and Hocking counties.

“We grieve for this tragic loss of life and we grieve for the circumstances attendant to this loss and that’s why we, along with our client, took every difficult step necessary to assist,” he said.

Thomas does not currently face any charges related to Buzbee’s death. Albert said the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office is expected to bring forth additional charges.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Didn't know whether to hit sad or mad to the news.

He's cooperating now and trying to help the Buzbee family get closure. Well yay for him, why not just don't SA or kill her in the first place?!

it seemed obvious in some of the other links that LE knew she was dead and maybe knew where she was, etc. but weren't saying yet.

All these young lives, constantly, just taken. It never ends.

I hope to heck they did not make some too sweet deal with him!