Fishers police say missing teen Hailey Buzbee is believed dead as Ohio investigation intensifies
Case shifts from search to recovery as suspect remains jailed in Ohio
Fishers police announced Feb. 1 that 17-year-old Hailey Paige Buzbee, missing since early January, is believed to be deceased, marking a major turn in a case that began as a runaway investigation and expanded across state lines into Ohio.
Buzbee, a Hamilton Southeastern High School student, was last seen by her parents at about 10 p.m. on Jan. 5 at her home in Fishers’ Enclave at Vermillion neighborhood. Investigators believe she left the residence either late Jan. 5 or in the early hours of Jan. 6. Police have said she left willingly and with a plan, but did not act alone—language that initially led authorities to classify the case as a runaway before it was upgraded to an endangered missing juvenile on Jan. 20.
How investigators linked the disappearance to an Ohio man
During the Feb. 1 briefing, police said detectives traced a vehicle in the neighborhood during the overnight hours to a 39-year-old Columbus, Ohio, man, Tyler N. Thomas. Authorities said Thomas admitted he picked Buzbee up near her home but claimed he later dropped her off along a roadside in western Ohio. Investigators said that account was determined to be false as the inquiry progressed.
Law enforcement in Indiana and Ohio pursued parallel investigative steps, including searches and digital evidence collection. Police said evidence placed Buzbee at Thomas’ residence in Columbus and at a short-term rental in Hocking County, Ohio. That development broadened the search footprint beyond Indiana, involving multiple agencies and specialized resources.
Current charges and what police have not yet said
As of Feb. 2, Thomas was in custody in Franklin County, Ohio, on felony charges related to sexually oriented material involving a minor and tampering with evidence. Authorities have not announced a homicide charge, and officials have emphasized that the investigation remains active.
Police have also indicated that the determination Buzbee is believed deceased is based on evidence obtained and statements made during the investigation. Officials have not publicly released many underlying details, citing the sensitivity of an ongoing case involving a juvenile.
Key timeline
Jan. 5, 2026: Buzbee last seen by family around 10 p.m. in Fishers.
Jan. 6, 2026: Investigators believe she left home overnight.
Jan. 20, 2026: Fishers police upgrade the case to an endangered missing juvenile.
Feb. 1, 2026: Police say evidence and statements have shifted efforts toward recovery; Buzbee is believed deceased.
Authorities have said the case moved from a public search effort to recovery actions after investigators obtained evidence they consider consistent with Buzbee’s death.
Officials have urged anyone with direct, verifiable information about Buzbee’s movements in early January—or contact with Thomas during that period—to provide it to law enforcement as investigators work to establish a complete chronology and determine whether additional charges are warranted.