LAST MESSAGE SENT. BODY FOUND DAYS LATER: Hailey Buzbee went missing after contacting an older man via online gaming. Her body was later found in a remote area, where a witness reported seeing a car parked for a long time near the edge of a wooded area
The heartbreaking case of 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee from Fishers, Indiana, has concluded tragically, underscoring the grave dangers of online grooming through gaming platforms. Hailey vanished from her home in the Enclave at Vermillion neighborhood on the night of January 5, 2026. She was last seen leaving around 10 p.m., and her family reported her missing the following day, January 6. What began as a possible runaway scenario quickly evolved into a multi-state homicide investigation after evidence linked her to 39-year-old Tyler Thomas of Columbus, Ohio.
Investigators discovered that Hailey and Thomas had connected through an online gaming platform, where communications escalated over time. Thomas drove to Indiana to pick her up, admitting to authorities that he collected her from her home that night. He initially claimed to have dropped her off on the side of a road in western Ohio, but this account was disproven through further inquiry. Evidence placed Hailey at Thomas’s Columbus residence and at a short-term rental property in Hocking County, Ohio—about 50 miles southwest of Columbus—where detectives believe she was killed within days of her disappearance.
Her phone went dead shortly after she left home, severing digital traces and complicating early efforts to locate her. The case shifted from missing persons to a recovery mission when authorities announced she was believed deceased. On February 1, 2026, after Thomas was arrested and reportedly cooperated, he led the FBI and local agencies to her remains in a wooded area of Wayne National Forest near the New Straitsville Trailhead in Perry County, Ohio. The body had been buried, and forensic teams recovered it with assistance from the U.S. Forest Service, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and other partners.
An autopsy conducted by the Licking County Coroner’s Office confirmed the remains as Hailey Buzbee’s, with the Perry County Coroner and Prosecuting Attorney verifying the identification. The discovery came days after her last known contacts and weeks after her disappearance, closing a desperate search involving drones, K-9 units, and cross-jurisdictional coordination.
The remote recovery site in the snowy, wooded national forest drew additional scrutiny. Reports indicate that a witness had observed a vehicle parked for an extended period near the edge of a wooded area in the vicinity—potentially Thomas’s car during or after the disposal. While not every detail of witness statements has been publicly detailed, such observations aligned with investigative leads that directed authorities to the burial location. The area’s isolation—off a trailhead with limited traffic—likely contributed to the delay in discovery.
Thomas faces charges including pandering obscenity involving a minor (related to sexually explicit images and a video of Hailey found on his phone, some of which he allegedly attempted to delete) and tampering with evidence. He has not yet been formally charged with murder or homicide, though officials have indicated the investigation remains active and additional charges are possible as forensics and evidence processing continue. He is held in Franklin County Jail on a $1.5 million bond, with restrictions including no internet access and no contact with the victim’s family. His attorney confirmed Thomas assisted in locating the remains.
Hailey was remembered by her family as “smart, beautiful, and kind,” a junior at Hamilton Southeastern High School with a passion for broadcast journalism. She worked as a dedicated server at a local restaurant for nearly 16 months. Her father launched a GoFundMe and petitioned for “Hailey’s Law,” proposing a “Pink Alert” system in Indiana for missing persons involving credible risk, even when they fall outside Amber or Silver Alert criteria. Advocates, including those who helped create the Amber Alert system, have called for reforms to address gaps exposed by this case.
The tragedy has amplified nationwide warnings about online safety. Grooming often begins innocently in games with chat features (such as Roblox, Fortnite, or similar), then moves to private apps like Snapchat or direct messaging. Experts urge parents to monitor interactions, use parental controls, discuss virtual stranger danger, and report suspicious behavior. The FBI and local agencies emphasize that what appears as harmless online friendship can rapidly turn predatory, especially when age gaps and intent to meet in person emerge.
As the investigation proceeds—spanning Indiana, Ohio, and federal jurisdictions—the focus remains on justice for Hailey and preventing future cases. The FBI Cincinnati office released a statement expressing deep sorrow and commitment to pursuing all leads. Hailey’s family and community grieve a promising life stolen too soon, while her story fuels urgent calls for better protections in digital spaces.
