Running away from home is something that kids do far too often. Being a runaway is defined as persons within the juvenile jurisdictional age limit established by the home state who (1) have voluntarily left their residence without permission of their legal guardian or custodial agency or (2) refuse to return to their residence as directed by their legal guardian or custodial agency, but who may or may not have been adjudicated.
Hailey Buzbee was a 17-year-old from Fishers and it is believed she ran away between the late hours of Jan 5 and the early hours of Jan 6. It is also believed that she had help as her car was still in her driveway. Her family and community members hung flyers and posters all around Indiana in an attempt to find Buzbee. The search extended outside of Indiana as there was concern she’d been taken out of state.
The police searched for Buzbee, hoping to bring her to safety. They received evidence from a neighbor who had a camera pointing toward Buzbee’s house. Neighbors saw an unfamiliar car on the camera during the night of Buzbee’s disappearance. This footage helped the police track the license plate number to a 39-year old Ohio resident, Tyler Thomas.
When interrogated, he first stated that he picked Buzbee up, but then said he dropped her off in western Ohio. After the police searched his house and found DNA evidence from Buzbee, he confessed to taking her to his house and rental property. He eventually led police to the post where he’d hidden Buzbee’s body.
Hailey Buzbee has been officially pronounced dead and they have found her body. Thomas is currently charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and traveling across state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
If Thomas is convicted on these current charges each count would be up to 30 years. The local charges of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor are being dismissed and turned into federal charges.
While searching his phone, the police found that he was not only messaging Buzbee, but other children ranging from ages 7-10 on Discord. His messages were crude. The case is still ongoing.
