FISHERS, Ind. — Officials with the Fishers Police Department announced Sunday afternoon that they believe Hailey Buzbee, the missing 17-year-old junior at Hamilton Southeastern High School, is deceased—an outcome described as “heartbreaking” by authorities. The announcement was delivered during a somber news conference led by Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, Fishers Police Chief Ed Gebhart, and Timothy O’Malley, the FBI’s Special Agent in Charge for Indianapolis. Officials also confirmed the arrest of 39-year-old Tyler Thomas in connection with Hailey’s disappearance, as her parents, Beau and Ronya Buzbee, continue to endure unimaginable grief while hoping for answers.
Hailey Buzbee was last seen on the night of January 5, when investigators believe she left her home in the Enclave at Vermillion Neighborhood near Flat Fork Creek Park around 10 p.m. In the weeks that followed, the Fishers Police Department classified her as an endangered missing juvenile, emphasizing on January 19 that the case was a “very active investigation” involving local, state, and federal law enforcement partners.
During Sunday’s press conference, authorities stated that evidence gathered throughout the investigation led them to conclude that Hailey did not leave alone and willingly left her home with a plan. Investigators revealed that Hailey had been communicating with Tyler Thomas through online gaming platforms prior to her disappearance.
Thomas was arrested Saturday in Franklin County, Ohio, and is currently being held without bond in the Franklin County Jail. He faces one count of pandering obscenity and one count of tampering with evidence. Under Ohio law, pandering obscenity involves the knowing creation, distribution, or possession of obscene material and can be elevated from a fifth-degree felony to a second-degree felony if a minor is involved. Thomas is scheduled to appear in court on Monday in Franklin County.
Chief Ed Gebhart stated that investigators identified an unknown vehicle in Hailey’s neighborhood on the night she disappeared. That vehicle ultimately led authorities to Thomas, who later admitted to picking Hailey up. Thomas initially claimed he dropped her off on the side of the road; however, police later uncovered evidence contradicting that statement.
Searches conducted by the Columbus Police Department at Thomas’s residence and the vehicle he allegedly used revealed evidence placing Hailey at his home and at a short-term rental property. According to investigators, this evidence, combined with statements allegedly made by Thomas, led authorities to believe Hailey was killed within days of her disappearance.
Mayor Scott Fadness confirmed that the conclusion that Hailey is believed to be deceased was reached after an extensive joint investigation involving the Fishers Police Department, the Indiana State Police, and the FBI. Chief Gebhart stated that the case has now transitioned into a “recovery-only” phase, though Hailey’s body has not yet been located. The search for her remains ongoing.
FBI Special Agent Timothy O’Malley reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to justice, stating that federal authorities will continue working alongside local and state agencies to ensure accountability for those responsible. He also emphasized the importance of patience and community support as the investigation continues.
Last month, Hailey’s parents, Beau and Ronya Buzbee, spoke publicly, pleading for their daughter to come home and expressing their unwavering love and determination. The family distributed thousands of flyers across Central Indiana and used social media in hopes of bringing Hailey back safely.
As the Fishers community grieves this devastating development, Hailey Buzbee is remembered not as a case number, but as a daughter, a student, and a young life full of promise. Her family’s pain is shared by a community now united in mourning, remembrance, and the pursuit of truth and justice.
