Hailey Buzbee, an Indiana teen who's been missing for almost a month, is dead, police announced during a news conference the evening of Feb. 1, though the investigation is still active and Buzbee has not yet been found.
Buzbee's parents last saw their daughter, a 17-year-old student at Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, at 10 p.m. Jan. 5. The Fishers Police Department said Feb. 1 she'd allegedly been picked up by Tyler Thomas, an Ohio man she'd met through online gaming.
Police said they talked to Thomas within a few days of her disappearance, who had told them he'd dropped Buzbee off on the side of the road in western Ohio. Police soon determined that statement was not true and worked with law enforcement partners in Ohio to search Thomas' home and vehicle.
Law enforcement determined Buzbee had been at Thomas' home in Columbus, Ohio, and a short-term rental in Hocking County, Ohio. Evidence collected, in addition to statements by Thomas, led investigators to the conclusion that Buzbee was dead.
Thomas is currently in custody in Ohio for charges associated with the case, police said, though he hasn't been charged with murder.
A 39-year-old man named Tyler Thomas was recently charged with pandering obscenity involving a minor and tampering with evidence in Franklin County, Ohio, Indiana officials said during the news conference. Investigators in that case found child sexual abuse material on Thomas' electronic devices, according to aColumbus news outlet.
Police believe Buzbee died within a few days after she was picked up.
The announcement comes after weeks of searching from police and Buzbee's family. Though the teenager was initially classified as a runaway, policeupgraded her case to an "endangered missing juvenile" Jan. 20.
Beau Buzbee, Hailey's father, said his family was devastated by the news in a post on Facebook.
"Hailey was a smart, beautiful, kind, and caring young lady with a bright future," he wrote. "She had a deep love for her family and holds a very special place in so many hearts."
Contact breaking politics reporter Marissa Meador at mmeador@gannett.com or find her on X at @marissa_meador.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star:Missing Indiana teen Hailey Buzbee is dead, Fishers police say
