Ohio Man Charged Federally in Disappearance of Teenage Girl

Tyler Thomas faces sexual exploitation and interstate travel charges related to the case of missing 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Tyler Thomas, a 39-year-old Ohio man, has been charged at the federal level in connection with the disappearance of 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee. The new federal charges, which include sexual exploitation of a minor and interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, mirror the state charges Thomas already faces. Court documents reveal that Thomas and Buzbee met online through gaming platforms like Discord and communicated for over a year before Buzbee left her home in Fishers, Indiana with Thomas on January 5. Authorities believe Buzbee was killed in Hocking County, Ohio, and Thomas later led police to her remains in Perry County.

Why it matters

This case highlights the dangers of online predators targeting minors and the challenges law enforcement faces in tracking down missing children who may have been lured away by someone they met online. It also raises questions about the role of technology companies in monitoring and reporting suspicious activity on their platforms.

The details

According to court documents, Thomas and Buzbee met online through gaming platforms like Roblox and League of Legends, and communicated via the encrypted messaging app 'Session' for over a year before Buzbee left her home on January 5. Thomas allegedly picked Buzbee up from her home in Fishers, Indiana and drove her to Columbus, Ohio, where authorities believe she was killed in Hocking County. Thomas later led police to Buzbee's remains in Perry County, Ohio. Investigators found sexual videos of Buzbee on Thomas' phone and believe he attempted to delete the evidence.

  • On January 6, Buzbee's parents awoke to find their daughter missing and a note stating she had run away.
  • On January 19, the Fishers Police Department said Buzbee was considered an 'endangered missing juvenile'.
  • On February 1, authorities announced Thomas' arrest and said Buzbee was presumed dead.
  • On February 1, Thomas led police to Buzbee's remains in Wayne National Forest.

The players

Tyler Thomas

A 39-year-old Ohio man who has been charged at the federal level with sexual exploitation of a minor and interstate travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct in relation to the disappearance of 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee.

Hailey Buzbee

A 17-year-old high school student from Fishers, Indiana who went missing on January 5 and was later found deceased.

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What they’re saying

“The filing of these federal charges does not signal the end of the investigation. Our prosecutors continue to work with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to collect and comb through evidence in pursuit of justice for Hailey and her family. We appreciate the public's patience as the investigation proceeds.”

— Dominick S. Gerace II, U.S. Attorney (U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of Ohio)

“We're going to deal with the charges straight up, and we'll deal with professional and capable prosecutors, whether it's in state court or federal.”

— Sam Shamansky, Defense Attorney for Tyler Thomas (WCMH)

What’s next

Federal prosecutors have 30 days to indict Thomas on the current charges, which carry a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison. Authorities are also considering whether to file additional charges, including potential murder charges, against Thomas.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the need for greater online safety education and monitoring to protect minors from predators who may target them through gaming platforms and social media. It also underscores the importance of swift and coordinated law enforcement action when a child goes missing.