Ohio Man Charged in Disturbing Death of Indiana Teen Hailey Buzbee

Tyler Thomas accused of sexually exploiting and murdering the 17-year-old girl after luring her from her home

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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A 39-year-old Ohio man named Tyler Thomas has been charged with federal exploitation crimes for allegedly luring 17-year-old Indiana resident Hailey Buzbee from her home, engaging in sexual acts with her, and then leading investigators to where her dismembered body was found buried in the woods of Ohio. Thomas had been communicating with Buzbee online for over a year before the alleged murder.

Why it matters

This tragic case highlights the dangers of online predators and the need for greater protections for minors on social media and gaming platforms. It also raises concerns about bail reform and whether alleged violent offenders should be released pending trial, as Thomas had prior charges that were still pending when he allegedly committed this heinous crime.

The details

Prosecutors allege that Thomas, who met Buzbee through online gaming on the platform Discord, drove from Columbus, Ohio to Fortville, Indiana on January 6th to pick up the teen from her home. He is accused of then taking her back to an Airbnb in Ohio, where he allegedly engaged in sexual acts with her and later killed her. Thomas allegedly tried to cover his tracks by wiping his phone of disturbing messages and photos. Investigators later found traces of blood at the Airbnb and seized additional devices from Thomas' home, uncovering more disturbing evidence.

  • On January 5th, Hailey Buzbee was last seen near her home in Fishers, Indiana.
  • On January 6th, Tyler Thomas allegedly drove from Columbus, Ohio to Fortville, Indiana to pick up Buzbee from her home.
  • On February 2nd, Buzbee's dismembered remains were found buried in the woods of Ohio.
  • On January 31st, Thomas was initially charged with pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor and evidence tampering.
  • On February 7th, Thomas was hit with federal exploitation charges for crossing state lines to bring Buzbee to Ohio and carry out sexual acts before her death.

The players

Tyler Thomas

A 39-year-old Ohio man who is accused of sexually exploiting and murdering 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee after luring her from her Indiana home.

Hailey Buzbee

A 17-year-old Indiana resident whose dismembered body was found buried in the woods of Ohio after she was allegedly abducted by Tyler Thomas.

Dominick S. Gerace II

The U.S. Attorney who stated that the filing of federal charges does not signal the end of the investigation and that prosecutors are continuing to work with law enforcement to pursue justice for Hailey and her family.

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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

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Tyler Thomas to be released on bail as the federal investigation continues.

The takeaway

This disturbing case highlights the urgent need for greater online safety protections, especially for minors, as well as reforms to the criminal justice system to ensure alleged violent offenders are not released on bail to potentially commit further heinous acts.