An Ohio man accused of sexually exploiting, killing and dismembering 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee after she went missing in Indiana earlier this year has been indicted on federal charges in her death.
Tyler Thomas, 39, of Columbus, was indicted Wednesday, September 23, on nine federal charges, including kidnapping resulting in death, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio said in a news release.
He’s additionally charged with traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, as well as this offense resulting in death, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, sexual exploitation, attempted enticement of a minor, obstruction of justice and accessing digital materials with the intent to view child pornography.
“Prosecutors from my office have worked diligently with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners over the past eight months to bring today’s charges forward, never losing sight of the pursuit of justice for Hailey Buzbee and her family,” U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II said in a statement.
According to court filings, Thomas met Buzbee through online gaming, specifically while playing Roblox and League of Legends together. Since May 2024, when Buzbee was 15, he allegedly tried to entice her into sexual acts.
Buzbee went missing from her home in Fishers, Indiana, on January 5, police said, Us previously reported.
An investigation revealed Thomas traveled from Columbus, Ohio, to Indiana to pick Buzbee up, according to prosecutors.
He then drove her back with him to Ohio, where he brought her to an Airbnb in Logan, “all with the intent to engage in prohibited sexual activity with the victim,” prosecutors said.
This occurred between January 5 to January 6.
At some point, Thomas allegedly killed Buzbee before decapitating, dismembering and burying her body.
Buzbee’s remains were ultimately found along the North Country Trail Trailhead in Wayne National Forest, located in southeastern Ohio, according to prosecutors.
Thomas was first arrested in January by local authorities, prosecutors said. He was subsequently arrested on federal charges in February.
A search of Thomas’ cell phone showed he deleted messages and interactions between him and Buzbee, including their exchanges over Snapchat and sexually explicit photos of Hailey that were allegedly taken at Thomas’ Columbus home and the Airbnb in Logan, according to prosecutors.
At the Airbnb, FBI agents found several potential traces of blood, prosecutors said.
In addition to images of Buzbee, investigators also found child sexual abuse material of a female child, as well as a sexual conversation with a teenager on Discord, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in an earlier news release.
Thomas’ defense attorney, Samuel Shamansky, didn’t immediately return a request for comment from Us.
After Thomas’ initial arrest, Buzbee’s father, Beau, described his daughter as “a smart, beautiful, kind, and caring young lady with a bright future,” in a February 1 Facebook post.
“She had a deep love for her family and holds a very special place in so many hearts,” Beau added.
If you know of a young person who is being exploited or is the victim of a crime, you are urged to report it to your local FBI field office by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tips can also be left at http://tips.fbi.gov/
