Nationwide — Hailey Buzbee, a 17-year-old African American teen from Fishers, Indiana who went lacking in early January, is believed to have been discovered useless in Perry County, Ohio. useless. A 39-year-old man, allegedly the final individual along with her, led police to the stays however has not been charged in connection along with her loss of life.
In response to NBC Information, Hailey disappeared from her residence on January 5. Her mother and father mentioned they had been “caught off guard,” as they by no means anticipated their daughter to go away on her personal. Police initially handled her case as a runaway state of affairs, however suspected she didn’t act alone.
Authorities quickly recognized 39-year-old Tyler Thomas, an Ohio resident, because the individual Hailey had left with. Investigators mentioned the 2 first linked on-line by means of gaming. Thomas admitted to selecting her up however gave false particulars about the place he had left her.
Thomas was arrested on January 31 on costs associated to Hailey’s disappearance. In early February, his lawyer mentioned Thomas helped police find Hailey’s stays in Perry County, Ohio, offering closure for her household at this stage. He appeared in court docket for felony costs and faces a $1.5 million bond, however he has not but been charged in connection along with her loss of life.
Investigators confirmed Hailey had been at Thomas’s residence in Columbus and a short-term rental in Hocking County. Search efforts used drones, canine, and bodily searches to trace her. Officers imagine Hailey died inside days of leaving her residence. Authorities anticipate murder costs will come from Hocking County.
Hailey’s father, Beau Buzbee, shared reminiscences of his daughter on-line, calling her form and stuffed with potential. He additionally launched a petition for “Hailey’s Legislation,” which might create a brand new alert system for lacking kids who don’t meet Amber Alert standards and promote on-line predator consciousness in faculties.
Police proceed investigating the case and urge anybody with data to contact the FBI Indianapolis workplace. The neighborhood mourns Hailey’s loss whereas looking for accountability for her loss of life.
