Court records show Tyler Thomas, 39, faces charges in Franklin County Municipal Court of pandering obscenity involving a minor and tampering with evidence in connection with the case of Hailey Buzbee.
At a Sunday press conference, Fishers Police Chief Ed Gebhart said Thomas has not been charged in Buzbee’s death but is considered a suspect. Gebhart confirmed the department is investigating the case as a homicide in coordination with the Columbus Division of Police Homicide Unit and the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office.
According to a Jan. 19 Facebook post from Fishers police, Buzbee had previously been listed as an “endangered missing juvenile.”
Court documents allege Thomas picked up the teen out of state on Jan. 6 and brought her to Columbus. Investigators say videos and photos found on Thomas’ phone show the minor engaged in sexual acts.
Thomas reportedly told police he dropped Buzbee off on the side of a road in western Ohio, a claim investigators later determined was false, according to Gebhart.
An affidavit states Buzbee was last known to be with Thomas, and investigators determined she had been at both his Columbus home and a short-term rental property in Hocking County. Gebhart said multiple agencies used drones, K-9 units, and ground searches to locate her.
Detectives executed search warrants at Thomas’ home on Jan. 21, seizing electronic devices that allegedly contained child sexual abuse material. Investigators believe Thomas and Buzbee met through an online gaming platform.
Indiana police reportedly contacted Thomas within days of Buzbee being reported missing. After his arrest, Thomas was booked into the **Franklin County Jail** and placed on furlough with the FBI on Sunday.
Thomas is scheduled to appear in court Monday.