A missing and endangered high school student who suddenly vanished after meeting a man on a gaming platform is feared to be dead – and cops have arrested him as part of their probe.
Indiana teen Hailey Buzbee, 17, was last seen by her parents on Jan.5 and was initially considered a runaway before cops later said she left with a plan and was at risk.
Buzbee was allegedly picked up by Tyler Thomas, 39, who she had met on an online gaming platform, and likely died within a few days of her disappearance, Fisher officers announced on Feb. 1.
A car linked to Thomas was seen in Buzbee’s neighborhood and he admitted to picking her up when quizzed by investigators, according to court docs seen by WSYX.
Child sexual abuse material was allegedly found on Thomas’ devices and he allegedly tried to delete videos of the teen. Cops also honed in on homes linked to him.
Drones, K9s and search teams combed a rental home in Hocking County, Ohio, after cops claimed they had evidence suggesting Buzbee and Thomas were at the rental home together.
Thomas hasn’t been charged with her murder, but has been arrested as part of the law enforcement probe, which includes the FBI.
“The FBI is committed to pursuing justice and holding those accountable for what they did,” Tim O’Malley, the FBI Special Agent in Charge for Indianapolis, said.
“The one ask I have for everyone is to be patient as the investigation continues and the search for Hailey continues.
Thomas has been charged with pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor and is also accused of tampering with evidence.
Hailey’s dad, Beau, described the teen as someone with a “bright future.”
“Hailey was a smart, beautiful, kind, and caring young lady with a bright future,” he wrote on Facebook.
“She had a deep love for her family and holds a very special place in so many hearts. Our family is devastated.”