Man indicted by federal grand jury on 9 counts related to the death of a teen he met online

COLUMBUS, Ohio (TCN) -- A 39-year-old man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on nine counts related to the death of a teenage girl he met online.

On Jan. 6, the parents of 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee woke up to find her missing, WTHR reported. She had reportedly left a note stating she had run away and not to look for her. She took her phone and other belongings. No Amber Alert was issued because it was believed she had run away from home. On Jan. 19, she was classified as an endangered missing juvenile. 

Tyler Thomas, 39, turned himself in on Jan. 31. According to WBNS, he told authorities he picked Buzbee up from her home in Fishers, Indiana, and drove her to Columbus, Ohio. He claimed he dropped her off on the side of the road, but authorities determined he was not being truthful after they searched his home and an Airbnb.

Court records obtained by WSYX allege child sexual abuse material was found in his devices and claim Thomas allegedly tried to delete a video of Buzbee performing sexual acts. Federal agents reportedly picked up Thomas from jail and he reportedly led them to Buzbee’s remains in the Wayne National Forest. 

Thomas claimed in an interview that he and Buzbee communicated via online gaming platforms like Roblox as well as Session, an encrypted messaging app, WTHR reports.

On Sept. 23, a federal grand jury indicted Thomas on charges of enticement of a minor-attempt, travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, two counts of offense resulting in death, transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, kidnapping resulting in death, sexual exploitation of a minor, obstruction of justice, and accessing with intent to view child pornography, WBNS reports.

Several of these charges carry the possibility of a death sentence or life in prison, according to U.S. Attorney Dominick S. Gerace II.

Thomas was charged in February with sexual exploitation of a minor and travel in interstate commerce with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct, according to WBNS.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, “The indictment alleges that Thomas obstructed justice by decapitating, dismembering, burying, and discarding the body.”

When asked why prosecutors chose not to indict Thomas on murder charges, Gerace said in a press conference, “When we’re choosing charges, we’re looking at the evidence and making sure that every element of the crimes that we charge, we believe we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt. … And so we’ve chosen charges in the indictment that we believe we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the evidence bears that out,” according to WBNS.

Buzbee’s obituary reads, “Though her time was brief, Hailey filled each day with love, purpose, and joy. Hailey was a dedicated student and working towards a career in journalism. Family, friends, and those who crossed paths with Hailey remember her sweet spirit.”

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