COLUMBUS, Ohio (TCN) —Â A 39-year-old man accused of kidnapping and killing a 17-year-old girl he met online has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
On Sept. 23, Tyler Thomas was indicted by a federal grand jury 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, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio.
Hailey Buzbee was reported missing by her parents in Fishers, Indiana, on Jan. 6. According to the U.S. attorney’s office, cellphone data allegedly showed that Thomas had taken Buzbee to an Airbnb to engage in illicit sexual activity. Investigators believe he allegedly killed her at this time before burying her in the Wayne National Forest the next day. According to the indictment, Thomas allegedly dismembered and decapitated Buzbee.
Thomas was initially arrested on a local charge in January, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. That charge was dismissed when he was charged in federal court in February.
WXIN reports Thomas pleaded not guilty to all charges at an arraignment hearing on Oct. 5.
According to court records obtained by WXIN, Thomas allegedly met Buzbee online, and the two played online games together such as League of Legends and Roblox. Thomas allegedly began to entice Buzbee to engage with him sexually in 2024, when she was 15.Â
During their investigation, police allegedly found a violent, sexual Discord conversation that Thomas had with a 10th grade girl, as well as a child sexual abuse image featuring a girl between the ages of 7 and 10, WXIN reports.
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