A 39-year-old man from Columbus has been charged at the federal level with sexual exploitation of a minor and traveling across state lines for illegal sexual activities. These charges were revealed by authorities on Tuesday, following his previous arrest related to the tragic case of a missing teenage girl.
Tyler Thomas was originally detained in January concerning the disappearance and subsequent death of 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee. Her remains, which had been dismembered, were discovered in Wayne National Forest.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio, Thomas and Buzbee allegedly became acquainted through online gaming.
A federal criminal complaint alleges that Thomas traveled from Columbus to Indiana late on January 5 and into the early hours of January 6. He reportedly picked up Buzbee and returned to Ohio with the aim of engaging in unlawful sexual conduct, including the creation of child pornography.
Hailey Buzbee, whose life was tragically cut short, is alleged to have been murdered by Tyler Thomas. This information was shared on Facebook by Beau Buzbee.
Should Thomas be convicted of these charges, he faces a potential prison sentence of up to 30 years for each count.
“The FBI and our partners will continue to aggressively pursue all evidence in this case as we seek the facts about Hailey’s disappearance and death,” said FBI Cincinnati Special Agent in Charge Jason Cromartie in a statement. “While we are deeply saddened that we cannot bring Hailey home, we are committed to holding accountable anyone involved in the crimes against her.”
Federal prosecutors said a forensic review of Thomas’ cell phone identified deleted communications between Thomas and Buzbee, including messages on Snapchat and sexually explicit images of the teen in his Columbus residence and at an Airbnb rental in Logan, Ohio.
Tyler Thomas is charged after a missing Indiana teen’s body was discovered in Ohio. (Franklin County Sheriff’s Office)
His cellphone also allegedly contained child sexual abuse material involving a girl believed to be between 7 and 10 years old, along with other sexual messages exchanged with another teenager on Discord.
Thomas appeared in federal court Tuesday afternoon where the case was unsealed.
Local charges previously filed against him are expected to be dismissed as the case proceeds.
An obituary for Buzbee described the teenager as someone who loved music and books and cherished time spent with her family.
Buzbee allegedly met Thomas while playing video games online. (Facebook/ Beau Buzbee)
“The changes we make together will be rooted in the love Hailey brought into the world during her time with us,” her dad said.
She is survived by her father, Beau Buzbee; her stepmother, Ronya Buzbee; her sister, Sabriya Buzbee; her mother, Lindsay Simmons; her brother, Elijah Ratcliff; and extended family members.
