You feel the weight of this case the moment you learn a teenage girl left home to meet a man she met on a mobile app and never returned. Details from the family and community—like their repeated concern that “something is very wrong”—push the story beyond a missing-person notice into a search that now involves neighbors, law enforcement, and mounting public unease. The immediate takeaway: an Ohio teen vanished after arranging an in-person meeting through a mobile app, and authorities and family urgently seek any leads.
As you follow the timeline and key facts, you’ll see how small gaps in communication and limited digital traces can complicate searches and heighten worry. The article will trace the known timeline, outline what investigators and volunteers are doing now, and show how the community is mobilizing to keep others safer.
Ohio Teen Disappearance: Timeline and Key Details
Hailey Buzbee left her Fishers, Indiana, home in the early hours of Jan. 6, 2026, after communicating with a 39-year-old man she met online. Investigators say she traveled across state lines and was later found in a wooded area in Ohio.
Events Leading Up to the Disappearance
Hailey exchanged messages with Tyler Thomas on apps including Session, Discord and Snapchat for months, according to court records. On July 2, 2025, a photo allegedly showed them together in Thomas’s car; messages later in January indicate planned calls and meetups. On Jan. 5, 2026, Hailey’s parents last saw her at about 10 p.m. They believe she left their home between roughly 2:30 a.m. and 5 a.m. on Jan. 6. Cellphone data and video footage later placed an Acura linked to Thomas near her neighborhood that night. Federal filings indicate Thomas drove Hailey more than 160 miles into Ohio. Investigators found evidence of sexual activity on his phone with timestamps from Jan. 6 and located both an Airbnb and a residence tied to Thomas where parts of the investigation focused.
Family’s Statements and Growing Concerns
Hailey’s father and stepmother went public quickly, sharing social posts and pleas for help when she did not return. They repeatedly warned she might be far from home and urged anyone with information to contact police. Public posts from the family stressed that Hailey could be in danger and that she may not have acted alone. On Jan. 21 the family amplified requests for assistance as law enforcement broadened the search across county lines. Family advocates later spoke at the Indiana Statehouse about teen social media risks, citing Hailey’s case as a reason for legislative attention and greater parental awareness of encrypted apps.
Law Enforcement Response and Current Search Efforts
Fishers Police coordinated with the FBI, Indiana State Police, Columbus Police and the Hocking County Sheriff’s Office after video evidence tied Thomas’s vehicle to Hailey’s disappearance. A series of warrants followed for the Acura, Thomas’s Columbus home and an Airbnb in Hocking County. Investigators reported finding sexually explicit images of Hailey on Thomas’s phone and allege he attempted to delete files. Thomas faced charges including pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor and tampering with evidence; federal charges were filed in early February. Search teams located remains in Wayne National Forest in Perry County, Ohio, and DNA confirmed the identification. Police continue investigative work across jurisdictions while prosecutors consider further criminal filings; the case remains active.
Impact on the Community and Ongoing Safety Efforts
The disappearance has mobilized neighbors, local organizations, and social media users into coordinated search activity and renewed discussion about teen safety online. Law enforcement and community groups are sharing actionable steps for searches and preventive education.
Community Involvement in the Search
Neighbors organized door-to-door canvasses and coordinated search grids with volunteer teams from Ohio LandSAR and other local groups. They set up an information hub at a nearby library where families and volunteers can pick up maps, flyers, and cold-weather supplies.
Local churches and businesses are donating food, water, and phone chargers for volunteers and for family members conducting round‑the‑clock searches. A community-run tip line collects leads and forwards credible information to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office to avoid duplicating police work…