Hailey Buzbee Death, Obituary: In Loving Memory of Hailey Buzbee

FISHERS, Ind. — The Fishers community is mourning an unimaginable loss as authorities have announced that 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee is believed to be deceased. The news has brought profound sorrow to her family, friends, classmates, and all who followed her story with hope and prayer since her disappearance.

Hailey was last seen leaving her home in the Enclave at Vermillion neighborhood near Flat Fork Creek Park around 10:00 p.m. on January 5, 2026. When she did not return, she was reported missing and soon classified as an endangered missing juvenile. What followed was an extensive, multi-agency investigation involving local, state, and federal law enforcement, as well as an outpouring of support from the public.

Authorities have indicated that Hailey may not have acted alone and believe she left her home willingly with a plan. As the investigation progressed, 39-year-old Tyler Thomas of Franklin County, Ohio, was taken into custody on Saturday. He is currently being held without bond on preliminary charges, including pandering obscenity and tampering with evidence, and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday. While the investigation remains ongoing, officials have not yet released additional details surrounding the circumstances of Hailey’s death.

Throughout the weeks of uncertainty, Hailey’s parents, Beau and Ronya Buzbee, demonstrated unwavering love and determination in their search for their daughter. They distributed flyers across Central Indiana, shared heartfelt pleas on social media, and held onto hope while asking the community to help bring Hailey home. Their strength and devotion moved countless people, many of whom joined in the search efforts or offered words of comfort and support.

Though her life was tragically cut short, Hailey Buzbee will be remembered for far more than the circumstances surrounding her disappearance. She was a daughter deeply loved, a young life full of promise, and a person whose presence mattered. Her loss serves as a heartbreaking reminder of how precious and fragile life is, and how deeply one young person can touch an entire community.

As law enforcement continues working to recover evidence and bring answers and accountability, the Fishers community stands united in grief and compassion for the Buzbee family. Candles, prayers, and messages of support reflect a collective mourning—and a shared resolve to honor Hailey’s memory.

May Hailey Buzbee be remembered with love, dignity, and care. May her family find strength in the support that surrounds them, and may her memory live on in the hearts of all who hoped, prayed, and believed she would come home.