Podcast Summary: Murder Sheet

Episode: The Murder of Hailey Buzbee: Hocking County and Perry County in Ohio

Hosts: Áine Cain (A), Kevin Greenlee (B)
Date: February 3, 2026

Overview

This episode covers the tragic murder of 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee, who disappeared from her home in Fishers, Indiana, in early January 2026, and whose remains were later found in Wayne National Forest in Perry County, Ohio. Hosts Áine Cain and Kevin Greenlee provide background on Hailey’s case, community responses, key law enforcement updates, and a deep dive into the geography and context of Hocking and Perry counties where the crime occurred.

With the aid of a local Ohio source, the hosts aim to give listeners a clearer sense of the locations involved and discuss broader issues such as child safety, digital-age threats, and proposed legislative changes in the wake of Hailey’s murder.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Hailey Buzbee's Disappearance and Case Timeline

• Hailey disappears: Last seen the night of January 5, 2026 [01:00]. Initially considered a runaway, but later designated as an "endangered missing juvenile" due to police concerns.
• Community response: Widespread attention from Hailey’s family, Fishers residents, and social media. Outpouring of grief and collective anxiety, especially amongst youth.
  • “You don’t expect something like this to happen in a place like Fishers.” - Áine Cain [05:58]
• Case turns tragic:
  • February 1: Fishers, IN officials announce they believe Hailey to be deceased.
  • February 2: News breaks that Hailey’s body is found in Perry County, Ohio.
  • February 3: More details released; focus shifts to the locations involved and ongoing investigation.

Fishers, Indiana – Hailey’s Hometown

• Setting:

  • Suburban community, often cited as one of the safest and best places to live in Indiana, with high-performing schools and a strong police force [04:47].
  • The crime’s location increased shock and attention.

• Digital-age threats:

  • The hosts discuss how modern dangers such as online luring make even “safe” communities vulnerable.
  • “Predators who are after children can connect with those children online and then just come in... That’s seemingly what the police are saying happened here.” - Kevin Greenlee [06:13]

Community and State Reactions

• Fishers’ expression of grief: Pink ribbons throughout town; a painting of Hailey hanging in city hall with space for messages of support [07:50].

• State-level attention:

  • Indiana Governor Mike Braun publicly responds and calls for legislative action, including stronger parental tools, improved alert systems, and stricter limits on social media for minors [09:21].
  • “This tragedy raises serious questions about how we better protect our kids in the digital age... I call on Big Tech to stop selling their product to children.” – Governor Braun, quoted by Kevin [09:21]

Calls for "Pink Alert" Legislation & Digital Safety

• Origin: Inspired by Hailey's case, her family and supporters, with assistance from advocate Megan (of Silver Linings of Hope), are pushing for a new "pink alert" system [09:21].
  • Would fill the gap between Amber and Silver Alerts, targeting cases with credible, urgent risk that don’t meet Amber Alert criteria.
  • Over 78,000 petition signatures as of this episode [18:36].
• Debate:
  • Hosts discuss whether such an alert could have changed the outcome in Hailey’s case, agreeing there is a gap in timely alerts for certain missing children [13:20-13:48].
  • Importance of designing alerts for modern mobility – noting that Hailey’s disappearance received little attention in the region where her body was found [30:23-31:48].

The Ohio Context: Hocking County & Perry County

• Geography & Community Characteristics:
  • Sourced firsthand information from a local familiar with the area [18:36+].
  • Hocking County:
    • Rural, known for Hocking Hills State Park—a region popular for hiking, rentals, and scenic getaways. Many cabins and rentals, some cheap, some expensive [21:07].
    • Not densely populated; easy to be unseen or go unnoticed [27:23].
  • Perry County:
    • Also rural, agricultural with a small population (~35,000); New Lexington is the county seat.
  • Wayne National Forest:
    • Massive park (240,000 acres) spanning into Perry County, where Hailey’s remains were found [24:41].
• Law enforcement:
  • Small town departments, but the bulk of policing falls to county sheriffs. Limited resources typical in such rural areas [25:44].
  • Drugs (meth, opioids) are issues, but violent crime is not prominent.

Memorable Explanation:

• “It is incredibly easy to just disappear into the woods to go to whatever rental property you’re going to.” – Local Ohio Source (as paraphrased by Áine) [27:23]

Details of Investigation and Arrest

• Key suspect: Tyler N. Thomas (Columbus, OH), charged with tampering with evidence and pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor related to Hailey’s case; held on $1.5 million bond [18:36].

  • Assisted authorities in locating Hailey’s body in Perry County.

• Sequence (from official statement):

  • Police traced Hailey’s disappearance to Tyler Thomas via digital evidence.
  • Search warrants served on Thomas’s Columbus residence and a short-term rental property in Hocking County [36:12].
  • Thomas later led authorities to the burial site in Perry County.
  • Multiple agencies involved: FBI, local sheriff’s offices, U.S. Forest Service, and Ohio BCI.
  • Forensic evidence collected at the rental may indicate a crime took place there.
    • “During the search, forensic evidence was recovered which may indicate that a crime occurred in the rental.” – Hocking County Sheriff’s Statement (read by Áine) [37:51]
  • Remains sent for autopsy and identification.

Information Gaps and Challenges

• Rental settings enable crime concealment:
  • Out-of-state property owners, abundance of secluded cabins, lack of neighbors/witnesses.
  • Difficulty getting rapid information to the right communities: Hailey’s disappearance was widely known in Indiana, but not in the Ohio counties where the crime occurred [30:23].
    • “Our source, who actually lives in the general vicinity where Hailey was killed, did not actually hear about the case until… she believes she heard about it when we covered it on our show.” – Kevin [30:23]

Broader Conversations

• Accountability and preventative measures:

  • Expanding discussion beyond individual/familial responsibility to hold tech platforms accountable for child safety [32:58].
  • Suggestion for tougher sentencing for crimes involving child exploitation, not just where violence occurs.

• Final Reflections:

  • Sorrow for Hailey’s family and city of Fishers.
  • Commitment to continued coverage of the case and call for tips/information [38:21].
  • “Our hearts break for Hailey, for this young woman who was obviously taken way too soon in really horrific circumstances. And our hearts absolutely break for her family, who are now left picking up the pieces of this tragedy.” – Áine [38:21]

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• On community response:

  • “Parents are not supposed to bury children. And of course, that is a terrible tragedy when that happens. It's also true that people in high school are not supposed to bury their friends.” – Áine Cain [08:50]

• On location vulnerabilities:

  • “How can no one have seen Hailey Busby?...parts of Hawking county and Perry county are so rural that it would have been possible to do that without running into witnesses or anybody.” – Paraphrased from local Ohio source [27:23]

• On digital-age child safety:

  • “No family should ever endure loss like this. This tragedy raises serious questions about how we better protect our kids in the digital age.” – Indiana Governor Mike Braun, quoted by Kevin [09:21]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Hailey’s Disappearance and Case Overview: 00:20 – 08:24
• “Pink Alert” and Alert Systems Discussion: 09:21 – 15:36
• Ohio Location Context Begins: 18:27
• Community Grief & Rural Law Enforcement: 25:44 – 27:23
• Investigation Details and Official Statement: 36:12 – 39:56
• Broader Societal Reflections & Conclusion: 32:58 – end

Conclusion

This episode provides a detailed and compassionate exploration of Hailey Buzbee’s case, the unique challenges of crimes that stretch across state and jurisdictional lines, and the ways rural environments can complicate both harm and detection. Áine and Kevin balance investigative detail with sensitivity, calling for reforms in alerts and tech responsibility, all while centering the profound impact on Hailey’s community and family.

Listeners who wish to support Hailey’s advocates can find petition links in the episode notes, and the hosts continue to request tips from anyone with further information.