Indiana

Missing persons’ advocate calls Indiana database inadequate

Published

2 months ago

March 19, 2026

Missing persons’ advocate calls Indiana database inadequate

WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — An advocate for missing people who is close to the family of Hailey Buzbee said Thursday Indiana’s missing-persons database doesn’t give the public enough information to work with.

The Indiana State Police maintains the state’s missing persons website. The page consists of a PDF document with an alphabetical list of missing people along with their date of birth, the investigating agency and the date they were last seen. There is no way to search or sort the list. The page contains neither photographs of the missing nor descriptions or information about the circumstances under which they were last seen. The list also contains duplicate entries.

Silver Lining of Hope founder Megan Tomlinson said it’s hard for the public to help look for someone if they don’t have that information. She said a more detailed public database might have helped locate Buzbee sooner. Buzbee, 17, left her family’s home in early January to meet a man she had met online. She was found dead in Ohio a month later.

“It’s a problem because it hurts the public because we don’t know who’s missing,” she said. “If I want to go on and see who’s missing, I don’t know where to start.”

Most states, though not all of them, have a centralized database of missing people. Many have highly detailed databases. For example, the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s database includes a search function, sorting capabilities and photographs and biographical information, when available.

Rep. Chris Jeter, R-Fishers, who represents Buzbee’s hometown in the Indiana General Assembly, said lawmakers likely will discuss possible changes to the database as part of a broader summer study committee on missing people. He said the Buzbee case highlighted deficiencies in Indiana’s alerts and other systems that are the result of the passage of time and technological progress.

“One of the things that I know we’ve heard, it’s certainly not a very friendly system as far as searching and obtaining additional information,” he said. “So, what they’re required to put in, what additions we might make to that are things that we’re looking at pretty closely.”

Jeter said summer study committee assignments, which are up to House Speaker Todd Huston and Senate President pro tempore Rod Bray, should be released within the next few weeks. He said any study committee on missing people likely would begin meeting in July or August.

Tomlinson said she and the Buzbee family brought up their concerns about the database with lawmakers during the 2026 legislative session. She said she plans to continue lobbying for changes to it.

Indiana does upload some case information to a federal database called NamUs. Those entries include much more information than can be found on ISP’s website. Tomlinson said the problem with NamUs is that there are limitations on what kind of cases can be included.

The Indiana State Police turned down News 8’s request for comment on Tomlinson’s concerns.

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Indiana

Fernando Mendoza, citing Raiders obligations, misses Indiana’s White House visit

Published

11 hours ago

May 11, 2026

Press Room

Fernando Mendoza, citing Raiders obligations, misses Indiana’s White House visit

Fernando Mendoza did not attend Indiana University’s visit to the White House commemorating the Hoosiers’ college football national championship on Monday. The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback said earlier this month that he would not attend if it interfered with any activities with his new team.

“I’m on the bottom of the totem pole here,” Mendoza said following a rookie minicamp practice. “I got to prove myself. I can’t miss practice. I don’t know anything official. I don’t have the calendar, but I just wouldn’t. As a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look, and I want to try to best serve my teammates. And I don’t know if that’d be accomplishing that goal.”

According to the team’s official offseason schedule, the Raiders did not have any formal practices or workouts on Monday. The team’s next organized activity is May 18, its first OTA workout.

“Fernando couldn’t be here today because, as I said, he’s now a member of the Las Vegas Raiders,” President Donald Trump said in his address. “Let’s see how good of a team they have, and I think he’s gonna do great. He’s a winner.”

Mendoza wasn’t the only absence. Center Pat Coogan and cornerback D’Angelo Ponds were among the other Hoosiers not in attendance for the event due to NFL obligations. Indiana had a program-record eight players selected in April’s NFL Draft.

Trump highlighted Mendoza’s accomplishments and contributions to the school’s first football national title. He celebrated Mendoza as Indiana’s inaugural Heisman Trophy winner and praised his fourth-quarter touchdown run in the championship game against Miami.

“He’s gonna be a good one,” Trump said.

Indiana was well-represented by returning members of the team. Charlie Becker, one of Mendoza’s go-to receivers during the College Football Playoffs, and Jamari Sharpe, whose late interception secured the title-game victory, both spoke on behalf of the school, as did head coach Curt Cignetti.

Mendoza is one of four members of the national champion Hoosiers who joined the Raiders this offseason. Running back Roman Hemby and wide receiver E.J. Williams Jr. signed as undrafted free agents in the days following the draft. Wide receiver Jonathan Brady earned a contract after impressing as a tryout player during rookie minicamp.

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Indiana

Suspect in custody after Muncie triple shooting leaves 1 woman dead, 2 men injured

Published

23 hours ago

May 11, 2026

Press Room

Suspect in custody after Muncie triple shooting leaves 1 woman dead, 2 men injured

MUNCIE, Ind. (WISH) — Police are investigating a triple shooting that took place on Muncie’s south side Sunday evening that left a woman dead and two men injured.

According to police, at approximately 5:27 p.m., Muncie Police Officers were dispatched to the 2700 block of South Walnut Street in reference to reports of several people being shot.

Officers arrived and located three gunshot victims: A 23-year-old female who died from “multiple wounds,” a 39-year-old male who is hospitalized in stable condition, and a 40-year-old male who was airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital in critical condition.

Police say a suspect is in custody, a 21-year-old man.

Police did not provide any additional information.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Muncie Police Detective Division at 765-747-4867 or dispatch at 765-747-4838.

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Indiana

Indiana Pacers exec apologizes to fans after losing first-round pick

Published

1 day ago

May 10, 2026

Press Room

Indiana Pacers exec apologizes to fans after losing first-round pick

The Indiana Pacers lost 63 games this season for a chance at a franchise-changing lottery pick. On Sunday, May 10, they lost that chance, too.

All Pacers president Kevin Pritchard could do was apologize for taking the risk.

Indiana’s pick landed at No. 5 in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery, one spot outside the top four protections attached to a midseason trade. The selection now belongs to the Los Angeles Clippers .

Shortly after the results were announced, Pritchard took social media and apologized.

“I’m really sorry to all our fans,” Pritchard wrote. “I own taking this risk. Surprised it came up 5th after this year. I thought we were due some luck.”

The Pacers entered the lottery with a 52.1% chance of securing a top-four pick after finishing 19-63, the second-worst record in the NBA. It wasn’t enough.

Indiana sent Bennedict Mathurin, Isaiah Jackson, a 2028 second-round pick and a 2029 first-round pick to Los Angeles in the midseason deal for Ivica Zubac and Kobe Brown, along with the conditional 2026 first-rounder. The pick was theirs to keep only if it landed in the top four.

Zubac appeared in just five games for Indiana after the trade because of a fractured rib.

“This team deserved a starting center to compete with the best teams next year,” Pritchard wrote. “We have always been resillient.”

Pritchard will have to be resilient if he looks at the replies to his statement. About half of the Pacers fans’ comments were not happy, and fans of other teams called him out for “tanking.”

There were also a large number of fans who were supportive of Pritchard taking that risk.

Tyrese Haliburton is expected to return next season after tearing his Achilles in last year’s NBA Finals. The Pacers will have him Pascal Siakam and a roster they think is built to compete. They just won’t have that first-round pick to add to it.

The 2026 NBA Draft begins June 23 in Brooklyn.

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