Indianapolis, IN
Suspect’s cellphone reveals new details in Hailey Buzbee case
FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) — Court records have revealed new information in the death and disappearance of Hailey Buzbee.
The 17-year-old Hamilton Southeastern High School student was reported missing on Jan. 5, sparking a search that garnered national attention. Police later discovered her remains in Perry County, Ohio, prompting an outpouring of support from friends, coworkers, and the community.
Ohio police confiscated a black 2014 Acura driven by Tyler Thomas, 39, and his Android cellphone. They’re investigating its contents to piece together what happened.
Thomas initially told police he picked up Buzbee from her Fishers’ home and dropped her off at the Indiana-Ohio border. But police said, Thomas’ cellular data contradicts that, and he traveled directly to Columbus, Ohio, and then to a rental cabin about an hour away in Logan, Ohio. According to police, Thomas said he was alone, but rental records show the reservation was for two people.
Documents claimed Thomas admitted to police he met Buzbee while gaming online and they were communicating on an encrypted app called Session for more than a year. He said that app was used to plan the juvenile’s runaway attempt. Session’s terms of use indicate users must be at least 18 years old. Buzbee was 17.
Greg Schiller has seen this pattern before. He’s part of Child Rescue Coalition, an organization dedicated to protect children from sexual exploitation. “Predators will meet children in any number of places across the internet, websites, apps, gaming systems, and they will bridge them over to another application that the predator feels is more secure and that the victim will feel no one will see those messages. Session, among other apps, provide that anonymity for the offender to protect themselves from potential law enforcement investigation on the back end.”
Additionally, a hairtie and 47 photographs were found inside the Acura. Police swabbed it for DNA and were awaiting results.
Thomas’ lawyer said Thomas led police to Buzbee’s remains.
Police said Thomas is the last known person to have contact with the teen.
Thomas has not been charged in Buzbee’s disappearance and death, but he is charged with pandering sexual material involving minors and tampering with evidence. Police say a photo of another child being sexually abused was found on Thomas’s cellphone.
A court hearing set Tuesday for Thomas has been canceled.
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indiana State Police have arrested a man in connection with two attacks, including one deadly, near Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis earlier this month.
29-year-old Michael Willis is facing two counts of attempted murder. Police say that the attacks happened on June 19 and June 26, both happening on N Senate Ave. near Monument Circle.
According to a probable cause affidavit obtained by News 8, on June 19, Willis was walking in the area near Monument Circle around 2 a.m. when he approached a person laying down and repeatedly stomped on them. Police say that this first victim was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
The first victim died on Sunday due to their injuries sustained from Willis’s attack, documents say.
Police also say that on June 26, Willis attacked a different person at the same location near Monument Circle. Police believe that the second victim was repeatedly kicked and stomped on while they were lying down as well. This second attack also took place around 2 a.m.
Indiana State Police detectives shared surveillance photos of Willis from the attacks with other police agencies in an attempt to identify him. Police say Willis was identified by a Greensborough Police Sergeant after Willis had asked the sergeant to use his cell phone.
Police then approached Willis and detained him. Police say that when Willis was detained, he was wearing the same clothes that were seen in the surveillance footage of both attacks. Officers also noticed blood on Willis’s socks.
In an interview with detectives about the July 26 attack, Willis at first said that he was only “nudging” the victim. Police say that according to Willis, he was trying to wake the victim up because he was concerned about them.
Later in the interview, Willis admitted to attacking both victims. Willis said that he was frustrated that he had been homeless and unemployed for around the past 6 months. According to police, Willis also said that the people in the area were “mean and rude” to him.
Police say that Willis told detectives that he was the only person involved in these attacks.
Willis is currently in custody of the Marion County Jail.
INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana is under a heat advisory with temperatures in the 90s throughout the week.
Many cooling centers will open throughout the state for those that need to find relief from the heat. Hoosiers looking to find cooling centers in their area can contact Indiana 211. To learn more, call 211 or (866) 211-9966.
Avaliable cooling centers can also be found by clicking here.
Marion County
For those living in Indianapolis, Indy Parks has several cooling centers across the city.
Those Cooling Centers are:
- Broad Ripple Park Family Center
- Brookside Park Family Center
- Christian Park Family Center
- Frederick Douglass Park Family Center
- Garfield Park Burrello Family Center
- Krannert Park Family Center
- Grassy Creek Environmental Education Center
- Pride Park Family Center
- Rhodius Park Family Center
- Riverside Park Family Center
- Stanley Strader Park Family Center
- Washington Park Family Center
- Windsor Park Family Center
- Watkins Park Family Center
- Thatcher Park Family Center
For addresses and hours of operations of these cooling centers, click here.
Beech Grove will also have two cooling Centers for residents starting Monday, June 29. Those hours and locations are:
- Beech Grove Senior Center, 602 Main St
- 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday
- Hornet Park Community Center, 5245 Hornet Ave
- 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday
Other Central Indiana Cooling Centers
For addresses and hour of operations of cooling centers below, click here.
Marion
- St. Martin Community Center
- Grant County Family YMCA
- Grant County Rescue Mission
Kokomo
- The Kokomo Rescue Mission
- The Excel Center in Kokomo
Peru
- Community Resource Center
- Miami County Courthouse
- Miami County Health Department
- Miami County YMCA
- Peru City Hall
- Peru Public Library
- Peru Schools Administration Building
INDIANAPOLIS (WRTV) — The National Weather Service out of Indianapolis has issued a Heat Advisory for all of Central Indiana and a High Heat Warning for parts of northern Indiana. The Advisory and Warning will go into effect at 12 PM on Monday and will run through 8 PM Thursday.
WRTV
A Heat Advisory means that temperatures in the 90s with dew points in the 70s, will lead to Heat Index values reaching 106. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.
Stay cool:
Drink plenty of fluids, check up on relatives and neighbors, and stay in an air-conditioned room when possible. If outside for extended periods of time, make sure to take frequent breaks in the shade as much as you can.
-
Dallas, TX6 minutes agoKlyde Warren Park reveals expansion plans, construction timeline
-
Miami, FL9 minutes agoPerson hospitalized after fire breaks out at North Miami Beach apartment building
-
Boston, MA14 minutes agoScottish soccer fan who died in Boston was ‘Tartan Army to his core,’ fundraising page says – The Boston Globe
-
Denver, CO21 minutes agoNuggets decline Jalen Pickett’s team option for 2026-27 season, sources say
-
San Diego, CA24 minutes agoFormer City Manager, Jack McGrory: Straight Talk About San Diego, Part 2
-
Seattle, WA24 minutes agoArmed suspects linked to 3 Seattle robberies within 30 minutes – MyNorthwest.com
-
Milwaukee, WI36 minutes agoBrewers, Salvation Army pack hundreds of lunches for Milwaukee children through Feed the Kids program
-
Atlanta, GA39 minutes agoNew Venues in Atlanta for Summer 2026 Meetings and Events
