“Mr. Thomas made the decision when we first met him on Friday to ᴀssist the government and law enforcement with locating Ms. Buzbee’s body, and that was of fair amount of importance to us and to Mr. Thomas,” Shamansky said earlier this year.

The local charges were later dismissed after federal authorities took Thomas into custody in February, prosecutors said this month.

Thomas is now charged with kidnapping resulting in death; traveling with the intent to engage in illicit Sєxual conduct with a minor, resulting in death; transporting a minor for criminal Sєxual activity, resulting in death; Sєxual exploitation; attempted enticement of a minor; obstruction of justice; and accessing digital materials depicting child pornography, per the release.

In a statement to PEOPLE on Monday, Sept. 28, Shamansky said: “We are not surprised this indictment has been returned and we are in the process of reviewing numerous discovery materials in preparation for the defense of these charges.”

Thomas has not yet entered a plea to the federal charges, according to his attorney. He is set to be arraigned next week.

Buzbee was a student at HSC High School in Ohio, police said, and her family previously told Dateline she also worked part-time as a server at a local restaurant.

At the press conference earlier this year, Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness remembered Buzbee as “a bright light in the family” who had “a tremendous amount of promise and hope.”

If you or someone you know has been a victim of Sєxual abuse, text “STRENGTH” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

If you or someone you know has been Sєxually ᴀssaulted, please contact the National Sєxual ᴀssault H๏τline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.