The mother of missing 9-year-old California girl Melodee Buzzard, Ashlee Buzzard, appeared in court on a felony false imprisonment charge unrelated to her daughter’s disappearance. Authorities allege the charge stems from an incident at her Lompoc home on November 6, weeks after Melodee was last seen. The case is separate from the ongoing investigation into the child’s whereabouts.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office emphasized that the case is separate from the ongoing investigation into the child’s whereabouts. Officials began investigating Melodee’s disappearance on October 14, after a school official reported her prolonged absence. When questioned, deputies said Ashlee Buzzard failed to provide a verifiable explanation for her daughter’s location and has “remained uncooperative and has not confirmed Melodee’s welfare.”
Tyler Brewer, a court officer who has known Buzzard for years, told NewsNation that Ashlee revealed to him where Melodee was and who she was with, but he remains unsure whether the information was accurate, citing her unstable behavior at the time. He said he believes the child may be in Utah. Brewer told ABC News that during a visit to Buzzard’s home, she appeared distressed after sharing information she “seemed to regret disclosing,” then locked the doors and retrieved a box cutter, preventing him from leaving. He said she eventually let him go, and he immediately contacted authorities.
Brewer described Buzzard as paranoid and mentally deteriorating, saying she’s “a totally different person” from when he first met her. Buzzard’s mother, Lori Miranda, told NewsNation she has not spoken with Ashlee since 2023. She described a difficult past marked by instability and domestic violence, including periods of homelessness when Ashlee was a child.
Investigators say Ashlee left California with Melodee on October 7, traveling in a rented Chevrolet Malibu with California plates that were later swapped for a New York tag believed to be false. The pair reportedly drove through California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada before the car was returned to the rental agency with its original plates reattached. Surveillance video released by the sheriff’s office shows Ashlee and Melodee wearing wigs at a Lompoc rental location. Authorities believe the disguise was intended to avoid recognition while traveling.
Melodee is described by officials as 4-feet to 4-feet, 6-inches tall, 60 to 100 pounds, with brown curly hair and brown eyes. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone with information about Melodee’s whereabouts to call (805) 681-4150. Fox News Digital reached out to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and Buzzard’s lawyer for comment.