Ashlee Buzzard, the mother of missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, appears in court on a felony false imprisonment charge unrelated to her daughter’s disappearance. Authorities say Ashlee faces the charge after an alleged incident at her Lompoc home on November 6. The case is separate from the ongoing investigation into the child’s whereabouts, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation into Melodee’s disappearance began on October 14, after a school official reported her prolonged absence. Deputies stated that Ashlee failed to provide a verifiable explanation for her daughter’s location and has remained uncooperative, with no confirmation of Melodee’s welfare. The case has garnered significant media attention, with new surveillance photos showing Melodee possibly in a disguise.
Tyler Brewer, a court officer who has known Ashlee for years, told NewsNation that Ashlee revealed to him where Melodee was and who she was with, but he is unsure if the information was accurate due to her unstable behavior at the time. He believes the child may be in Utah. Brewer also described Ashlee as paranoid and mentally deteriorating, noting she has become a