CA MELODEE BUZZARD: Missing from Vandenberg Village, CA - 9 Oct 2025 - Age 9 *Found Deceased*

https://ktla.com/news/california/california-authorities-launch-search-for-girl-who-hasnt-been-seen-in-at-least-1-year/

California authorities launch search for girl who hasn’t been seen in at least 1 year​

Authorities in Santa Barbara County launched a search for a 9-year-old girl who has not been seen in a year, and who has not been seen in a photograph in two.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office began searching for Melodee Buzzard on Tuesday after a school administrator reported she hadn’t been at school in quite some time.

Deputies attempted to contact Melodee and her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, at their home in Lompoc, but the elementary school student was not there, and “no clear explanation was provided for her whereabouts.”

Although the missing persons case is only one-day-old, detectives have been unable to confirm a single recent sighting in about a year. The most recent photograph they were able to locate was taken at least two years ago, officials said.

The Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with information about Melodee, potential sightings or contact in the past year, to come forward.

“Even small details may be critical in helping investigators ensure her safety,” the Sheriff’s Office wrote in a news release.


Media - MELODEE BUZZARD: Missing from Vandenberg Village, CA - 2024 - Age 9

 

[GrandmaBear]

Obituary information for Rubiell 'Pinoy' Meza

View Rubiell 'Pinoy' Meza's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

www.dudleyhoffmanmortuary.com

Yep, he was gainfully employed for sure.

Thanks. So yes, he was gainfully employed. Not married, no hint he ever was, at least no exes or anything mentioned. But not married at the time of his death. 40 years old in 2016 so today he'd be 49 if he were here. Yeah, probably was older than her. She doesn't appear to be that age the few pics we have seen of her.e

He COULD have had life insurance, even a small work provided policy. It would be common imo for someone not married to put down their children as beneficiaries. There is a slight possibility Melodee may have received life insurance and as her parent, Ashlee would have control of it. Just speculation on my part, and not saying it is even likely but it is definitely possible.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I posted the timeline up thread. It came from one of the news articles in this thread. I can’t remember which one.

I just looked at a timeline today, probably was that one but I skimmed it and that isn't what I really was looking for I guess. I'll go back and read the timeline again that I saw.

 

[GrandmaBear]

View attachment 27547

Here is your timeline I think, bringing it forward. I see what you are saying but let me go check something. I will be back because I don't think this is totally accurate. I'll be back.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Okay. I was wrong. So I have to get it through my head the trip was before the school notification.

I had it in my head she took off with her DUE to LE and the school but that doesn't appear to be the case if she did that beforehand.

So now I am finding the closeness in dates pretty coincidental. And I tend not to believe in much coincidence, in cases anyhow for sure.

What I'm wondering now is if the school was trying to reach Ashlee (or did) before the road trip and before they stepped it up and called LE. I don't think that would be unusual or would be your first step. Is that what triggered the road trip? I mean what triggered the road trip?

I am going to need to look way back to something else yet again because something is still not adding up for me... Just me I'm sure lol.

 

[Guess Who]

Chad and Lori's finances under scrutiny during Wednesday testimony

The Social Security Administration paid Lori Vallow-Daybell nearly $23,000 between October 2019 and January 2020. The money was meant for her children — Tylee Ryan, 16, and J.J. Vallow, 7,

www.rexburgstandardjournal.com

Found it. Wasn’t quite $6000 a month but it was a hefty amount. Of course, Charles was known to make good money. I don’t know how that figured in for Tylee’s benefit however.

We have no idea what Melodee’s dad did for a living, do we?

She also got extra for JJ for his disabilities. She was getting it from many fronts.

 

[RoundPeg]

No, I don't think so. I wondered if he was military just based on what you said of the area. I don't think they were married BUT he may well have been paying child support but that would have stopped long ago.

Tylee's would have come from Joe's death, not Charles. Charles never adopted Lori's kids I'm pretty sure.

If he provided their living expenses, she would qualify.

My friend had 2 minor children when her husband, their stepfather, died. Their dad was in jail for refusing to ever pay child support. They both got SSI.

 

[RoundPeg]

Don’t give up hope! However, the school didn’t notify the authorities until four days after Ashlee came back from the trip.
Also, for some reason, a family member had custody of Melodee at one point due to some kind of neglect. We don’t have the details.

Makes me wonder if Ashlee had been privately contacted by the school prior to them calling the authorities.

 

[GrandmaBear]

If he provided their living expenses, she would qualify.

My friend had 2 minor children when her husband, their stepfather, died. Their dad was in jail for refusing to ever pay child support. They both got SSI.

Does that apply if she was already getting it from Joe's death though?

Also, did he adopt his stepchildren? If not, that is interesting to know, I never knew that would apply if not their legal father.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Makes me wonder if Ashlee had been privately contacted by the school prior to them calling the authorities.

That's what I'm thinking. Maybe the reason for fleeing with her...

 

[GrandmaBear]

I'm bringing this forward from post 43. That post by the way also says she was only enrolled in the Lompoc School District in August of this year so the part about a year was never true if that is true.

Anyhow here is what they do if assignments, etc. are not completed and it starts with phone calls and notices. I would say if they followed protocol, Ashlee was most definitely notified by phone calls and written notices which gave her a heads up... See below:

Lompoc Unified noted that some early reports suggesting Melodee had been missing since 2024 were inaccurate, and that staff had followed required procedures after noticing the child had not attended or collected assignments.
Under California education law, independent-study programs require ongoing contact between families and credentialed teachers. If a student does not begin attendance or fails to engage, schools must initiate truancy protocols — including phone calls, written notices, and welfare checks requested through law enforcement.
The district said it could not share the information earlier at the request of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, which is leading the investigation.
Superintendent Dr. Clara Finneran could not be reached for additional comment.
The Sheriff’s Office confirmed the August sighting and credited the district with helping investigators narrow the case timeline.
“Lompoc Unified District deserves credit for recognizing that something wasn’t right, reaching out, and continuing to assist with this investigation,” said Lt. Chris Gotschall, of the Criminal Investigations Division. “This important update helps narrow a significant gap in the timeline of when she was last known to be seen, and because of that, we’re closer to understanding what happened to Melodee.”
Detectives said Melodee’s mother, Ashlee Buzzard, has been uncooperative, and no verified information has been received regarding the child’s current whereabouts.

 

[RoundPeg]

Does that apply if she was already getting it from Joe's death though?

Also, did he adopt his stepchildren? If not, that is interesting to know, I never knew that would apply if not their legal father.

No adoption.

 

[GrandmaBear]

No adoption.

Good to know for future. Never knew that.

 

[Guess Who]

Makes me wonder if Ashlee had been privately contacted by the school prior to them calling the authorities.

That is what one of the articles stated. They contacted her then the authorities

 

[Tresir]

That appears to be the average amount, correct?

I seem to remember that Lori was receiving quite a big monthly sum for Tylee and JJ. Several thousand a month I think it was.

Hey i see you have been discussing it - I need to catch up but I, too, seem to have $6k a month in my head.

 

[Tresir]

Somewhere in this thread I think is his age, the age he was when he died in the crash. Did anyone find his obit? I don't think so. Be interesting to see who was listed as family members for him. Offhand I think it said he was 30 something. And it was some time back. I don't think we know how old mom is though do we?

I don't know about her not wanting to say where Melodee is for that reason as Melodee was recently with her. I guess though she could have been elsewhere and she went and got her but then why not just take her home where it appears she IS living with you?

I wonder what the search of the home found and what I mean is was there any evidence of Melodee living with her? An appointment card on the counter? Her room intact? Two cereal bowls and glasses in the sink? Two toothbrushes in the bathroom? Just some examples.

I think his death was when Melodee was just a baby IIRC. I see she is named in the obituary as Melodee Meza.

 

[Kimster]

I'm waiting for the FBI to lower the boom on Ashlee and try to squeeze some answers out of her! I'm thinking there must be a deadline on how long she can keep hiding Melodee's whereabouts.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Some have probably seen the short version of Colby's interview on News Nation but the actual program was longer. Banfield said they found that LE did not issue the 72 hours demand to produce the child but that it was CPS... She also queried what it said would happen if not produced in 72 hours being it is CPS and not LE. We are past that 72 hours for sure by now and we have not heard another word...

 

[RoundPeg]

Just saw on a FB page that Ashlee was just taken into custody.

Also, her house was searched again?

 

[Kimster]

I was just coming over to post this article that has a pic of Melodee with her daddy right after she was born. SO GLAD the clock ticked down to arresting Ashlee - FINALLY!

Missing girl hasn't been seen in four years, says grandmother

Cradled in her dad's arms, this could be a snapshot of any happy family celebrating a new arrival. But it shows missing California girl Melodee Buzzard in the arms of the dad she never got to know.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Just saw on a FB page that Ashlee was just taken into custody.

Also, her house was searched again?

Do you have a link? I'm not finding anything...