CA MELODEE BUZZARD: Missing from Vandenberg Village, CA - 9 Oct 2025 - Age 9 *Found Deceased* (2 Viewers)

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

 

[RoundPeg]

On the bright side the child was last seen on October 7th and she was reported missing on the 7th and so there is no window of missing there, but now she apparently is.

Finally her own mother is mentioned. Her own mother (grandma) is seeing a psychologist and hadn't seen the child for a year or maybe two plus I think it said. Yet she had gifts for her 9th birthday so must have hoped to see her.

It gives me some hope again for her as she was seen right up to the date said to be missing. Could she have been meeting a relative partway in Nebraska for them to take the child or is there a friend or relative in Nebraska grandma doesn't know about?

Hopefully the report of her missing did not trigger something since apparently she was alive and well up to then.

A more worrisome thought is if she was malnourished or abused or neglected the mother may have needed to cover that fact when she realized they were looking for her. However, whoever sighted them on the 7th (or video camera) would show what condition the child was in so they know if she was fine or not physically and in what general condition.

There really isn't anything in this case thus far to call it any crime and they said as much not being able to investigate it as criminal thus far. She also has had the child for quite a few years full time since the dad died with the child surviving as far as we know just fine. Again she was last seen on the same day as reported missing so no window of missing time existed when reported. These are all reasons I am maintaining some hope in this one, a rare thing.

Yet she has failed to produce the child when asked or to cooperate and that is worrisome.

This negates her collecting any benefits unlawfully as the child apparently has been with her all of this time, until at least after the 7th.

You know, her prior mental health issues may have her scared to say anything. Especially since Melodee was not essentially missing.

 

[Tresir]

You know, her prior mental health issues may have her scared to say anything. Especially since Melodee was not essentially missing.

But she is missing now right? Last seen two weeks ago.

 

[RoundPeg]

But she is missing now right? Last seen two weeks ago.

I don’t think anyone knows for sure.

 

[Tresir]

I must have missed that the car was a rental.

Since they have no evidence of a crime, my guess is they can't do a lot in getting warrants like re her phone, etc.

Yeah from post 48 -

"The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday morning that detectives have confirmed Melodee Buzzard, 9, was seen with her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, as recently as Oct. 7.

The sheriff’s office states Ashlee may have driven her daughter in a rented White Chevrolet Malibu with a license plate number of 9MNG101 to locations as far as Nebraska. Authorities say Ashlee no longer has possession of the vehicle."

 

[GrandmaBear]

You know, her prior mental health issues may have her scared to say anything. Especially since Melodee was not essentially missing.

Good point, maybe she was scared.

And no she really wasn't missing but they didn't learn that until after the fact.

Maybe the school called her first or when LE came, that got her worried. IF the girl is safe, it's a shame as now mom's name and claims of mental health issues are all over the internet, etc.

Still worrying me though is why not just tell them where she is and show them she's fine?

 

[GrandmaBear]

But she is missing now right? Last seen two weeks ago.

Well they keep learning later dates she was seen so hard to say if she was ever missing. She certainly was not when reported.

 

[Tresir]

Well how weird is this? Two people threw paint at a newly finished mural.

Local4’s Four Things You Need to Know for October 21, 2025

Here are the four stories you need to know for October 21, 2025.

www.ksnblocal4.com

Detectives have also determined that Ashlee may have driven with Melodee in a White Chevrolet Malibu [California license plate] (9MNG101) to locations outside of Santa Barbara County to include as far as the state of Nebraska. The vehicle was determined to be a rental car no longer in Ashlee’s possession.”

Suspects cited​

It was supposed to be a day of celebration for the completion of a mural at the Webb Plaza in Grand Island. But instead of a celebration, police were called after the mural was vandalized Saturday morning near Webb and Capital Avenue.
According to Tara Richter, owner of Webb Plaza, surveillance video shows two people arriving at the scene, one driving a silver Honda Civic or Mazda, and a second person dressed in all black with a mask and a marijuana leaf on the leg of their sweatpants. The suspects reportedly parked behind a tree, remained there for about three minutes, then got out and threw paint across the mural before leaving the area.
Grand Island Police have now cited three people in connection to the vandalism. GIPD cited 36-year-old Sapphire Utley from Grand Island and 33-year-old Charli Burk of Omaha for misdemeanor criminal mischief. Police also cited 35-year-old Mitchell Hedlund for providing false information as police were conducting their investigation. Police were able to identify the people involved with the help from a tip.

Neither the mural nor the vandalism appear to be anything to do with missing Melodie, but what horrible people.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Yeah from post 48 -

"The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday morning that detectives have confirmed Melodee Buzzard, 9, was seen with her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, as recently as Oct. 7.

The sheriff’s office states Ashlee may have driven her daughter in a rented White Chevrolet Malibu with a license plate number of 9MNG101 to locations as far as Nebraska. Authorities say Ashlee no longer has possession of the vehicle."

Thanks. Yeah I caught the white Chev Malibu part but missed the fact it was rented. You know, typically that car would be searched but as far as we know, they don't have enough for warrants for anything. Even the FBI involvement I'd say is a bit iffy because she has every right to rent a car and with or without her daughter drive anywhere.

As far as WE know at least, there's really no indication of any crime and the child was not even missing.

 

[RoundPeg]

Most rentals are newer models. You'd think LE could see if it has a GPS system. Maybe they have that info.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Most rentals are newer models. You'd think LE could see if it has a GPS system. Maybe they have that info.

Maybe that is how they know where she went i.e. Nebraska and outside Santa Barbara County... I'm not certain they could get a warrant for her phone but there is a good chance if LE just asked the rental car place and said they were investigating that maybe they would let them see the car.

And maybe I'm wrong but I just don't see much basis they'd have for warrants thus far.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

I don’t think anyone knows for sure.

Except we do know. Local LE and the FBI are looking for her, so that means she's missing I think.
Is she somewhere safe / explainable / where mom knows? Maybe. But that wouldn't mean she's not missing right now.

It is extremely weird how this came about though. From "not seen in over a year" to "not seen in two months" to "not seen in a week". What we do know, though, is that her whereabouts right NOW are not known.

 

[Tresir]

Except we do know. Local LE and the FBI are looking for her, so that means she's missing I think.
Is she somewhere safe / explainable / where mom knows? Maybe. But that wouldn't mean she's not missing right now.

It is extremely weird how this came about though. From "not seen in over a year" to "not seen in two months" to "not seen in a week". What we do know, though, is that her whereabouts right NOW are not known.

Surely she would only be 'missing' if a family member or school reported it? I don't even think they have searched the residence have they? Maybe i missed it. Also why did she use a rental if she has a car already?

Presumably mum knows where she is but is staying mum.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Surely she would only be 'missing' if a family member or school reported it? I don't even think they have searched the residence have they? Maybe i missed it. Also why did she use a rental if she has a car already?

The school did report it.

Detectives have already conducted a thorough search of the family’s residence.

Detectives Share Updated Timeline in Ongoing Search for 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard – Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office

Proud to Protect and Serve Santa Barbara County The men and women of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office are proud to protect the people of this beautiful county. Our dedicated team of professionals uphold our five core values, integrity, caring, courage, fairness and service, in all that...

www.sbsheriff.org

 

[Kimster]

Current California Law (AB 1432): This law makes it a misdemeanor, not a felony, for a parent or legal guardian to "negligently fail to report the disappearance of their child".

I guess they can't technically charge her with a misdemeanor if they can't prove Melodee is missing, but maybe that's what the paperwork was about.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Current California Law (AB 1432): This law makes it a misdemeanor, not a felony, for a parent or legal guardian to "negligently fail to report the disappearance of their child".

I guess they can't technically charge her with a misdemeanor if they can't prove Melodee is missing, but maybe that's what the paperwork was about.

If she is court-ordered to produce Melodee and doesn't, isn't she technically missing? Like the Daybell case?

 

[Kimster]

If she is court-ordered to produce Melodee and doesn't, isn't she technically missing? Like the Daybell case?

I can't see where they can order her to produce Melodee in the State of California.

 

[Kimster]

I can't see where they can order her to produce Melodee in the State of California.

Oh wait, never mind! CPS can do it. We probably won't know about it because CPS is allowed to be quite secretive.

 

[Guess Who]

Oh wait, never mind! CPS can do it. We probably won't know about it because CPS is allowed to be quite secretive.

I wonder if that was the paperwork they saw her receive.

 

[Tresir]

The school did report it.

Detectives have already conducted a thorough search of the family’s residence.

Detectives Share Updated Timeline in Ongoing Search for 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard – Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office

Proud to Protect and Serve Santa Barbara County The men and women of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office are proud to protect the people of this beautiful county. Our dedicated team of professionals uphold our five core values, integrity, caring, courage, fairness and service, in all that...

www.sbsheriff.org

Yeah but they originally wrongly reported it not realising/knowing she was being home schooled for some reason. The school didn't report her on the 7th Oct did they?

 

[Tresir]

This is the absolute latest LE report and doesn't mention the school at all -
( it does say they searched the residence though. )

Detectives Share Updated Timeline in Ongoing Search for 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard​

Posted October 20, 2025
Lompoc, Calif. – Through their investigation, detectives have gathered evidence indicating that Melodee was with her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, as recently as October 7, 2025. Detectives have also determined that Ashlee may have driven with Melodee in a White Chevrolet Malibu (Lic #9MNG101) to locations outside of Santa Barbara County to include as far as the state of Nebraska. The vehicle was determined to be a rental car no longer in Ashlee’s possession.
At this point in the investigation, Ashlee Buzzard remains uncooperative and has not provided detectives with any information about Melodee’s current location or condition. The primary goal of this investigation is to verify the location and welfare of Melodee Buzzard and ensure that she is safe.
Sheriff’s detectives continue to pursue all available leads. This public outreach effort is one part of those ongoing efforts to develop information that could assist investigators. Detectives are aware of the strong community interest in Melodee’s case and are asking the public not to attempt to conduct their own searches or investigations. While well-intentioned, these efforts could unintentionally interfere with investigative work already in progress. Detectives have already conducted a thorough search of the family’s residence and continue to follow verified leads in a coordinated manner.
Anyone who has seen Melodee Buzzard, or has had contact with Ashlee Buzzard since October 7, 2025, is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division at (805) 681-4150. Those wishing to remain anonymous can provide information through the tip line at (805) 681-4171 or online at https://www.sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip/.
Link to previous article here: Detectives Share Update in Search for Missing At-Risk Child – Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
filed under: General, Missing Person