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

 

[Tresir]

You can search for a NY reg number at this link. It's offline at present though. It is for me anyway. But someone else could try to search. It could work for a US IP address.

Searching Records with Record Search Service | NY DMV

See how to properly Record Search Service to obtain driver and vehicle information.

dmv.ny.gov

 

[GrandmaBear]

I just reread the article upthread that had Ashlee's mother talking. She mentioned she has relatives in Ohio. So I did this distance map on Google and the top route is the one that Ashlee appeared to have taken as far as Nevada. So I am wondering if she met a relative halfway and handed Melodee over. That seems to me to be the only possible reason she would head to Nevada. Regarding the NY plates, maybe they are hers and she is a drug runner or she borrowed them or maybe they are fake. I'm sure the FBI will certainly know by now.

View attachment 27640

I think you mean Nebraska but I know what you mean. I wondered awhile back if she met a relative halfway or something. Her mother I think said she has no relatives in Nebraska, only Ohio but it could be a friend or something too and she'd have two sides to her family one would think, her mom's side and her dad's side. And does her mother really track all relatives? Just saying she could have a cousin or some such in Nebraska. Ashlee I mean. Anyone's guess.

 

[Kimster]

Changing license plates? Come on. That’s diabolical.

And if she were meeting relatives halfway, the FBI would’ve been all over it by now. She’s done something terrible, I am sure of it. I just hope that Melodee is still alive.

 

[Tresir]

I think you mean Nebraska but I know what you mean. I wondered awhile back if she met a relative halfway or something. Her mother I think said she has no relatives in Nebraska, only Ohio but it could be a friend or something too and she'd have two sides to her family one would think, her mom's side and her dad's side. And does her mother really track all relatives? Just saying she could have a cousin or some such in Nebraska. Ashlee I mean. Anyone's guess.

Yeah Nevada/Nebraska whatever LOL or anywhere along that route she went. The fake plates are hilarious really. Does she really think she can outwit the FBI? What an idiot.

Nebraska is about halfway to Ohio so I reckon she is busted.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I too think it could have been a halfway point for a meeting. Or I hope I guess...

It was only recently I read they had a warrant for the rental car, I think the same time as they searched her home this last time and took her off premises. Maybe initial info came from traffic cams, etc. and now they may get GPS access, etc. I'm sure they know more by now that they have not shared.

Where the heck did she get a NY plate I wonder. She would have been smarter (if she took one off a vehicle) to have taken say a Nebraska plate. A NY plate would stand out more in Nebraska than a Nebraska plate lol.

It is also stupid as the plates would not match the car so if pulled over that would be realized quickly OR if a cop just ran her plate, it would be reason to pull her over...

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Changing appearance with wigs. Changing plates. I don't like it at all.
But now Melodee is confirmed to have made it at least part of the way back... And possibly even further. So unlikely to have been a trip just to "get rid of" her.
But what in the world is going on?

(Yes I know this was already posted. Just bringing it forward again.)

 

[Guess Who]

Changing appearance with wigs. Changing plates. I don't like it at all.
But now Melodee is confirmed to have made it at least part of the way back... And possibly even further. So unlikely to have been a trip just to "get rid of" her.
But what in the world is going on?

(Yes I know this was already posted. Just bringing it forward again.)
View attachment 27650

Whatever the reason for the trip, it was most likely very illegal.

 

[Tresir]

The link I posted states this. So she travelled part of the way back and was seen between Colorado and Utah

on 9th October. So she had to have disappeared after that on the return journey. So who does she know in those two states?

Detectives have now confirmed that Melodee was last seen along the return route via video surveillance on October 9, 2025, in the region between the Colorado–Utah border. Investigators are working to fill gaps in the timeline for that date and are working with law enforcement agencies in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and Southern California for assistance in reaching the members of their communities.

 

[Tresir]

This is an enlarged map of the route she would have taken. A lot of National Parks in the area and Native American tribal lands. Does the family have any links to this area?

 

[GrandmaBear]

If she was with for part of the return trip, I can only guess she went as far as Nebraska to throw things off to get 1aw enforcement and others thinking Nebraska was the reason for her trip but the reason for it was it seems maybe in those other states now. I'd like to know what part of the trip she used the NY plate for.

The dad's last name sounds Hispanic and her last name may be Native. I only say this with relation to could she have went to tribal lands? I found the last name amongst the Cherokee tribe just with a quick search. However, it is also a last name amongst other like it is also German.

We don't know who she knew but it seems as if Melodee may have had a pretty isolated life, no contact with grandma on either side for some years,, no contact with dad's family, no school, maybe Ashlee has some contact with other relatives on her side but who knows? We don't even know if she has siblings, etc. (the mom I mean).

 

[RoundPeg]

I have it in my head their roots are Venezuela. Don't ask me why.

 

[Kimster]

The link I posted states this. So she travelled part of the way back and was seen between Colorado and Utah

View attachment 27651 on 9th October. So she had to have disappeared after that on the return journey. So who does she know in those two states?

Detectives have now confirmed that Melodee was last seen along the return route via video surveillance on October 9, 2025, in the region between the Colorado–Utah border. Investigators are working to fill gaps in the timeline for that date and are working with law enforcement agencies in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and Southern California for assistance in reaching the members of their communities.

I think a deep forensics dive into her computer and phone are the only ways your question will be answered.

 

[Kimster]

If she was with for part of the return trip, I can only guess she went as far as Nebraska to throw things off to get 1aw enforcement and others thinking Nebraska was the reason for her trip but the reason for it was it seems maybe in those other states now. I'd like to know what part of the trip she used the NY plate for.

The dad's last name sounds Hispanic and her last name may be Native. I only say this with relation to could she have went to tribal lands? I found the last name amongst the Cherokee tribe just with a quick search. However, it is also a last name amongst other like it is also German.

We don't know who she knew but it seems as if Melodee may have had a pretty isolated life, no contact with grandma on either side for some years,, no contact with dad's family, no school, maybe Ashlee has some contact with other relatives on her side but who knows? We don't even know if she has siblings, etc. (the mom I mean).

Her dad's family are Filipino, according to his obit that I posted up thread somewhere. He was born in Fresno, California. I don't think Melodee's paternal family would have a thing to do with why Ashlee went across the country with Melodee, regardless.

As for Ashlee's family, I have no clue where their roots might be.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Her dad's family are Filipino, according to his obit that I posted up thread somewhere. He was born in Fresno, California. I don't think Melodee's paternal family would have a thing to do with why Ashlee went across the country with Melodee, regardless.

As for Ashlee's family, I have no clue where their roots might be.

Yeah, I don't think the father's side applies either, I was just mentioning the possible roots of each but mom's might. Hard to say though, and just responding due to there being a lot of tribal land in areas she went through. Total long shot though.

 

[Tresir]

Yeah, I don't think the father's side applies either, I was just mentioning the possible roots of each but mom's might. Hard to say though, and just responding due to there being a lot of tribal land in areas she went through. Total long shot though.

I am wondering where Ashlee's father is. His name must be Buzzard. And I too was thinking about a possible tribal connection. Does Ashlee have brothers or sisters for example.

 

[Tresir]

Mom of missing Santa Barbara County girl switched license plates during road trip, officials say

The mother of Melodee Buzzard allegedly switched license plates during their road trip that took them through Southern California in an apparent effort to avoid detection, authorities said.

abc7.com

The last verified sighting of Melodee is now determined to be Oct. 9, sheriff's spokesperson Raquel Zick told ABC News on Monday.
Surveillance video shows Melodee with her mom that day near the Colorado-Utah border, Zick said. The next day, on Oct. 10, Ashlee Buzzard came home to Lompoc with the white 2024 Chevrolet Malibu she rented on Oct. 7 -- but Melodee was not with her, the sheriff's office said.

continued at link.

 

[Tresir]

Ok so she was last seen on surveillance video at the CO/UT border. I would bet that was likely where she disappeared. Passed off to friends or relatives. And they don't have the vehicle details of whom she went with. Maybe thats where/when the NY plates were put on at that point so they couldnt track the vehicle till it showed up at Rancho Cuchomancho with the original plate on it.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I am wondering where Ashlee's father is. His name must be Buzzard. And I too was thinking about a possible tribal connection. Does Ashlee have brothers or sisters for example.

Yeah we have only heard of her mom on her side. No idea if siblings, dad, etc. Good point that his last name would be the same....

 

[GrandmaBear]

Ok so she was last seen on surveillance video at the CO/UT border. I would bet that was likely where she disappeared. Passed off to friends or relatives. And they don't have the vehicle details of whom she went with. Maybe thats where/when the NY plates were put on at that point so they couldnt track the vehicle till it showed up at Rancho Cuchomancho with the original plate on it.

Your article said the plate was on on the 8th, however, last known sighting of Melodee was the 9th now. They are unsure when put on or when she switched plates back to CA ones.

 

[Tresir]

Yeah we have only heard of her mom on her side. No idea if siblings, dad, etc. Good point that his last name would be the same....

Had a quick look in white pages and looks like Ashlee's surname of Buzzard was her mother Lori Miranda's previous married surname. Looks like there are two half sisters of Ashlee's with Miranda surnames, one of whom lives in AZ. So plenty of relatives on that route who could help with hiding Melodee.

(Funny we have a "Lori" involved in this, isn't it?)