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]

Or it could just be an out and out lie.

Sure could be, hard to know.

 

[GrandmaBear]

The guy is sketchy, too. Ugh. What a hot mess.

Yeah, when he talks of the couch and pics I think he is pumping it up honestly. He said he never really thought of it as a shrine until others started saying that to him and then in hindishight he says now it seems like it... She may have well had a back pillow on the couch and maybe some of Melodee's clothes she folded or something, who knows. And then laid the posters there. Very hard to say. And we know news needs

I have three doctor's appts. next week argh and was scheduling transport for them.

Anyhow, I just heard a bit more on it now and she told him she knew some were comparing her to Casey Anthony. Funny, I just mentioned her. And she said but she isn't out partying as CA was... And he says did she realize what she just said.... As if all is the same other than the partying...? Man...

This also tells me imo she was following things online no?

 

[Tresir]

I am thinking that the money she receives from the state would be something she wouldn't want to lose. If she is no longer looking after Melodee then she wouldn't qualify for any social security anymore so she is busted IMO.

So her older daughter was 22. I wonder if she received social for her too? What age does that stop? 18 years old? So at some point she was receiving it for both kids Eg from maybe when Melodee was born until about 4 years ago when Destiny reached 18 years old, she would have received it for two children.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I'd encourage watching that second one. I've shared what i could but there's more.

He says he never got a clear answer out of her if MB is okay or not. He said you have to be careful with her to not pursue a line of questioning too long, she'd get triggered. Said she loves to use the word triggered. He believes she loved her daughter but like the rest of us just isn't sure if she is alive or not. Says if she was, you'd think she would have been found by now...

I don't like the guy haven't from the start. I think he has his own b.s. honestly. I do think he is mostly truthful here but there is a time or two I think he embellished but he covers it, like with the shrine thing, as others suggested that's what it was, etc.

Oh and he said she said something like how do you know I dropped her in Utah? Which is different than I dropped her in Utah. I think I said that some time ago as what I suspected, context and tone and exact wording, I didn't figure she admitted anything.

I think he's trying here to clear up things that have been blown up about him, etc. but overall think he was mostly truthful. I still think he's a glory hound.

And he'd be mostly truthful ow wouldn't he as he knows possibly all was recorded...

 

[GrandmaBear]

I am thinking that the money she receives from the state would be something she wouldn't want to lose. If she is no longer looking after Melodee then she wouldn't qualify for any social security anymore so she is busted IMO.

So her older daughter was 22. I wonder if she received social for her too? What age does that stop? 18 years old?

Yes, at 18. Older daughter wouldn't be the same dad so there'd be no social plus she was taken away from her so no, she couldn't collect for the older one.

He said 22, give or take, thereabouts.

It's a fed payt. not a state payt, not that it matters but yes, if MB is dead, it is fraud to keep collecting if she knows that.

 

[Tresir]

Yes, at 18. Older daughter wouldn't be the same dad so there'd be no social plus she was taken away from her so no, she couldn't collect for the older one.

He said 22, give or take, thereabouts.

It's a fed payt. not a state payt, not that it matters but yes, if MB is dead, it is fraud to keep collecting if she knows that.

Or not being looked after by her like now and for the last 6 weeks. We don't know it wasn't the same Dad do we? How do we know that Destiny was taken away? I must have missed those bits. A lot to take in.

Thanks for watching and putting the detail on here.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Or not being looked after by her like now and for the last 6 weeks. We don't know it wasn't the same Dad do we? How do we know that Destiny was taken away? I must have missed those bits. A lot to take in.

Thanks for watching and putting the detail on here.

I try lol, when I watch something and do have time to share.

Just going by the age difference, that AB never had the dad's last name means they never probably married at least, his date of death and more, that the older daughter is probably not his. HE had an older daughter though too so I hope they aren't confusing that. I think her first name is different though. It's in here somewhere.

His obit is here somewhere too...

Lori Daybell was committing fraud with social security too...

This AZ, UT, ID thing is a bit freaky in how it remains me of that case.. And just as Lori she won't give up her child's whereabouts...

 

[GrandmaBear]

Okay now we are getting to some truth... As I thought prior. The box cutter was not held by her, it was near her... she never threatened and said she wasn't threatening... It was her demeanor he says... Banfield thinks the judge did wrong too and that someone who says two or three times he'd like to leave means he is being held against his will or threatened somehow... I'm sorry but that's reaching imo. He's a man and he was probably just trying to keep his hopes of communicating with her open, not tick her off, etc. So just LEAVE then. This is the part I don't buy and never have. Cops are probably right outside no? I mean he said on the one day the cops talked to him before he went in saying to report any info he got to them...

 

[Guess Who]

I am thinking that the money she receives from the state would be something she wouldn't want to lose. If she is no longer looking after Melodee then she wouldn't qualify for any social security anymore so she is busted IMO.

So her older daughter was 22. I wonder if she received social for her too? What age does that stop? 18 years old? So at some point she was receiving it for both kids Eg from maybe when Melodee was born until about 4 years ago when Destiny reached 18 years old, she would have received it for two children.

She lost custody of her so she wouldn't have received it for her. Yes, it stops at 18 IF you have custody of the child.

 

[Guess Who]

Okay now we are getting to some truth... As I thought prior. The box cutter was not held by her, it was near her... she never threatened and said she wasn't threatening... It was her demeanor he says... Banfield thinks the judge did wrong too and that someone who says two or three times he'd like to leave means he is being held against his will or threatened somehow... I'm sorry but that's reaching imo. He's a man and he was probably just trying to keep his hopes of communicating with her open, not tick her off, etc. So just LEAVE then. This is the part I don't buy and never have. Cops are probably right outside no? I mean he said on the one day the cops talked to him before he went in saying to report any info he got to them...

Everything i"ve read on it states it was sitting on the table. I haven't seen it stating she was holding it.

You should never have to ask permission to leave somebody else's home, let alone multiple times. You sure wouldn't feel comfortable if somebody made you ask to leave their home once, let alone multiple times.

 

[Guess Who]

Okay. I hadn't finished the second News Nation one I linked yet. Just listening to some again now. She told him about a fake license plate place online you can order plates that look real... He has OK plates which came up in court too... Etc., etc.

But are his OK plates his legal plates that belong to that car? No comparison if they are. The plate she used 100% did not belong to that car she had them on. If he owns a home in OK, then he has done nothing wrong. IF he lives in CA then all he is guilty of is not being registered in the states he's living in, not that the plates are illegal.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Everything i"ve read on it states it was sitting on the table. I haven't seen it stating she was holding it.

You should never have to ask permission to leave somebody else's home, let alone multiple times. You sure wouldn't feel comfortable if somebody made you ask to leave their home once, let alone multiple times.

In the very beginning, I saw an account that she threatened him with a box cutter, next minute it was lying on a table or something near her. His interpretation of that is ridiculous if you ask me. It was probably people or news hype turning it to holding it.

The judge didn't agree here. And I am thinking of almost any man I know and me trying to stop them from leaving (which I would never do) and them feeling they could not. He SOUGHT HER OUT.

Heck there were reporters, neighbors, cops and dad's family outside most days. Yeah, he was at real risk....?

It definitely was not enough to bring to trial and the judge ruled accordingly.

That's my opinion of course but based on all we know.

 

[Guess Who]

I looked it up and CA is a two party recording state or one that requires all parties be aware they are being recorded. We are a one party state. So I'd think in CA that recording could NOT be used in court if he was unaware of it... So....? How and why was it allowed?

that is a good point. I wonder if she got his permission to record or not. Ballsy if not and serving it up in court. I haven't seen him protest that point yet, so maybe she did??? He surely would be announcing that like he did everything else if he didn't.

 

[Guess Who]

But are his OK plates his legal plates that belong to that car? No comparison if they are. The plate she used 100% did not belong to that car she had them on. If he owns a home in OK, then he has done nothing wrong. IF he lives in CA then all he is guilty of is not being registered in the states he's living in, not that the plates are illegal.

Case in point - my neighbor has KS tags on his car. He owns a home in KS but is renting here so his tags are legal(ish).

Tyler also has (had???) a paralegal business in Oklahoma.

 

[GrandmaBear]

But are his OK plates his legal plates that belong to that car? No comparison if they are. The plate she used 100% did not belong to that car she had them on. If he owns a home in OK, then he has done nothing wrong. IF he lives in CA then all he is guilty of is not being registered in the states he's living in, not that the plates are illegal.

I don't know but in the recording and this, she sure hints at knowing of wrongdoing by him.

I won't judge depending on circumstances as I've been between WI and MN for years. However, I always followed the law and still do. Now that I no longer have a WI residence, I am changing over finally.

OK and TX per a search are a minimum of 21 hours apart. I can be to WI in 1-2 hours TOPS.

I also am not licensing or registering as a CA paper server, paper drafter, etc. like all said to me was so legit with him back when.

She questions and HE says it the very things I did a week or weeks ago.

Is he on trial? No. Is he doing anything big wrong? Probably not. But the charge against her as ridiculous as what he is likely doing, no biggie.

He brought himself into this case. Did you listen to the linked video? He even said it came up in court (when he didn't want it to) and he couldnt' believe since CA requires TWO plates on a vehicle that he'd never been pulled over or arrested. HIS words.

If he is going to insert himself into an investigation, well then people are going to look into ALL about him. That's all I'm saying... And he is in no way an officer of the court. perhaps if he was a CALI resident and deputy serving papers, then he could be considered that.

I looked up many of those rules when he "appeared" in the case.

Anywho, that's my opinion for the moment...

 

[Guess Who]

I don't know but in the recording and this, she sure hints at knowing of wrongdoing by him.

I won't judge depending on circumstances as I've been between WI and MN for years. However, I always followed the law and still do. Now that I no longer have a WI residence, I am changing over finally.

OK and TX per a search are a minimum of 21 hours apart. I can be to WI in 1-2 hours TOPS.

I also am not licensing or registering as a CA paper server, paper drafter, etc. like all said to me was so legit with him back when.

She questions and HE says it the very things I did a week or weeks ago.

Is he on trial? No. Is he doing anything big wrong? Probably not. But the charge against her as ridiculous as what he is likely doing, no biggie.

He brought himself into this case. Did you listen to the linked video? He even said it came up in court (when he didn't want it to) and he couldnt' believe since CA requires TWO plates on a vehicle that he'd never been pulled over or arrested. HIS words.

If he is going to insert himself into an investigation, well then people are going to look into ALL about him. That's all I'm saying... And he is in no way an officer of the court. perhaps if he was a CALI resident and deputy serving papers, then he could be considered that.

I looked up many of those rules when he "appeared" in the case.

Anywho, that's my opinion for the moment...

If the car is registered in Oklahoma, Oklahoma only requires one plate. If it's legally registered in Oklahoma, California can't make him have two Oklahoma plates. If that was the case, nobody in Kansas could drive in Missouri since Missouri is a two plate state and Kansas is a one plate state. Missouri can not enforce two plates for a Kansas registered vehicle.

He is definitely stretching it by calling himself an officer of the court. Methinks he is a bit of a drama queen.

 

[GrandmaBear]

If the car is registered in Oklahoma, Oklahoma only requires one plate. If it's legally registered in Oklahoma, California can't make him have two Oklahoma plates. If that was the case, nobody in Kansas could drive in Missouri since Missouri is a two plate state and Kansas is a one plate state. Missouri can not enforce two plates for a Kansas registered vehicle.

He is definitely stretching it by calling himself an officer of the court. Methinks he is a bit of a drama queen.

Yep, drama queen, glory hound, whatever.

The whole plate thing is whatever although I do think as a CA process server serving with OK plates is kind of something of note... It came up in the interview and in court but in the interview because Ashlee was allegedly telling him about the site he could get real seeming plates at...

Yes, he definitely pumped himself up/lied in his VERY own post of saying he was an officer of the court and so on..

But she did talk to him which is more than I guess most have been able to do...

I was really hoping this child was alive, still am, but she was apparently willing to go to jail for who knows how long and not give up her location so I'm losing faith...

Happy birthday by the way if it is truly your birthday today.

 

[Guess Who]

Yep, drama queen, glory hound, whatever.

The whole plate thing is whatever although I do think as a CA process server serving with OK plates is kind of something of note... It came up in the interview and in court but in the interview because Ashlee was allegedly telling him about the site he could get real seeming plates at...

Yes, he definitely pumped himself up/lied in his VERY own post of saying he was an officer of the court and so on..

But she did talk to him which is more than I guess most have been able to do...

I was really hoping this child was alive, still am, but she was apparently willing to go to jail for who knows how long and not give up her location so I'm losing faith...

Happy birthday by the way if it is truly your birthday today.

Again, his vehicle could very well be legally registered in Oklahoma, whether he's a process server or not. We' don't even know if he owns said vehicle.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Again, his vehicle could very well be legally registered in Oklahoma, whether he's a process server or not. We' don't even know if he owns said vehicle.

It very well may be.

Your vehicle is supposed to be registered as to where you live though, your address, at least that's true in our state. Believe me I looked into the laws the last years in my life to be sure I was in legal compliance... Does HE even have a residence in OK. The closest distance is a 21 hour drive to OK from CA per a computer search.

I really don't think it's any big deal but you are to be a resident of the state to be a process server. Has he actually complied with residency there?

Remember when I said in this thread to you that of course I couldn't serve papers in CA as I am not a resident...?

 

[Guess Who]

It very well may be.

Your vehicle is supposed to be registered as to where you live though, your address, at least that's true in our state. Believe me I looked into the laws the last years in my life to be sure I was in legal compliance... Does HE even have a residence in OK. The closest distance is a 21 hour drive to OK from CA per a computer search.

I really don't think it's any big deal but you are to be a resident of the state to be a process server. Has he actually complied with residency there?

Remember when I said in this thread to you that of course I couldn't serve papers in CA as I am not a resident...?

Does he actually own that car though? We don't know.

I am sure he is supposed to have it registered in CA, but so many don't if they have somewhere else they can register it because of taxes and fees. They have had many politicians get caught doing this even there.

Look at the D4VD case. He had his registered in Texas, just for one example.

Take a stroll down nearly any street in CA on street view and you will see plenty of out of state plates on many newer cars and you know most of those people live in CA. The costs make's it worth it, evidently.