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

 

[Kimster]

Buzzard went on a road trip with her 9-year-old daughter on October 7, when surveillance footage captured the girl at a local car rental agency dressed in what seemed to be a disguise, authorities said.
Melodee was wearing a hoodie pulled over her head and “what appears to be a wig that is darker and straighter than her natural hair,” the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said. “Investigators believe the wig may have been used to alter her appearance.”
Over the next three days, the rental car traveled through Nebraska, Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Kansas before returning home to Lompoc, about 55 miles northwest of Santa Barbara, authorities said.
“Investigators have confirmed that Ashlee was seen returning to her Lompoc residence on October 10, driving the same rental vehicle she departed with on October 7 – but Melodee was not in the car,” the sheriff’s office said.
The child was last seen October 9 in video surveillance in the region around the Colorado and Utah state line.
Melodee was reported missing days later on October 14 – not by a family member, but by a school administrator concerned about her long absence.

Melodee Buzzard’s mother arrested in connection with 9-year-old’s killing after her body is found

By Josh Campbell, CNN (CNN) — The mother of a missing 9-year-old California girl has been arrested on a charge of first-degree murder after her daughter’s remains were found in a rural area of southern Utah, Santa Barbara County Sheriff-Coroner Bill Brown said Tuesday. Members of the sheriff’s...

kesq.com

 

[GrandmaBear]

I don't want to know almost but I wonder if it was from behind or the front. I HOPE she didn't know her mom was about to do this.

 

[Kimster]

No bail at this time.

If she ever gets out, I'm going to be LIVID.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Didn't take a whole lot of questions. A handful. I don't think they would have found her but for the couple.

No motive known for sure.

 

[GrandmaBear]

If she ever gets out, I'm going to be LIVID.

Oh she'd better not. They say they will release a mug shot. I'm surprised because we just learned in some case that CA doesn't always do that, rules against it or some such.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I knew it was stupid to maintain some believe she was alive but I still did apparently. It hits hard.

It always made sense she got rid of her somewhere along the drive but still I hoped.

I think it's that unlike so many we see, she was not missing for a long time at all, before reported I mean. She'd been just recently alive.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Being tried in CA. They believe intent was formed there.

 

[ima.grandma]

This image made from surveillance footage captured at a rental car company, on Oct. 7, 2025, and released by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office shows Melodee Buzzard

Ashlee Buzzard, 40, was arrested after 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard’s body was found in a rural area of Wayne County, where they had traveled two months ago, said the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.

https://www.greenwichtime.com/news/article/california-woman-charged-in-her-9-year-old-21259736.php

 

[GrandmaBear]

I guess it should be added that they don't have the gun.

 

[GrandmaBear]

And they think she acted alone.

 

[Tresir]

And that couple never leaked one word. Very good of them.

Amazing that after all the FBI work a random couple found poor Melodee's body. What a sad day.

 

[Tresir]

And they think she acted alone.

But they do have a shell casing match with one from the home, i think they said.

I bet she says Melodee shot herself.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I forget how emotionally draining such news is. Can even imagine how it is for the family or police. Although her arrest is something to be happy about.

 

[GrandmaBear]

But they do have a shell casing match with one from the home, i think they said.

I bet she says Melodee shot herself.

Well good luck to her. Trying that I mean.

They seem pretty certain this was calculated and more and I'm guessing they know even more than we do showing that.

Maybe records of ammo purchased and who knows what?

I wonder too when they searched the home was ANYTHING of MB's present or did she instantly get rid of her personal items, clothing, etc...There's a lot we don't know I'd say...

 

[GrandmaBear]

I THOUGHT she was probably worried about losing her but apparently it wasn't for that reason (fear she wouldn't be with her), probably due to that check. IF she was worried about losing her. She may just have wanted to be free, that simple. And that IS like LOri and Chad.

I guess to me if she cared about her at all, you'd do a softer kill... Maybe not. I wonder what tox showed or will show...

 

[GrandmaBear]

I'll say, not headed there yet but I will be eventually, I'm glad I've been watching something kind of light on Netflix. Be a great antidote to this heavy news.

 

[RoundPeg]

Unbelievable.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Unbelievable.

You are the one who alerted us. Guessing you were working but couldn't look for news on it?

When I FIRST looked I only found that mom had been arrested and I was SO happy. Then refreshing looking, I don't know 1/2 hour later, maybe less, I saw a headline that they had found her body. Happiness gone immediately.

Well I can move mom to my EVIL POS list now. And ROOT for justice for Melodee.

 

[RoundPeg]

FINALLY!!

I'll start looking too. @RoundPeg Do you mean you've heard she found??

I saw something fly by on my FB page. Thanks for looking it up. I'm beyond exhausted.

 

[Mel70]

She deserves it certainly. Being it is CA I wouldn't count on it. I heard someone from there the other day say for all intents and purposes CA doesn't have the DP. It does but it's never carried out. Ever.

I know. I saw that. Ridiculous. I can't remember who said it. His name, But he said as long as he was in office no one would be executed. Notvaxwuote. But to that effect. There again. I can't imagine the families when they heard that. But, since Sheila's found in Utah, from California. That's crossing state lines. That's a federal offense. Automatically qualifies for the death penalty. Unless I'm missing some details.