CA MELODEE BUZZARD: Missing from Vandenberg Village, CA - 9 Oct 2025 - Age 9 (21 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

 

[Tresir]

Where is Melodee Buzzard? Mother of missing 9-year-old arrested on unrelated charges

A missing 9-year-old girl, Melodie Buzzard, of California, has still not been found. However, her mother was arrested Friday on charges that officials say were "not directly related."

ksltv.com

 

[Kimster]

I’m trying to think outside my box.
So she tried to keep someone from doing something against their will. We don’t know how serious that was because I think they were just trying to hold her so she wouldn’t flee.

What if Melodee’s disappearance is some kind of crazy game that her craziness has thought up? Like she took Melodee somewhere because Melodee was supposed to fend for herself or some weird thing?

Whatever it is, Ashlee knows that it’s wrong because of the changing of the wigs and the changing of the license plates. She knows it’s completely illegal. That’s why I was leaning so much toward trafficking. Maybe the trafficker advised her to use these methods of disguise.

However, none of my theories are helping Melodee be found. I’m just desperately trying to come up with theories that don’t result in the worst.

 

[Tresir]

I dont think its trafficking but if it is common for 9 year old girls to be trafficked, maybe, but how often does a parent traffick their own child? Anyone have any examples?

I cannot work out who she was holding prisoner, unless it was Melodee eg. Stopping her attending school for example.

I think the dipping into Az for that short section could be her dropping Melodee of with a friend or relative.

 

[Guess Who]

I’m trying to think outside my box.
So she tried to keep someone from doing something against their will. We don’t know how serious that was because I think they were just trying to hold her so she wouldn’t flee.

What if Melodee’s disappearance is some kind of crazy game that her craziness has thought up? Like she took Melodee somewhere because Melodee was supposed to fend for herself or some weird thing?

Whatever it is, Ashlee knows that it’s wrong because of the changing of the wigs and the changing of the license plates. She knows it’s completely illegal. That’s why I was leaning so much toward trafficking. Maybe the trafficker advised her to use these methods of disguise.

However, none of my theories are helping Melodee be found. I’m just desperately trying to come up with theories that don’t result in the worst.

She wears a wig that is sure to get you noticed, renting a car, then changes plates on her rental car. Something nefarious was certainly happening, but exactly what, I'm not convinced of any particular path. I am convinced she was up to no good and she was fully aware of it.

 

[Guess Who]

I dont think its trafficking but if it is common for 9 year old girls to be trafficked, maybe, but how often does a parent traffick their own child? Anyone have any examples?

I cannot work out who she was holding prisoner, unless it was Melodee eg. Stopping her attending school for example.

I think the dipping into Az for that short section could be her dropping Melodee of with a friend or relative.

We have had many cases posted on here where a parent was the one trafficking their own child. I can't think of any specific examples though, but it definitely happens.

 

[Guess Who]

I sure hope this person that she is being accused of not allowing to leave has some info to share on conditions Melodee was living in.

 

[Guess Who]

She's being sued for non payment of bills but nearly all rental companies require a cc to rent so she had at least one good enough card. Rental cars are not exactly cheap and she had it out several days and lots of mileage. She also had to have with funds for gas/lodging/food and drinks etc.

Had she made this same trip before that we haven't been told about? Often? How long in advance was it planned? Otherwise, the timing of the school getting LE involved and this trip are REALLY suspicious.

 

[Guess Who]

We have had many cases posted on here where a parent was the one trafficking their own child. I can't think of any specific examples though, but it definitely happens.

It happens so much, that the state dept writes about it

Navigating the Unique Complexities in Familial Trafficking - United States Department of State

 

[GrandmaBear]

They thought she was gonna take off. I think she’s involved in some kind of sex trafficking. I really do.

That's usually not the case. Wondering what makes you think that?

The guest on Entin said as much too, it isn't that often that's the case, it is more the rarity. I think he was former FBI.

I mean anything could be but I think it unlikely but curious why you think so?

 

[GrandmaBear]

Yep, they said they saw her taking some boxes out of her house so I think they thought she was gonna run. And if I’m right and she’s involved in some kind of trafficking, she might be able to flee and hide quite easily. I’ll bet her electronic devices busted her. These are all my personal guesses.

I'm sure they have looked at devices, the car, GPS and more but not sure they relate to this particular charge. She isn't busted yet for anything to do with Melodee.

I am hoping more that she left Melodee with someone and then came back to pack up to flee and join her wherever she hid her. That's the best case scenario. In that case, the question is who would keep her or get involved knowing she is missing and being looked for? We don't know who Ashlee knows though.

On the other hand, she could have done something to her of course and been fleeing to evade possible arrest.

Finally, she could have been taking evidence out of the home like electronics. Unlikely at that point but maybe.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I’m trying to think outside my box.
So she tried to keep someone from doing something against their will. We don’t know how serious that was because I think they were just trying to hold her so she wouldn’t flee.

What if Melodee’s disappearance is some kind of crazy game that her craziness has thought up? Like she took Melodee somewhere because Melodee was supposed to fend for herself or some weird thing?

Whatever it is, Ashlee knows that it’s wrong because of the changing of the wigs and the changing of the license plates. She knows it’s completely illegal. That’s why I was leaning so much toward trafficking. Maybe the trafficker advised her to use these methods of disguise.

However, none of my theories are helping Melodee be found. I’m just desperately trying to come up with theories that don’t result in the worst.

I think it is a distinct possibility she was worried about losing her child. While I worry too that she may have left her somewhere to fend for herself (maybe intending to join her in a few days), I hope more that someone is helping her and has the child.

I keep thinking that this child WAS raised to the age of 9 by the mother (pretty sure) and there may have been one incident or two back in the past, we don't know that she wasn't a decent mom to Ashlee. they had what appears to be a nice roof over their head, the few pics of Melodee have her welll groomed and dressed Ashlee herself is always groomed and neat when she leaves the home, etc. Who decides to kill their child age the age of 9 after just being seen with their mother just fine?

The similarities to Daybell are there but we have to admit Chad and Lori were a whole other ball of wax.

Anyhow, I don't necessarily think the above is what happened but I HOPE it is.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I dont think its trafficking but if it is common for 9 year old girls to be trafficked, maybe, but how often does a parent traffick their own child? Anyone have any examples?

I cannot work out who she was holding prisoner, unless it was Melodee eg. Stopping her attending school for example.

I think the dipping into Az for that short section could be her dropping Melodee of with a friend or relative.

I think her route simply went across a wee bit of AZ.

She could have been in a bar or store even and prevented someone from leaving. In an argument, and so on.

Agree on the trafficking, I don't think it's the case at all. It is not at all common in a case of a parent with a missing child. I have heard that out of the mouths of those that have worked such. It is almost never the case, very rare.

Am as curious as anyone who she prevented leaving but the consensus seems to be it is a way of holding her, even though probably true, they moved on it for that reason.

 

[GrandmaBear]

We have had many cases posted on here where a parent was the one trafficking their own child. I can't think of any specific examples though, but it definitely happens.

It's the exception though. The rare thing.

 

[GrandmaBear]

She's being sued for non payment of bills but nearly all rental companies require a cc to rent so she had at least one good enough card. Rental cars are not exactly cheap and she had it out several days and lots of mileage. She also had to have with funds for gas/lodging/food and drinks etc.

Had she made this same trip before that we haven't been told about? Often? How long in advance was it planned? Otherwise, the timing of the school getting LE involved and this trip are REALLY suspicious.

I keep wondering about the timing of all of it as well. And if someone even was asking at the school, maybe his side of the family, trying to find out if the child was ok and if she was in school there. Or some such thing that worried the mom, or something BEFORE that even.

Do we know which rental agency it was? In some areas there are smaller ones, some that even rent out used cars and are small and privately owned. Would cash work? She also had to have a valid license, that's clear. She was only able to rent once but not again even though reportedly trying.

Just because I guess she was in trouble with one card, or two or whatever, it doesn't mean she was in trouble on all or wasn't paying other bills I guess is a possibility too.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Okay she was obviously trying to disguise herself. She was wearing wigs. Changing plates. But as far as we are aware, she used HER OWN ID to rent the car.
So you wear a wig to not look like yourself, and then hand over your ID?

 

[GrandmaBear]

And they tracked her route, etc. via her cell too. Not too smart I guess...

 

[Guess Who]

Okay she was obviously trying to disguise herself. She was wearing wigs. Changing plates. But as far as we are aware, she used HER OWN ID to rent the car.
So you wear a wig to not look like yourself, and then hand over your ID?

That's what stumps me the most, if not for the changing of the plates, it would seem like she wanted the attention on her. I wonder if renting cars was common for her to do ir not. Will we find out she also used cash at all stops even after renting a car presumably in her name?

 

[GrandmaBear]

Just seeing an interview of grandma (Ashlee's mom) where she states she has relatives in UT and that Melodee's father had friends there too that he and Ashlee knew. Specifically says UT. She previously is the one who said there family was in OH, none in Nebraska, etc. Maybe though she never mentioned UT as they were talking Nebraska only at that point in the investigation.

 

[Kimster]

We have had many cases posted on here where a parent was the one trafficking their own child. I can't think of any specific examples though, but it definitely happens.

There was a case before we had this forum (so it’s been many many years ago) where they had a video of a man who purchased a young girl and he was carrying her into an elevator. It was the most sickening and sad evil thing I’ve ever seen. Yes, it’s rare, but it does happen.

 

[GrandmaBear]

I watched one from Hidden True Crime last night that I was going to link and netver did. I was also going to rewind it to get a time stamp of the area but was beat by that time.

It was all worth it, she had most interviews on video if not all on there, one I had not myself seen.

The part I was going to get a timestamp for was the area of Panguitch, and more. They themselves had just driven in these areas just days if not a day before Ashlee would have driven through.

She said that Panguitch is a red flag to her in that one has to go out of their way to go there. It is a very scenic area and near many big state parks and the red rocks and more. She said you have to dip out of your way to go to Panguitch. Now maybe Ashlee didn't know that. I have often taken an exit to a town only to find it to be a few miles down the road instead of right there. She may have needed fuel or needed a bathroom, etc.

She had video of the scenic areas, etc.

She said Green River made sense but Panguitch did not

She also said Vegas is not mentioned and it seems she did not route to go through Vegas. And that if she went to Panguitch there is a back way she could have taken, something about the Grand Canyon, and that route I think would not take you through Vegas. This paragraph I am not sure I have the details exactly right so don't quote me.

Finally, she also said on their recent trip through these areas and more, there were a lot of times they had no cell service...