The search for missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard has intensified with revelations of a cross-country road trip involving disguises and evasion tactics, while her mother was recently arrested on an unrelated charge. Authorities are piecing together a three-day journey that spanned over 1,000 miles and included swapped license plates and wig disguises, as they race to locate the child last seen in early October.
Melodee Buzzard, from Lompoc, California, was reported missing on October 14 after school administrators noticed her prolonged absence from a remote study program. When deputies conducted a welfare check, they found only her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, who provided no verifiable explanation for her daughter’s whereabouts. This prompted an immediate investigation by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the FBI, focusing on the child’s safety and the circumstances of her disappearance.
Investigators have narrowed the critical period to a three-day window from October 7 to 10, during which Ashlee and Melodee embarked on a road trip that covered more than 1,000 miles across multiple states, including California, Utah, Colorado, and Nebraska. The last confirmed sighting of Melodee was on October 9 near the Colorado-Utah border, captured on surveillance footage during their return journey. This timeline has become central to the probe, as authorities work to trace their movements and identify potential stops along the route.
Surveillance images released by the sheriff’s office show both Ashlee and Melodee wearing wigs at a rental car agency in Lompoc on October 7, with investigators believing the disguises were used intentionally to avoid recognition. Ashlee Buzzard allegedly swapped wigs during the trip, changing from honey blonde curls to a darker style similar to Melodee’s, further complicating efforts to identify them in public footage. The use of these disguises suggests a calculated effort to conceal their identities during travel.
In another evasion tactic, the white 2024 Chevrolet Malibu they were driving had its original California license plate swapped for a false New York plate on October 8. The sheriff’s office stated that this was done to avoid detection, and the car was returned to the rental agency on October 10 with the original plates reinstated, but without Melodee. This detail has raised alarms about the mother’s actions and the potential risks to the child during the extensive journey.
On November 8, Ashlee Buzzard was arrested on a felony charge of false imprisonment unrelated to her daughter’s disappearance, with bail set at $100,000. While in custody, she has remained uncooperative with investigators, refusing to confirm Melodee’s location or welfare. The arrest occurred as part of the broader missing persons investigation, with the FBI executing search warrants at her home and a storage locker to gather additional evidence.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has released a map of the suspected travel route and is urging businesses, gas stations, hotels, and residents along the path to review surveillance footage for any signs of Melodee. Described as at-risk, she is around 4 feet 6 inches tall and weighs approximately 60 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Public assistance is critical, as authorities believe someone may have encountered the pair during their travels and could provide vital clues.
Melodee’s grandmother, Lilly Denes, expressed shock upon seeing the disguise images and publicly appealed for her granddaughter to contact family, emphasizing their love and willingness to help. The child’s aunt noted that the family had not seen Melodee in years following her father’s death, highlighting possible isolation that may have exacerbated the situation. This emotional context underscores the urgency of the search and the community’s concern for the young girl’s well-being.
With the mother in custody and the investigation ongoing, detectives are focused on uncovering what happened after October 9 and ensuring Melodee’s safe return. The case highlights the complexities of missing children investigations and the importance of collaborative efforts between law enforcement and the public. As the search continues, authorities remain hopeful that new leads will emerge to bring resolution to this distressing situation.
