The search is still underway for Melodee Buzzard, a 9-year-old girl from California, who has been missing since October 9.
Melodee was last spotted on surveillance footage alongside her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, during a road trip traversing the country from California. So far, Ashlee has not been cooperative with law enforcement as the investigation progresses.
What happened to Melodee Buzzard?
The details surrounding Melodee’s disappearance remain unclear, with authorities yet to ascertain her condition or current location.
On October 14, an administrator from the Lompoc, California, Unified School District officially reported Melodee missing. Speaking on “Banfield” this Monday, her sister and aunt expressed feeling left in the dark by both the authorities and Melodee’s mother regarding her whereabouts.
Investigators have verified that Melodee was last seen with her mother near the Colorado–Utah border on October 9, with both of them wearing wigs.
What are the latest updates?
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement on Monday, confirming that Melodee and her mother embarked on a cross-country journey from California, reaching as far east as Nebraska and Kansas.
Authorities also noted that Oct. 8, one day after the trip commenced, the white 2024 Chevrolet Malibu, a rental car driven by Ashlee Buzzard, had a different license plate. Authorities say that when it was returned to the car rental business in Lompoc, California, it had the original California plates back on.
They also determined she was with her mother while driving through Green River, Utah, Panguitch, Utah, northwest Arizona, Primm, Nevada, and Rancho Cucamonga, California, on or around Oct. 9.
What is the timeline in the Melodee Buzzard case?
The car initially bore California license plate 9MNG101 and was then switched to a New York license plate HCG9677. It is unclear when this occurred or if other plates were also used during the trip.
Ashlee returned to California on Oct. 10 without her daughter, according to investigators. Since returning to the Golden State, Ashlee’s home has been searched by the FBI and other investigators.
According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, Ashlee has been uncooperative with the investigation and has not confirmed the well-being or whereabouts of her daughter.
How can the public help?
Melodee Buzzard is approximately 4 feet 6 inches tall, 60 pounds, with brown curly hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the sheriff’s office via the detectives line: 805-681-4150, the anonymous tip line: 805-681-4171, or online tips via www.sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip/.
