Concerns arose when Melodee Buzzard was initially reported missing, with school officials fearing that it had been over a year since the young girl was last seen.
Upon further investigation, the school district discovered that Melodee had more recently been enrolled for another year of homeschooling. Subsequently, Santa Barbara County sheriffs learned that Melodee’s mother, Ashlee Buzzard, had left Lompoc with her daughter on October 7, and they were observed together at a car rental facility.
The last known sighting of Melodee was captured on security footage on October 9. Ashlee returned home alone the following day. It has now been 35 days since Melodee was last seen.
Authorities are working with an outdated photo of Melodee, taken over two years ago, as she has been homeschooled in Vandenberg Village, just north of Lompoc, California.
On November 7, Ashlee Buzzard was arrested on charges of false imprisonment, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. While this charge does not directly relate to Melodee’s disappearance, it emerged in the midst of the ongoing investigation into the missing girl.
Four days following her arrest, Ashlee Buzzard pleaded not guilty to the false imprisonment charge. Prosecutors argue that she should remain in custody, citing concerns about her being a flight risk and her potential for violence.
However, her attorneys counter that she does not own a vehicle and did not specifically threaten Brewer with a box cutter. The judge agrees to grant Buzzard bail under close supervision and orders Buzzard to stay away from Brewer.
The 40-year-old is once again walking free.
Anyone with information asked to contact Santa Barbara County investigators at 805-681-4150. Anonymous calls can be made to the tip line at 805-681-4171. Contact the FBI at 800-225-5324.
Anonymous tipsters can also share information online to the sheriff’s office.
Joining Nancy Grace today:
Additional Guests
- Raquel Zick – PIO for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
- Lizabeth Meza – Paternal Aunt of Melodee Buzzard (her husband was Melodee’s dad’s brother, her husband is deceased)
- Greg Morse – Criminal Defense Attorney of Morse Legal, Author of “The Untested” (found on Amazon)
- Lauren Johnson-Norris – Defense Attorney (specializing in juvenile, and CPS cases in Orange County, California), and Founder of Johnson Criminal Law Group
- Sydney Sumner- Investigative Reporter, ‘Crime Stories’
“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” on Fox Nation is also a national radio show on SiriusXM channel 111, airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.
[Feature Photo: Melodee Buzzard/Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office]
