A man, who has accused the mother of Melodee Buzzard of false imprisonment, believes the missing girl from California might still be alive.
In an interview with NewsNation, Tyler Brewer shared that Ashlee Buzzard began behaving erratically on November 6 while he was visiting her home in Lompoc. According to Brewer, she accused him of collaborating with law enforcement to return her 9-year-old daughter, Melodee, to the custody of her late father’s family.
Melodee’s father tragically passed away in a motorcycle accident when she was just an infant. According to Melodee’s aunt, who previously spoke on the “Crime Stories” program, Melodee’s paternal relatives have been out of touch with her for several years.
Brewer further alleged that Ashlee Buzzard exhibited strange behavior, including “shutting her eyes and making fists,” and that she locked her door, preventing him from leaving the premises.
Once Ashlee eventually allowed Brewer to leave, he filed charges against her. By Friday, authorities had arrested Buzzard on charges of false imprisonment.
Brewer has also speculated that Melodee might be in Utah, mentioning that Ashlee Buzzard had indicated a location where she might have left the girl, though Brewer remains uncertain about the veracity of this information.
Brewer said he has known Ashlee Buzzard since 2014, and began checking on her after news regarding Melodee’s disappearance. He described her behavior as “paranoid.”
Ashlee Buzzard, currently behind bars, is schedule for a court appearance Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the search for Melodee continues.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said Buzzard rented a car in Lompoc, and embarked on a cross-country trip on October 7, with possible stops in Kansas and Nebraska.
Security footage placed both Ashlee Buzzard and Melodee at the car rental business while wearing wigs that same day.
The rental car, described as a white 2024 Chevrolet Malibu, initially had California license plate 9MNG101. On October 8, Buzzard allegedly changed it to New York license plate HCG9677.
“It is unknown when the plate was installed or whether additional plates were used at other times during travel. The New York plate seen on the car does not belong to the vehicle or to Ashlee,” the sheriff’s office said.
According to the sheriff’s office, Melodee was last seen on October 9, between the Colorado–Utah border, on a return route.
“Somewhere along that route is where we know Ashlee was no longer with Melodee,” Raquel Zick, Public Information Officer with SBCSO, said.
Police believe Ashlee Buzzard drove through the following locations before returning home to Lompoc without Melodee.
- Green River, Utah
- Panguitch, Utah
- Northwest Arizona
- Primm, Nevada
- Rancho Cucamonga, California
Authorities are now asking businesses and residents and in the aforementioned areas to look at surveillance footage from October 9 and 10.
Before returning the car on October 10, Ashlee Buzzard put the California plate back on the vehicle, the sheriff’s office said.
Anyone with information regarding Melodee’s whereabouts is urged to call 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.
Read additional coverage on Melodee Buzzard
[Feature Photo: Santa Barbara County police]
