New developments have surfaced in the case of missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard from California, following insights from someone familiar with her family.

Tyler S. Brewer, a “legal document assistant” with a longstanding acquaintance with Melodee’s mother, Ashlee Buzzard, shared with NewsNation that he received information regarding Melodee’s whereabouts from Ashlee.

Brewer recounted that Ashlee Buzzard mentioned leaving her daughter in Utah with a couple she allegedly encountered at a zoo. This couple reportedly had a daughter close in age to Melodee.

“She has no knowledge of their names, address, phone number, or location. It’s puzzling and makes no sense,” Brewer expressed to NewsNation.

He explained that this meeting at the zoo and the idea of the children playing together supposedly inspired the mother-daughter trip, following advice from people Ashlee barely knew.

Brewer mentioned that this discussion occurred during his visit to Buzzard’s home in Lompoc, where he was assisting with the search for Melodee.

He noted that he had been relaying what had been told to him during that encounter and could not vouch for the truthfulness of Ashlee’s claims.

When Brewer asked Buzzard what happened to Melodee, whether she was killed or trafficked, Buzzard began what Brewer felt was fake crying and avoided answering.

“I don’t want to believe that she could have hurt Melodee at all, because I think that she does love Melodee in her own way, but the fact that she won’t give me a clear yes or no answer makes me extremely uncomfortable,” Brewer said.

Brewer was recently in court against Buzzard, claiming false imprisonment. Brewer claimed the defendant accused him of working with Melodee’s paternal family and noted a box cutter on a TV stand.

Brewer said it made him feel like he couldn’t leave the residence.

However, during the three-hour hearing, Brewer admitted to inconsistencies in what he told a detective. He acknowledged that Buzzard never threatened him with the box cutter and never clenched her fists or threatened him.

Ultimately, Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Stephen Dunkle dismissed the claims and said Buzzard is no longer required to wear a GPS monitor.

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.

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.

[Feature Photo via Santa Barbara County police]