Earlier this month, the mother of Melodee Buzzard, a missing girl from California, returned from a road trip without her daughter, raising concerns about the young girl’s whereabouts.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office reports that Ashlee Buzzard rented a vehicle on October 7 and embarked on a journey with her 9-year-old daughter, Melodee. They were potentially heading towards Nebraska. However, Ashlee returned alone to their home in Vandenberg Village, located in northern Santa Barbara County, without Melodee.
The car in question, a white Chevrolet Malibu with the license plate 9MNG101, has since been returned to the rental agency.
Concern arose on October 14 when employees from the Lompoc Unified School District reported Melodee missing. The girl, who is homeschooled, failed to collect assignments for her independent study program, prompting the alert.
The last known sighting of Melodee by school officials was in August when her mother enrolled her in the homeschooling program, according to the sheriff’s office.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Ashlee Buzzard’s residence but did not locate Melodee. Furthermore, during subsequent visits, Ashlee became uncooperative with authorities and has not provided satisfactory information regarding her daughter’s current location.
During additional visits, officials knocked on Ashlee Buzzard’s door, but she stopped answering.
A neighbor shared security footage with KCBY News, showing that Ashlee Buzzard was spotted at the home, taking out her trash.
As the search continues, law enforcement is asking the public for tips.
“We want the public to think back to the 7th to the 14th. Did you see a mom and a daughter in this vehicle?” Raquel Zick, a spokesperson with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, said, referring to the rental vehicle.
Meanwhile, DailyMail reports that Ashlee Buzzard was spotted leaving with someone in a black Lincoln Sedan Wednesday morning, headed first to a Budget car rental branch. They later drove to the Avis car rental store at an airport.
She was reportedly denied a rental at both locations and returned home.
A neighbor, according to DailyMail, claimed Buzzard was handed a notice Monday to produce her daughter or face arrest.
The most recent photos of Melodee were taken around two years ago, and officials said her appearance may have changed.
“We are hopeful that Melodee might be with someone – perhaps an extended family member or friend – who may not be aware of the circumstances of her disappearance,” Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said in a news release Wednesday.
READ MORE: Melodee Buzzard: Missing California Girl’s Maternal Grandmother Speaks Out Amid Search
Anyone with information regarding Buzzard’s whereabouts is asked 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: Santa Barbara County police]
