The FBI and a California sheriff’s office have executed a series of search warrants this week in the ongoing search for a missing nine-year-old girl, who remains unaccounted for as of Friday.
The investigation into the disappearance of Melodee Buzzard was initiated by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office on October 14, following a report from a school administrator concerning her prolonged absence. When deputies visited her home in Lompoc, they met her 35-year-old mother, Ashlee Buzzard. However, Melodee was not present, and her mother could not provide a verifiable explanation for her daughter’s whereabouts, according to the sheriff’s office.
The FBI has indicated that Melodee may have accompanied her mother on a road trip that extended “as far as the state of Nebraska” before she went missing.
On Thursday, October 30, 2025, Sheriff’s detectives, in collaboration with the FBI, carried out additional search warrants at the residence of Ashlee and Melodee Buzzard, as well as a storage locker and the rental car in which Melodee was last seen, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office reported. To ensure the thoroughness of the search, detectives relocated Ashlee to a different location to prevent any interference with their investigation.
A photo of Melodee, reportedly taken in 2023, has been circulated by the FBI in their ongoing efforts to locate her.
Authorities emphasize that the situation is still being treated as a missing person investigation, and no arrests have been made at this time. The sheriff’s office has previously noted that Melodee’s mother has been “uncooperative with investigators” and has classified Melodee as an “at-risk missing person.”
“In cases like this, every detail matters, and it is invaluable to have additional resources and specialized expertise. Collaboration with our federal partners allows us to ensure we’re using every available tool to help bring resolution to this case,” Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Lt. Chris Gotschall said in a statement.
Last week, the sheriff’s office released new surveillance images of Melodee.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office released an image of Melodee Buzzard it says was “captured at a local car rental business on October 7.” (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office )
“As part of this update, detectives are sharing surveillance images of Melodee captured at a local car rental business on October 7. In the photo, Melodee is wearing a hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up and what appears to be a wig that is darker and straighter than her natural hair,” it said at the time. “Investigators believe the wig may have been used to alter her appearance. Detectives also note that Ashlee is known to wear wigs.”
“Through their ongoing investigation, detectives have narrowed the critical timeline to between October 7 and October 10, 2025. Investigators have confirmed that Ashlee was seen returning to her Lompoc residence on October 10, driving the same rental vehicle she departed with on October 7 — but Melodee was not in the car,” the sheriff’s office continued.
“Investigators understand that this three-day road trip went from Lompoc to the Nebraska area, with the return trip including the state of Kansas. Detectives are now focused on determining where Melodee was during those three days and where she may be now,” it also said.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said footage shows Melodee wearing a hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up and “what appears to be a wig.” (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office)
Melodee Buzzard is described by police as being around 4 feet, 6 inches tall and weighing approximately 60 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. The FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office is assisting in the search.
