In a recent development from California, the mother of a missing 9-year-old identified as being “at-risk” has been apprehended by authorities, though her arrest stems from a separate matter not directly linked to her daughter’s disappearance.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office reported that Ashlee Buzzard, aged 40 and the mother of Melodee Buzzard from Lompoc, was detained on Friday. Her arrest was based on a felony charge of false imprisonment.
A witness managed to capture a video showing law enforcement officers escorting Ashlee Buzzard away from a residence.
According to a statement from the sheriff’s office, detectives discovered a recent incident where Ashlee allegedly restrained a victim, preventing them from leaving a location, which constitutes false imprisonment. This situation is reportedly unrelated to the ongoing efforts to locate Melodee. However, authorities have withheld further details to avoid hindering their investigation.
Melodee was last spotted via video surveillance in early October during a road trip with her mother. It is believed that their journey extended as far as Nebraska. Investigators previously noted that the license plates on the rental vehicle they were using had been altered, likely to evade detection.
Surveillance footage from October 7, 2025, shows Ashlee and her daughter, Melodee, at a car rental business in Lompoc, California, providing a crucial timestamp in the timeline of events.
Ashlee Buzzard had her bail set at $100,000 after being booked into the Northern Branch Jail in Santa Barbara County.
“Although this arrest occurred during the course of the missing person investigation, it is not directly related to Melodee’s disappearance. Sheriff’s detectives remain fully focused on locating Melodee and confirming her safety,” the sheriff’s office said.
Investigators also released video Thursday showing Ashlee and Melodee Buzzard at a rental car location in Lompoc, Calif., on Oct. 7.
A surveillance image shows Ashlee and Melodee Buzzard at a rental car location in Lompoc, Calif., at the start of the road trip on Oct. 7, 2025. On the right, Melodee Buzzard is seen in a photo that the FBI says was taken in 2023. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office/FBI)
“The footage corresponds to previously released still images and shows both Ashlee and Melodee wearing wigs. Investigators also believe that Ashlee swapped wigs throughout the trip, changing to a darker wig that is similar in color and style to the one Melodee was seen wearing. This change in appearance is believed to have been intentional to avoid recognition during travel,” the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office previously said its investigation into the disappearance of Melodee Buzzard began on Oct. 14 after a school administrator reported her extended absence. Deputies then responded to her home in Lompoc and encountered her mother, Ashlee, but “Melodee was not at the home, and no verifiable explanation for her whereabouts was provided,” according to the office.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office released an image of Melodee Buzzard “captured at a local car rental business on October 7.” (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, and detectives have described the child as being “at-risk.”
