Found Deceased CA - Melodee Buzzard, 9, Vandenberg Village, 14 Oct 2025 *Mother arrested*

[Knox]

So tragic that this beautiful child was murdered. I had stopped reading this thread because I got so angry that Ashlee wasn't in jail. California has the death penalty, but it's not carried out when sentenced. I can't imagine a motive. I only think of evil.

I prefer to see LWOP, I think it’s more punitive than the death penalty and better for the surviving victims.

 

[Dotta]

Isn't mother suffering from MH issues?

The grandmother of the girl said
mother was being treated in psychiatric hospital.

What exactly was the issue?

Quote:
"Denes was in the process of adopting the nine-year-old
when Ashlee 'took her away from us'
after being released from the mental hospital in 2021."

What a tragedy!
RIP to the victim
Condolences to Family.

Quote from the link:

Body of missing Melodee Buzzard is found months after she vanished

Ashlee Buzzard, 40, was arrested at her Lompoc by Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department deputies at around 7:40 am on Tuesday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[lightofmine99]

At least it seems Melodee was not made to suffer (being shot as opposed to strangulation for example). It sucks even typing that out.

 

[Megnut]

I am naming a new emotion.

I'm cryangry.

Melodee's beautiful life was not Ashlee's to take.

Devastating for her dad's family especially.

JMO

 

[calzone.gov]

Part of Ashlee’s primary source of income were SS benefits paid out to Melodee, yes? Needed to make sure those would continue and dad’s side of the family could have no access to her.

JMO. RIP Melodee

 

[sasha17]

Isn't mother suffering from MH issues?

The grandmother of the girl said
mother was being treated in psychiatric hospital.

What exactly was the issue?

Quote:
"Denes was in the process of adopting the nine-year-old
when Ashlee 'took her away from us'
after being released from the mental hospital in 2021."

What a tragedy!
RIP to the victim
Condolences to Family.

Quote from the link:

Body of missing Melodee Buzzard is found months after she vanished

Ashlee Buzzard, 40, was arrested at her Lompoc by Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department deputies at around 7:40 am on Tuesday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

The family told the media previously that Ashlee has bipolar disorder.

"Ashlee's mother, Lori Miranda, said Ashlee is bipolar and has been evaluated for her mental state from a young age."

Grandmother of missing 9-year-old says daughter is 'bipolar,' 'needs to be in a hospital'

Ashlee Buzzard, the mother of the 9-year-old girl who's been missing for about a month, was arrested on unrelated charges.Melodee Buzzard was last seen along th

kutv.com

 

[Mauig’ma]

Part of Ashlee’s primary source of income were SS benefits paid out to Melodee, yes? Needed to make sure those would continue and dad’s side of the family could have no access to her.

JMO. RIP Melodee

That’s the motive I thought of from the very beginning. Moo

 

[minazoe]

this mother is a cold blooded killer...you could tell by the way she spoke to that guy who was trying to leave her house, that she is
a level headed psycho...very steady, very self assured...she sounds logical, in control.

I just heard on News Nation they found a round in her house and I think in the car too. One thing I notice about her is that she could have some kind of mania, I only say that because of the bizarre makeup that seems like persona changes...that and they went on a cross country drive through Utah..like they were on some kind of mission with the wigs and license plate switching..

thank god the tourists found poor Melodee,,,also we don't know what all happened on that trip or what she may have been forced to suffer through.

what a horrible story. mOO

 

[Insightful1]

The Sheriff's department put the press conference on their YouTube channel for anyone who’s interested.

 

[LovesPeace2]

This is all so very sad. I hope the evil woman shot baby girl from behind so she didn't see what was coming. I hope babygirls last days weren't awful . I hope the cough mother gets punished to the full extent of the law . Jmvho

 

[Gemmie]

I hope she never knew, poor girl. I hope there was no time for her to feel fear or pain

Yeah, me too. I hope Melodee had no idea what was going to happen and it was a "Just look at the flowers, Lizzie... Just look at the flowers" moment. (Carol Peletier (Melissa McBride))

 

[katydid23]

No motive established at this point.

Did she even have a motive?

 

[Gemmie]

Why on earth did she have to shoot her several times? How much hate towards her did she have?

Perhaps it wasn't hate and just wanting to make sure she was really dead before leaving her.

 

[Trino]

Did she even have a motive?

I sort of hope this woman (not a mother) spends her life in prison, reflecting on what she did, enduring the wrath of other inmates.

 

[thx4_medic_Babby]

This always felt like the obvious outcome, unfortunately. I’m not religious but instances like this make me hope there’s a Heaven for souls like Melodee.

 

[Jo in Calif]

“This is an extraordinarily tragic case involving the murder of a child by the very person she relied upon and trusted the most,” Sheriff Brown said. “While maternal filicide is rare and difficult to comprehend, the evidence in this case clearly indicates a calculated, deliberate, and ruthless act.”

Ashlee Buzzard Arrested for Murder of Daughter Melodee Following Discovery of Remains in Utah – Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office

Proud to Protect and Serve Santa Barbara County The men and women of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office are proud to protect the people of this beautiful county. Our dedicated team of professionals uphold our five core values, integrity, caring, courage, fairness and service, in all that...

www.sbsheriff.org

 

[Gemmie]

I am naming a new emotion.

I'm cryangry.

Melodee's beautiful life was not Ashlee's to take.

Devastating for her dad's family especially.

JMO

I like crangry.

 

[Teche]

LE faced extreme deliberate attempts to keep LE from finding Melodee (presumably by AB). special thanks to Wayne County LE and other agencies for their cooperation

Timeline:

Oct 7 A and B were later confirmed to be on video at rental car location
Oct 14 school reported M's prolonged absence
Oct 15 LE served search warrant after A refused to explain M's absence
Info about road trip was shared with public
LE determined A switched plates and was cautious to back into parking spots
M last seen on CO side of the CO UT border and M was killed shortly thereafter
during search of A's residence expended cartridge case found
in rental vehicle live round was located (same type)
Dec 6 Wayne county responded to call from couple off 33 E state route 24. The couple found decomposed body of deceased person adjacent to W Kanesville Rd.

Dec 8 Santa Barbara was notified of finding of female who died by gunshot wounds (plural) to head
Dec 17 LE examined and matched cartridges found at Wayne County crime scene to those found during searches related to AB home and the rental vehicle
FBI notified DNA analysis determined familial DNA match from remains to A

Thank God for stupid criminals.

 

[Ghostwheel]

Near the intersecting roads but it does look remote.
I hope the people who found Melodee know that this will help bring closure to everyone who loved her and also a huge step towards justice for this little girl !

Like someone mentioned above... maybe Melodee's spirit guided them ?
Hopefully that or similar thoughts can comfort them.
This is something that will stay with you.

Imo.

I depends on what your version of "remote" means. There is quite a bit of traffic through the main road depending on time of year and the geology is beautiful. I went through that area just a few years back and probably stopped a dozen places to get pictures, search out old cemeteries (there is one not too far from there), geocache, etc. I go off road a lot. But it is HUGE out there and the fact that someone found her is amazing. I can only assume that with it being Winter, a lot of what might have covered her up was in Winter mode without snow.

 

[LadyL]

Happening Now In America

Updated timeline will be released after the presser.
\
ETA body found outside of Canesville Utah

premeditated, ruthless, extreme planning, significant amount of evidence found.

hmm if there was a significant amount of evidence found, that points away from 'extreme planning' IMO