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

[HollyHunter9]

Planning and executing this murder involved a significant betrayal of trust by the mother.
This poster summed it up really well:

Hey thanks for this

Also wanted to add that I hope we get more details/confirmation as to whether she did this same trip before/prior to october dates. If so, I think was a practice run...
1. To see if she could get melodee to comply and go along with trip.
2. On returning safe the first time, melodee would never question going again as nothing happened the first time (my speculation - this may possibly be where the lying in wait charge is from).
3. I also think AB wanted to check out the area and see how much other traffic might be around certain areas and what spot would be best for her get away with pulling over, shooting melodee and then driving off again without being seen or heard.

 

[Spectrix]

Hey thanks for this

Also wanted to add that I hope we get more details/confirmation as to whether she did this same trip before/prior to october dates. If so, I think was a practice run...
1. To see if she could get melodee to comply and go along with trip.
2. On returning safe the first time, melodee would never question going again as nothing happened the first time (my speculation - this may possibly be where the lying in wait charge is from).
3. I also think AB wanted to check out the area and see how much other traffic might be around certain areas and what spot would be best for her get away with pulling over, shooting melodee and then driving off again without being seen or heard.

Yeah I mean it's possible that previous trips might have been practice run(s).

Something that gives me pause is that she drove all the way to Nebraska, but didn't kill Melodee until she had gotten most of the way back home. And it makes me think that she'd been planning the murder for months, and just didn't find the courage to go through with it until she got all the way back to Utah on the return leg.

Was it because she was faced with the reality of her plan being a failure for the second or third time in a row?

 

[Tealgrove]

I’m wondering now about Ashlee trying to rent a car after the road trip and was declined at two different rental agencies. Where did she need to go that she needed to rent a car?

Was she going to make a run for it or; knowing she was under fire, decided she needed to go back and actually hide/bury Melodee?

I still don’t understand how she was able to rent vehicles while being in debt and living off assistance. Did someone do it for her? Does she even have credit cards?

 

[HollyHunter9]

Yeah I mean it's possible that previous trips might have been practice run(s).

Something that gives me pause is that she drove all the way to Nebraska, but didn't kill Melodee until she had gotten most of the way back home. And it makes me think that she'd been planning the murder for months, and just didn't find the courage to go through with it until she got all the way back to Utah on the return leg.

Was it because she was faced with the reality of her plan being a failure for the second or third time in a row?

Quite possibly. Or was she waiting for the perfect quiet location and no one else around? I don't think we will ever really know truth but it's very obvious a lot of planning went into it.

 

[Knox]

I’m curious a to what evidence will come out that supports lying in wait vs an in the moment decision

Eta - I know about the plates and parking etc but that still doesn’t necessarily say she was waiting to kill her child to me and had it planned.

I do think she did. I’m just curious as to what they have to further support it

Since LE emphasised the murder of Melodee was "premeditated & planned" at the PC. I immediately wondered about the potential evidence found on her phone and other electronics. Can you imagine what her google searches may have looked like? Also maybe there is evidence related to obtaining the gun, buying the ammunition, and researching remote areas to hide a body along her route.

In regard to the lying in wait enhancement -

• Legal Interpretation: California courts have broadened the interpretation of "lying in wait" over the years. Physical concealment from the victim is not strictly required; concealing the purpose is sufficient. The focus is on a substantial period of watching and waiting that demonstrates deliberation and premeditation.

I can see how this might be applied to this case. Maybe she told Melodee they were taking a fun trip just for her, stopped at fun kid places like a zoo, ect. All the while she planned to kill and conceal her body far away from home.

No telling what this evil *itch did in advance. Remember what she said to Tyler in that recording, "Tyler look at me. I'm an intelligent woman, I'm forty years old".

MOO, Ashlee is going to say some phantom "other person" did it (SODDI Defense). She was threatened and scared for her life, so she didn't tell. Or some variation thereof. Maybe blame the same folks she told Tyler about, you know - the ones she met at the zoo

 

[Spectrix]

I’m wondering now about Ashlee trying to rent a car after the road trip and was declined at two different rental agencies. Where did she need to go that she needed to rent a car?

Was she going to make a run for it or; knowing she was under fire, decided she needed to go back and actually hide/bury Melodee?

I still don’t understand how she was able to rent vehicles while being in debt and living off assistance. Did someone do it for her? Does she even have credit cards?

All very good questions.
Like how did she afford the rentals, plus insurance, plus fuel to drive 3600 miles in the first place?
It had to be a credit card, possibly several.

Quite possibly. Or was she waiting for the perfect quiet location and no one else around? I don't think we will ever really know truth but it's very obvious a lot of planning went into it.

There are so many things that don't make sense to me. I mean I'm looking at a map of Santa Barbara County and just about all of it looks like wilderness - the main difference is its densely forested (arguably better to hide a body undetected) and she wouldn't have to drive 3600 miles to get there

 

[Stunned]

I simply cant wrap my head around doing long haul practice drives till I find the perfect place to shoot my daughter in the head several times and bury her. Nope, can't do it. IMO

 

[Jo in Calif]

So who has legal rights to Melodees remains?
Ashlee is her mother and has been charged with her murder. She is legally innocent until she is found guilty at trial.
She has 2 1/2 half sisters and 2 Grandmothers.
Who legally will be in charge for her funeral and where she will be laid to rest?

 

[Jo in Calif]

Well this answers a lot.

When a parent is charged with the murder of their child, responsibility for the child's funeral generally falls to other family members or the state, and funding is often available through
state crime victim compensation programs. The accused parent, being incarcerated and the primary suspect, typically cannot arrange or pay for the funeral.


Responsibility for Arrangements

• Next of Kin Hierarchy: State laws generally define the "next of kin" hierarchy for making final arrangements. While parents usually have this right for a minor child, a court can remove that authority if they are the primary suspect in the child's death.
• Other Relatives: Responsibility usually passes to the next eligible relative in the hierarchy, such as surviving grandparents, adult siblings, or other extended family members.
• State or County: If no family members are available, willing, or able to take responsibility, the child becomes a ward of the state or county. In this scenario, the local authorities will arrange for a basic burial or cremation, sometimes referred to as a "pauper's burial".
• Court Intervention: A court can grant emergency custody of the child's body and the right to make funeral decisions to another party (such as a grandparent), especially if the parents' rights are challenged due to the pending murder charges.

 

[Knox]

It wouldn't surprise me if the paternal family receives Melodee's remains to lay to rest.

 

[Amy0077]

It wouldn't surprise me if the paternal family receives Melodee's remains to lay to rest.

Let's hope so.

 

[Izzylizzy]

Uploaded 1 hr ago

 

[Izzylizzy]

Is that what the motive is (CPS)?

We don't know what Melodee could have told CPS about her mother and her home life.

 

[LadyL]

This has been going round and round in my head ever since Melodee was found. I just cannot comprehend how she could be so cold and calculating. One thing that stands out for me is during one of the gas station stops AB went inside and seemed concerned about some kittens outside...erm where is the concern for melodee?? Who, not long after this, she shot and left to rot out in the middle of no where! I know there has been reports of MH issues, but the level of planning indicates otherwise...she rented a car, changed plates, backed into gas stations to avoid cameras, wore wigs, made melodee wear wigs and her demeanor in the car rental video was very calm and determined. It breaks my heart to think poor melodee is there, going along with her mums wishes, compliant, obedient, wearing a wig that her mum has asked her wear and going on a trip her mum wants her to go on...no idea the reason for all of it is that her own mother wants to end her life. To excute her. AB shows no signs of psychosis. In fact she looks very confident and organised in each clip I have seen of her. I think motive was purely spite...she knew CPS would likely remove Melodee and put her with family who would care for her, love her, give a life she deserved but AB could not release that control of melodee. If she couldn't have her, no one would. There's no tears, no remorse, no sadness, no guilt. Just stone faced. She really is pure evil.

[bbm]

where did this information come from??

ETA: never mind - Spectrix explained

 

[Spectrix]

[bbm]

where did this information come from??

I recall seeing that too, it was an interview with someone at a rest stop who recalled that Ashlee and another person had stopped by there on their way through.
She said that a stray cat happened to have had a litter of kittens by the shop.

“It was really weird,” Matthews said. “She just opened the door, poked her head in, and said, ‘Did you guys know you have a bunch of kittens out here?’ Then she immediately left.”

Source - KUTV

 

[LadyL]

I recall seeing that too, it was in a video interview with someone at a rest stop where a stray cat happened to have had a litter of kittens by the shop.
She stated that Ashlee had poked her head in the door and said "You guys know that there's kittens out here?"

thank you
that is bizarre

 

[Lebowski]

oh yeah, i'd forgotten about that.

she cared that no one was taking care of the kittens. while taking her daughter somewhere to execute her.