CA CA - Melodee Buzzard, 9, Vandenberg Village, 14 Oct 2025

[tlcya]

Can’t LE/CPS bring Ashlee in for questioning since she’s failed to produce Melodee?

one of the article's I read last week said she had been given a deadline by LE or face possible charges I will try to find it, don't recall if the due date was provided and don't recall the source so not sure of the validity of that claim

 

[tlcya]

found it but it was from the DM back on the 24th and the source of that info is not provided so grains of salt and all:

Melodee's mother Ashlee Buzzard, 40, has refused to cooperate with the search and, on Monday, was handed a notice informing her that she had 72 hours to produce her daughter or provide information about her whereabouts – or face arrest.

On Wednesday, a heavily made-up Buzzard was spotted leaving the modest three-bedroom Lompoc home she shares with Melodee and making a fruitless foray to nearby Santa Maria where she tried to rent a car but was refused twice.
Eerie picture of missing 9-year-old girl uncovered on web

72 hours from Monday 10-20 has come and gone and as far as we know Ashlee hasn't been taken into custody so . . . thinking DM is not correct. But wishing they were.

 

[Knox]

I guess my next question is - how is she affording all of these rental cars?

Perhaps the answer lies in who she may have been communicating with in the period before the road trip occurred?

If someone in another state has Melodee, with all the media saturation they likely know by now. Maybe they too are hiding.

 

[bestill]

I confess I haven't read every post but I do have questions. If Ashlee has sole custody of the child, police did a wellness check and the child is missing, mom isn't cooperating, then why has she not been arrested for neglect?? I don't understand this

 

[Ontario Mom]

I confess I haven't read every post but I do have questions. If Ashlee has sole custody of the child, police did a wellness check and the child is missing, mom isn't cooperating, then why has she not been arrested for neglect?? I don't understand this

I don't understand it either.

 

[tlcya]

I confess I haven't read every post but I do have questions. If Ashlee has sole custody of the child, police did a wellness check and the child is missing, mom isn't cooperating, then why has she not been arrested for neglect?? I don't understand this

or at the least obstructing an investigation?

 

[TMich6811]

Just a thought here but is there anything to support a show court order? Not completing school work isn’t imminent risk. There is no reported knowledge of abuse or neglect outside of educational

 

[Wallendo]

Are there any reports about where she rented the car? If using a large rental company, there is likely a great deal of information to be obtained. If she used a local "rent-a-wreck" type place, there would be a lot less information.

 

[sasha17]

Are there any reports about where she rented the car? If using a large rental company, there is likely a great deal of information to be obtained. If she used a local "rent-a-wreck" type place, there would be a lot less information.

I don't think we heard which place she went to to rent the car when she drove to Nebraska. But she was seen by media trying to rent a car again after returning, when she was turned away. They named the two places she went then: Avis and Budget. MSN

 

[sunspun]

I don't think we heard which place she went to to rent the car when she drove to Nebraska. But she was seen by media trying to rent a car again after returning, when she was turned away. They named the two places she went then: Avis and Budget. MSN

So I would guess that the place she rented the car from before was not Avis or Budget. She probably owes money now to whichever company she got the other rental cars from. The first one because it may have been impounded? And the second one for the slight damage she caused to it (per DM, yellow paint/scratch). I really doubt she paid extra to buy rental insurance. So what's left, off the top of my head... Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, Thrifty, Alamo? Well, more than I thought, so not much help.

 

[Ontario Mom]

or at the least obstructing an investigation?

I think I said the same thing last week. She's quite clearly impeding an investigation so why she's not in jail is a mystery.

 

[sunspun]

I think I said the same thing last week. She's quite clearly impeding an investigation so why she's not in jail is a mystery.

maybe they want to give her a chance to lead them to Melodee?

ETA They're obviously keeping a close eye on her. It was reported that SIX LE vehicles followed her when she left her house to go try to rent a car that day.

 

[TMich6811]

But what is the investigation?

The investigation is child welfare related. You can only impede an investigation if there is an investigation to impede. Going back to what I said - I’d guess because a judge hasn’t ordered the child to be presented that there isn’t grounds for that based on the definition in the state. Which means how is she impeding?

I will spend some time looking later at what CA requires for an order for this and the local CPS laws

 

[TMich6811]

The other avenue would be truancy maybe? Not sure how this independent study fits under that but guessing it does some how

 

[Ontario Mom]

But what is the investigation?

The investigation is child welfare related. You can only impede an investigation if there is an investigation to impede. Going back to what I said - I’d guess because a judge hasn’t ordered the child to be presented that there isn’t grounds for that based on the definition in the state. Which means how is she impeding?

I will spend some time looking later at what CA requires for an order for this and the local CPS laws

According to the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office it's an "at risk" missing persons investigation.

Detectives Continue Search for Missing Child, Melodee Buzzard – 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

 

[Knox]

Just a thought here but is there anything to support a show court order? Not completing school work isn’t imminent risk. There is no reported knowledge of abuse or neglect outside of educational

True, but Ashlee has a history of this child being removed from her care? Is that not enough cause for alarm, coupled with the mental health history and non-cooperation?

 

[Knox]

But what is the investigation?

The investigation is child welfare related. You can only impede an investigation if there is an investigation to impede. Going back to what I said - I’d guess because a judge hasn’t ordered the child to be presented that there isn’t grounds for that based on the definition in the state. Which means how is she impeding?

I will spend some time looking later at what CA requires for an order for this and the local CPS laws

Here’s a start …

Enforcement of Compulsory Education Laws - School Attendance Review Boards (CA Dept of Education)

School attendance review boards (SARBs) enforce compulsory education laws.

www.cde.ca.gov

Taking Children into Temporary Custody - 0070-548.20 - DCFS Policy Institute Website

policy.dcfs.lacounty.gov

 

[TMich6811]

True, but Ashlee has a history of this child being removed from her care? Is that not enough cause for alarm, coupled with the mental health history and non-cooperation?

I’d think so but I’m not sure what is factually known

Thanks for the resources I’ll look later this evening. It’s been a killer day. The world is a mess

 

[Knox]

Just a thought here but is there anything to support a show court order? Not completing school work isn’t imminent risk. There is no reported knowledge of abuse or neglect outside of educational

The Sheriff didn’t make it sound like it was just a run of the mill truancy case? He credited the school district with “recognizing something wasn’t right, reaching out and continuing to assist with the investigation”.

That’s not the average truancy case and there is much that is not being shared publicly, IMO.

Detectives Share Update in Search for Missing At-Risk Child – 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

I keep wondering how they know Ashlee wears wigs? That’s an interesting detail.

 

[Knox]

I’d think so but I’m not sure what is factually known

Thanks for the resources I’ll look later this evening. It’s been a killer day. The world is a mess

I know, you know - just how messy it really is. Thanks for taking a look when you can.