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

[Chimera]

In your first linked article it appears that MB's mother never filed the paperwork for homeschooling her daughter. I bet there are no home school books or supplies at the house.


Although the sheriff's office said Melodee is homeschooled, a California Department of Education spokesperson said there’s no record of Ashlee Buzzard filing an annual private school affidavit, which is a requirement for homeschooling.

“Per state law, the CDE does not assess or physically inspect private or homeschools,” the spokesperson said. “Filing an annual affidavit is the only thing that is required.”

Bbm.
I concur.
Esp. the bolded.
This poor young child fell through the cracks, it appears.
It's doubtful she was sent elsewhere to live, either.
Omo.

 

[borndem]

I wonder what the parent(s) actually did say. They need to be arrested, immediately drug tested, and interviewed by someone with a lot of experience. (I do like to state the obvious.)

my bold
Somebody has to do it, 'Birds.
I often need a bit of obvious...

 

[Snoopster]

The police can require AB to present MB for a welfare check, can't they? I remember them doing that on another recent case.

That's what a number of us have also been hoping for in the current Kai Pavlovic case in Canada. RCMP have not received an adequate response from Kai's mother either.

 

[Knox]

With the developing details being released, it doesn’t look like a good outcome. Mom with mental health issues, deceased father, only the two of them living in the home, no external contacts other than the school, no answer for LE on where the child is currently.

What about neighbors? Who saw her last, does anyone talk to the mom? What did she say?

But I guess she could have given the child to some one to care for. But that worries me also, she might be a prime target for a predator.

 

[borndem]

This article says Dad is dead.

Redirect Notice

Curiouser and curiouser. SMH.

 

[borndem]

<sigh>

 

[Knox]

I’m mobile right now, can someone check the RSO in the neighborhood surrounding Mars?

 

[Chimera]

how long before we hear about a mother's boyfriend ... just guessing

Something like that ?
Or Melodee ran away and didn't return; and she was never reported ?

I confess I've had darker thoughts about this case and other cases where a child --or children -- have vanished without a trace.
It's an evil, vile world out there.
Sorry if too negative but after a year or has it been longer that she's been missing ?
Almost anything could have happened.

And to just go on with your life without reporting it, or trying to get help for your missing baby....
Tragic.
Omo.

 

[borndem]

...

 

[sasha17]

Just thinking out loud... Mom would presumably need to work to support the two of them since there's no one else in the household contributing to the expenses, at least so far as we have heard. How could mom be working and also homeschooling a child at the same time? Perhaps she worked nights or worked from home, but was she leaving Melodee alone during the hours she was working? We don't have any information about mom's employment but I would assume she'd have to have a pretty well paying job to afford to live in California (not exactly the cheapest place to live in the country...) and pay for childcare for a school age child who isn't in school. A daycare center wouldn't offer that. She'd need a private sitter. It doesn't sound like there is a grandparent or any extended family in the picture who could provide that. Just more unanswered questions. Where are you Melodee?

 

[sasha17]

I’m mobile right now, can someone check the RSO in the neighborhood surrounding Mars?

There are 52 within a 5 mile radius. 6 within a 2 mile radius.

Disclaimer - Megan's Law Website

www.meganslaw.ca.gov

 

[Jo in Calif]

“She has a beautiful smile. She's very, very loving, very welcoming. She loved to be around her family,” Meza said, adding that Melodee's father died in a crash when she was just 6-months-old.

Other neighbors tell KSBY that Ashlee kept to herself. Holmes says she walks in the neighborhood often but never saw the girl. Another neighbor says he hasn’t seen Melodee in at least a year.

Neighbors, family concerned following Vandenberg Village 9-year-old’s disappearance

Authorities say they’ve spoken with Melodee Buzzard’s mother, Ashlee, but that she hasn't provided information as to where her daughter may be.

www.ksby.com

 

[steff13]

I wonder when dad died exactly? I haven't been able to find for certain what his name was.

I saw a woman on Facebook who was saying that he was her boyfriend who had passed away, but but I don't think her information adds up.

I am wondering if he died around 2 years ago when the last picture was taken, and either mom had some kind of a emotional breakdown or she wasn't well all along and dad was the one providing majority care?

ETA: I just saw the article above, maybe that lady on Facebook was correct. The guy that she said was the father died in 2016 but she had also shared a picture that showed him with a little girl that was about 3 years old.

 

[steff13]

Just thinking out loud... Mom would presumably need to work to support the two of them since there's no one else in the household contributing to the expenses, at least so far as we have heard.

If the father worked and paid Social Security taxes while he was alive she could have filed to draw Social Security from his record for Melodee until she's 18. She would just have to establish paternity, but that would have been relatively straightforward assuming one of his relatives was willing to provide a DNA sample. I'm not saying that she doesn't work, but if she were to draw Social Security and receive other public assistance benefits it's possible that she could live without working.

 

[Chimera]

Just keep surmising that with the mom unable to produce Melodee or even a clue as to her whereabouts if the child is alive-- isn't that grounds for arrest ?
Maybe it would rattle her into saying what happened ?
When was the last time anyone outside of family saw Melodee, or anyone within their family; did relatives try to contact the little girl or Ashlee ?
Idk, thinking out loud.
Imo.

 

[steff13]

Just keep surmising that with the mom unable to produce Melodee or even a clue as to her whereabouts if the child is alive-- isn't that grounds for arrest ?

If it's not it should be. If you're the legal guardian of a child and you can't either produce that child, or tell police officers where the child is when they come to do a welfare check, then that should be probable cause for an arrest.

 

[DS2021]

How can this happen

I say the same thing
But it happens again and again and again and again

 

[steff13]

I believe this is the father:

Obituary information for Rubiell 'Pinoy' Meza

View Rubiell 'Pinoy' Meza's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

www.dudleyhoffmanmortuary.com

It says he's survived by his daughter, Melodee Meza. He died in 2016, which would be consistent with her being 6 months old or so when he died.

Santa Maria motorcyclist killed after colliding into utility pole

A Santa Maria man was killed after crashing into a utility pole Saturday afternoon.

lompocrecord.com

 

[sasha17]

If the father worked and paid Social Security taxes while he was alive she could have filed to draw Social Security from his record for Melodee until she's 18. She would just have to establish paternity, but that would have been relatively straightforward assuming one of his relatives was willing to provide a DNA sample. I'm not saying that she doesn't work, but if she were to draw Social Security and receive other public assistance benefits it's possible that she could live without working.

My child's father died so we receive Social Security survivor benefits, and will continue to until my child is 18. It's not a lot each month. It might cover her rent, depending how much it was, but it's not enough to live on. I suppose it depends on what other public assistance Melodee's mother might have been receiving but it would be tight. (Also in our case, no DNA sample was required. They just needed his death certificate and my child's birth certificate which named him as the father.)

 

[sasha17]

“She has a beautiful smile. She's very, very loving, very welcoming. She loved to be around her family,” Meza said, adding that Melodee's father died in a crash when she was just 6-months-old.

Other neighbors tell KSBY that Ashlee kept to herself. Holmes says she walks in the neighborhood often but never saw the girl. Another neighbor says he hasn’t seen Melodee in at least a year.

Neighbors, family concerned following Vandenberg Village 9-year-old’s disappearance

Authorities say they’ve spoken with Melodee Buzzard’s mother, Ashlee, but that she hasn't provided information as to where her daughter may be.

www.ksby.com

"As for the girl’s relatives, they say they have been cut off from Melodee for years. Melodee's aunt on her father's side says they found out about Melodee’s disappearance through Facebook. “We haven't seen her in over four years due to the mother not allowing the family to see her,” said Lizabeth Meza, Melodee’s aunt."

This is so sad.