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

[tlcya]

I don't think refusing to tell law enforcement where a child is provides probable cause for an arrest. You need evidence of a crime for that, and simply not knowing where a child is doesn't rise to that level.

logically we are aware of this, but it doesn't mean it should be that way. JMO

 

[Ontario Mom]

DBM

 

[steff13]

I don't think refusing to tell law enforcement where a child is provides probable cause for an arrest. You need evidence of a crime for that, and simply not knowing where a child is doesn't rise to that level.

I think you could make an argument for neglect. I mean if you are the sole individual who's responsible for a child and you don't know where that child is then I think that could be categorized as neglect.

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1979327430243270726

 

[teeby]

I think you could make an argument for neglect. I mean if you are the sole individual who's responsible for a child and you don't know where that child is then I think that could be categorized as neglect.

True but if you just say that you know where she is and she's safe but you won't reveal the location, that might not be enough legally to justify an arrest for neglect. :/

 

[Jo in Calif]

Confirmed reports show a missing Vandenberg Village girl was seen as recently as late this summer.

According to the Lompoc Unified School District, that's when Melodee Buzzard and her mother visited a school site to register for an independent study program.

On Friday, the sheriff’s office reports that with help from the Lompoc Unified School District, detectives have confirmed Melodee was seen as recently as August.

Missing Vandenberg Village girl seen as recently as August, officials say

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday that a search for Melodee Buzzard, 9, had been launched after a school administrator reported her absence for a prolonged period of time.

www.ksby.com

 

[Tealgrove]

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?

IMO, Melodee was not being homeschooled. It was just a convenient excuse as to why she stopped attending school.

Tired of children falling through the cracks. It is never ending.

 

[Jo in Calif]

Lompoc, Calif. – Sheriff’s detectives are continuing their search for 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, sharing an update in the case, and refreshing their request for the public’s assistance. With the assistance of Lompoc Unified School District, detectives have confirmed that Melodee was seen as recently as August 2025.

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

 

[Knox]

I don't think refusing to tell law enforcement where a child is provides probable cause for an arrest. You need evidence of a crime for that, and simply not knowing where a child is doesn't rise to that level.

It should!!! If for some reason you are hiding your child, what’s the harm in letting LE in on the secret? They can’t tell you what to do, or demand you make them live somewhere specific, or even share the information they receive with the public.

My point is, there is an easy answer to this problem but someone is not being forthcoming, why?

 

[Knox]

True but if you just say that you know where she is and she's safe but you won't reveal the location, that might not be enough legally to justify an arrest for neglect. :/

Oh, just like Lori Vallow? That’s a ridiculous thing to propose LE should accept as an answer.

ETA-Teeby this isn’t directed at you personally. You are simply playing devils advocate right?

 

[Knox]

Lompoc, Calif. – Sheriff’s detectives are continuing their search for 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, sharing an update in the case, and refreshing their request for the public’s assistance. With the assistance of Lompoc Unified School District, detectives have confirmed that Melodee was seen as recently as August 2025.

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

“Lompoc Unified School District deserves credit for recognizing that something wasn’t right, reaching out, and continuing to assist with this investigation” said Lieutenant Chris Gotschall from the Criminal Investigations Division. He added, “This important update helps narrow a significant gap in the timeline of when she was last known to be seen and because of that, we’re closer to understanding what happened to Melodee.”

From the same news link. What do they mean closer to understanding what happened to Melodee? That sounds very concerning.

 

[DS2021]

Missing Vandenberg Village girl seen as recently as August, officials say

Missing Vandenberg Village girl seen as recently as August, officials say

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday that a search for Melodee Buzzard, 9, had been launched after a school administrator reported her absence for a prolonged period of time.

www.ksby.com

 

[mickey2942]

True but if you just say that you know where she is and she's safe but you won't reveal the location, that might not be enough legally to justify an arrest for neglect. :/

Agreed. It is interesting how similar this case is to JJ Vallow, as there is no other parent with potential custody or legal standing that can legally demand a right to see the child. Both JJ Vallow and Melodee Buzzard's fathers are dead.

I actually was looking at the law today, and really couldn't find any specific legal standing that police or CPS can make a parent produce the child. Homeschooling paperwork was not filed correctly? Is that justification for police to demand to see your child?

The legal issue that Lori Daybell Vallow had a problem with, wss that legally she was collecting money from Social Security for both Tylee and JJ, thus, had to provide evidence that she was using the funds for their support.

This may be the same in this situation. If Ashlee is collecting Social Security benefits, then that would be the legal standing for seeing the child.

 

[steff13]

There was a case a few months ago in PA, the mother called 911 because she was having some sort of a domestic dispute with the father of her kids. When the police got there they found that her youngest child wasn't at the home and she wouldn't say where he was. Then her mother said that she hadn't seen him since his birthday, which I think was in May. The police told her that she had to make him available for a welfare check by the end of that week or she would be arrested. It transpired that the kid was with the paternal grandmother and the paternal grandmother's boyfriend but the mom didn't know exactly where they were. It seems like they could do something similar her, require her to make Melodee available for a welfare check.

 

[strawberry]

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.

Where did you read about mental health issues?

 

[strawberry]

There is a photo of what seems to be Melodee in May 2023 if you search the address (that is publicly found ) in Google Earth

Cannot link from Google Earth, but found it in Google Street view

Street View of 550 Mars Ave · Google Maps

550 Mars Ave, Lompoc, CA 93436

maps.app.goo.gl

View attachment 620414

Wow!

 

[Lucy6226]

So this little girl has not been seen by family for years, apparently homeschooled and mother doesn't know where she is. I think we can guess the outcome here

 

[Knox]

Where did you read about mental health issues?

https://www.facebook.com/100064706439366/posts/pfbid028d5Pchcfspx1QQycCPkyQnCWpvrEJbpB35AAqfoRKRAYo96ch3Mz7269f2twYYUpl

 

[Knox]

DBM

 

[mickey2942]

I always take what "family" says as secondary information. Having seen more than my share of family discord. Who knows?!