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

[Knox]

The Lompoc Unified School District said Friday that 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, missing from Vandenberg Village, was first enrolled in the district just two months ago and was last seen in August, narrowing the timeline in a case that has drawn widespread attention.

In a written statement released Friday afternoon, district officials said Melodee and her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, visited Mission Valley Independent School in August to begin the registration process for independent study, a program in which students complete coursework off campus under teacher supervision.

Under California education law, independent-study programs require ongoing contact between families and credentialed teachers. If a student does not begin attendance or fails to engage, schools must initiate truancy protocols — including phone calls, written notices, and welfare checks requested through law enforcement.

The district said it could not share the information earlier at the request of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, which is leading the investigation.

Lompoc school district narrows timeline in case of missing 9-year-old, Melodee Buzzard

The Lompoc Unified School District said Friday that 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, missing from Vandenberg Village, was first enrolled in the district just two months ago and was last seen in

lompocrecord.com

 

[truthfinder2019]

Send this in to LE. (805) 681-4150. Or anonymous (805) 681-4171

Not necessary, she went missing only recently. It was to show a pic with the hair tied up

 

[truthfinder2019]

Mother of girl who vanished a year ago 'is refusing to help find her

Law enforcement said they had attempted to contact the girl and her mother at their home but they were not there and 'no clear explanation was provided.'

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[ChatteringBirds]

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 wish they would create a law in all 50 states to address this. It would have to be carefully thought-out, but to prevent these exact situations.

 

[teeby]

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?

Yeah I mean obviously I'm also super worried about this child and think the likelihood that her mother is concealing her abuse or death is really high ... But I'm just not sure that there's a way to criminalize this kind of behavior without destabilizing a lot of our really important constitutional freedoms like the right not to self incriminate, innocent until proven guilty, right against searches/seizures without probable cause, etc. :/

 

[TMich6811]

The only thing I could consider is that mom got involved in something and fears for her safety

This isn’t the case I’m sure, but the only possibility that could make any sense

 

[Eli9]

Not necessary, she went missing only recently. It was to show a pic with the hair tied up

When I made that post we didn't know exactly when she went missing. Now we are updated with a new 'last seen' date.

 

[TMich6811]

Well, thank goodness it hasn’t been a full year. Though I do question why the school is just now doing what they’re supposed to be? What took so long

 

[mickey2942]

Yeah I mean obviously I'm also super worried about this child and think the likelihood that her mother is concealing her abuse or death is really high ... But I'm just not sure that there's a way to criminalize this kind of behavior without destabilizing a lot of our really important constitutional freedoms like the right not to self incriminate, innocent until proven guilty, right against searches/seizures without probable cause, etc. :/

Maybe just make school attendance mandatory or more oversight on homeschooling. And check-in each week, by phone or computer, and mandatory physical check-in at school once a quarter.

 

[vereb]

The Lompoc Unified School District said Friday that 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, missing from Vandenberg Village, was first enrolled in the district just two months ago and was last seen in August, narrowing the timeline in a case that has drawn widespread attention.

In a written statement released Friday afternoon, district officials said Melodee and her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, visited Mission Valley Independent School in August to begin the registration process for independent study, a program in which students complete coursework off campus under teacher supervision.
[snip]

Lompoc school district narrows timeline in case of missing 9-year-old, Melodee Buzzard

The Lompoc Unified School District said Friday that 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, missing from Vandenberg Village, was first enrolled in the district just two months ago and was last seen in

lompocrecord.com

I hope they have a way to make sure that the child that visited the school was actually Melodee though. If she had only just enrolled, it's unlikely anyone at the school knew her. It may be unlikely, but not impossible, that she was already missing and a child was "borrowed" to stand in as her. Would school staff definitely speak to a child in this scenario or is there a chance to avoid that?

 

[TMich6811]

I hope they have a way to make sure that the child that visited the school was actually Melodee though. If she had only just enrolled, it's unlikely anyone at the school knew her. It may be unlikely, but not impossible, that she was already missing and a child was "borrowed" to stand in as her. Would school staff definitely speak to a child in this scenario or is there a chance to avoid that?

I feel like the police have likely viewed video

 

[Eli9]

Maybe just make school attendance mandatory or more oversight on homeschooling. And check-in each week, by phone or computer, and mandatory physical check-in at school once a quarter.

I like the mandatory physical check-in part.

 

[mickey2942]

I like the mandatory physical check-in part.

Right. And if they make an excuse, we can send a teacher right out to your home. Decline? Mandatory CPS referral.

 

[Eli9]

Right. And if they make an excuse, we can send a teacher right out to your home. Decline? Mandatory CPS referral.

And honestly, it would be nice if they were given some sort of in person assignment/assessment to make sure they are on track with their goals. Like once a quarter, like you said, and at year's end.

 

[Regal Beagle]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1978635170753151133

What a beautiful little girl, how awful!

 

[Regal Beagle]

ABC news article states mom is not cooperating with police....WTH??

 

[Megnut]

ABC news article states mom is not cooperating with police....WTH??

Tell me everything I need to know without telling me everything I need to know.

JMO

 

[Rosydecember]

Well, thank goodness it hasn’t been a full year. Though I do question why the school is just now doing what they’re supposed to be? What took so long

There was an error in reporting I believe. They didn’t file a report because of her being last enrolled a year ago, they filed a report because she was enrolled at the Lompoc Unified School District two months ago.

At least that’s how I interpreted/understood it. I might be wrong

 

[TMich6811]

There was an error in reporting I believe. They didn’t file a report because of her being last enrolled a year ago, they filed a report because she was enrolled at the Lompoc Unified School District two months ago.

At least that’s how I interpreted/understood it. I might be wrong

I agree with your assessment. 2 months is a long time without anything

 

[Knox]

I agree with your assessment. 2 months is a long time without anything

I linked the School District Statement, they clearly explain their process - not verbatim, but it entails phone calls, lettters, emails, home visit/door knock, then LE referral.

The action taken by this district had more follow through/action than most of the similar cases I’ve followed.

Now that we know it hasn’t been a year since she was last seen, I’m still very concerned because she isn’t cooperating. But feel there could be another explanation not related to foul play. Hopefully that’s the case.