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

[Megnut]

No, I don't know for sure if she has any other family at all. Dad, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. No one was mentioned except her mom, so we don't know if there is other family, or if she's in contact with any of them.

Her dad is deceased.

IMO this might be why family hasn't seen her in two years -- her dad's family; maybe they've been cut off. Might explain dated photos. They might not have newer ones and her mom isn't cooperating with LE so maybe she's not supplying ANY photos, current or otherwise.

JMO

Missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard was seen 2 months ago, investigators say

California authorities trying to track down a missing 9-year-old girl now say she was last spotted in August 2025.

abcnews.go.com

 

[Ontario Mom]

Her dad is deceased.

IMO this might be why family hasn't seen her in two years -- her dad's family; maybe they've been cut off. Might explain dated photos. They might not have newer ones and her mom isn't cooperating with LE so maybe she's not supplying ANY photos, current or otherwise.

JMO

Missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard was seen 2 months ago, investigators say

California authorities trying to track down a missing 9-year-old girl now say she was last spotted in August 2025.

abcnews.go.com

Melodee's dad is deceased, yes.
I was wondering about Ashlee's dad & various other family members - and if Ashlee is in contact with any of them.

 

[ErinC]

I think we need Nate Eaton to ask her, "Where is your child?"

Lock her in a small room with Nate Eaton, Brian Entin, and Cody Alcorn and see how long until she cracks. I jest, but this really really does remind me of the Daybell fiasco as well as similar others. I don't suppose there was maybe a cult/alternative religion situation going on here as well? OMO MOO

 

[Tricia]

It’s Guardian Zoom Time!
With your chance to win a $200 Amazon gift card​

Join us this Saturday, October 25th, from 11 AM to 8 PM Eastern for our monthly 8-hour Guardian Zoom call!* You have to be a Guardian member to join. Find out how to become a Guardian by clicking HERE (Don’t worry—you don’t have to stay the full 8 hours… unless you’re having that much fun.)

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You must register in advance by CLICKING HERE
Once you register, you’ll get a confirmation email with all the details.

Hey, look at the picture below. It's from last year's Guardian Halloween call. How can that be when we didn't have Guardians last year? Well, I'm obviously lying, but I bet the Zoom will look something like this.

See you Saturday!

If you are not a Guardian and want to participate email [email protected]

 

[helen of troy]

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

The parents must have done something wrong here..

 

[Chimera]

It all comes back down to why the mother is not cooperating & disclosing the location of her child.
That's the part that makes me fearful she's not well (or not alive).
I'd very much like to be wrong about that.

jmo

Agreed. ^^^
All the mother would have to do to get LE off her back would be to let them know where Melodee is.

I wonder how LE knew Melodee was alive and ok on Oct. 7th ?
Just a sighting via security camera ?
Are they certain it was Melodee.

This is a case with many twists and turns and it's a bit confusing.
Hoping Melodee is safe and unharmed !
Imo.

 

[Chimera]

The parents must have done something wrong here..

The father is deceased.
Not sure why the mother, Ashlee, isn't cooperating.
Would like to think Melodee is safe, but it's concerning.

And, Welcome to Websleuths, @helen of troy !

 

[Tricia]

Hey Everyone,
We will be discussing Melodee's cas we on Websleuths YouTube Live tonight at 10:30 PM Eastern. CLICK HERE and join us tonight.

 

[Jo in Calif]

Tuesday marks one week since Melodee Buzzard was first reported missing. Authorities are not giving up making contact with Ashlee Buzzard, the 9-year-old’s mother. CPS and sheriff’s deputies have been to her door in Vandenberg Village repeatedly this week, but Ashlee has not answered the door.

CPS, sheriff's deputies making repeated visits to missing Vandenberg Village girl's home

Authorities are not giving up making contact with Ashlee Buzzard, the mother of missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard.

www.ksby.com

 

[Knox]

One thing I've thought of in regards to a link in Nebraska - there is an AirForce base there also. Could she know someone who transferred there from Vandenberg?

Offutt Air Force Base > Home​

 

[TMich6811]

One thing I've thought of in regards to a link in Nebraska - there is an AirForce base there also. Could she know someone who transferred there from Vandenberg?

Offutt Air Force Base > Home​

Oh this is a good connection

 

[Jo in Calif]

With a candlelight vigil this Friday, Melodee’s family on her father Rubiell’s side seeks to keep attention on the case until Melodee is found.


“I think everybody's looking and they'll find her,” she says. “I just hope in the Lord that they find her soon, because this is a lot of a lot of pain for us.”


She also has requested that from now on her missing granddaughter be referred to as Melodee Buzzard-Meza.



She tells us some time after Rubiell died, Melodee had been placed in Lilly’s custody, but that Ashlee went to college taking Melodee with her, and Lilly hasn’t seen her granddaughter since.

Melodee’s Paternal Grandmother Announces Candlelight Vigil | News Channel 3-12

SANTA MARIA / LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) - We are learning more about the extended family of the 9-year-old girl from Vandenberg Village who was reported

keyt.com

 

[Knox]

With a candlelight vigil this Friday, Melodee’s family on her father Rubiell’s side seeks to keep attention on the case until Melodee is found.


“I think everybody's looking and they'll find her,” she says. “I just hope in the Lord that they find her soon, because this is a lot of a lot of pain for us.”


She also has requested that from now on her missing granddaughter be referred to as Melodee Buzzard-Meza.



She tells us some time after Rubiell died, Melodee had been placed in Lilly’s custody, but that Ashlee went to college taking Melodee with her, and Lilly hasn’t seen her granddaughter since.

Melodee’s Paternal Grandmother Announces Candlelight Vigil | News Channel 3-12

SANTA MARIA / LOMPOC, Calif. (KEYT) - We are learning more about the extended family of the 9-year-old girl from Vandenberg Village who was reported

keyt.com

Interesting, so Melodee’s paternal Grandmother says she has legal custody of her? But Ashlee at some point in the past, took Melodee back when she went to college?

Where did she go to college, locally at Alan Hancock or Cuesta? Doubt it would be Cal Poly in SLO.

A little more detail on how that actually transpired would help it make more sense.

 

[Knox]

CPS, sheriff's deputies making repeated visits to missing Vandenberg Village girl's home

Authorities are not giving up making contact with Ashlee Buzzard, the mother of missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard.

www.ksby.com

 

[Hoshiko]

The info about Ashlee's college attendance is chef’s kiss. Here's the working timeline:

• 1995: Newspaper lists Ashlee Buzzard as 9 years old in Santa Maria → suggests birth year ≈ 1985–1986. (Posted earlier in thread.)
• 2002: Declared emancipation at about 16 years old (fits California’s legal age range for emancipation).
• 2003: Graduated from Santa Maria High School (age ~17). Appears on the school’s Class of 2003 page.
• 2003–2015: Unaccounted period — no clear public records, schooling, or address history found so far.
• 2015: Birth of daughter Melodee (Ashlee about 29).
• Post-2016: Meza passes away; Ashlee reportedly attends college after his death.

Open question:
Where was Ashlee during that decade-plus gap — still in California, in Nebraska, or somewhere else entirely?

 

[Warwick7]

Tuesday marks one week since Melodee Buzzard was first reported missing. Authorities are not giving up making contact with Ashlee Buzzard, the 9-year-old’s mother. CPS and sheriff’s deputies have been to her door in Vandenberg Village repeatedly this week, but Ashlee has not answered the door.

CPS, sheriff's deputies making repeated visits to missing Vandenberg Village girl's home

Authorities are not giving up making contact with Ashlee Buzzard, the mother of missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard.

www.ksby.com

From that link is a picture of the mom on 10-16-25.
I was a bit taken back. M00 her outfit wasn't exactly what I was expecting. You just don't see many women wearing what looks like faux patent leather leggings, especially when your child is missing and you have LE and FBI bearing down on you.

 

[Knox]

The info about Ashlee's college attendance is chef’s kiss. Here's the working timeline:

• 1995: Newspaper lists Ashlee Buzzard as 9 years old in Santa Maria → suggests birth year ≈ 1985–1986. (Posted earlier in thread.)
• 2002: Declared emancipation at about 16 years old (fits California’s legal age range for emancipation).
• 2003: Graduated from Santa Maria High School (age ~17). Appears on the school’s Class of 2003 page.
• 2003–2015: Unaccounted period — no clear public records, schooling, or address history found so far.
• 2015: Birth of daughter Melodee (Ashlee about 29).
• Post-2016: Meza passes away; Ashlee reportedly attends college after his death.

Open question:
Where was Ashlee during that decade-plus gap — still in California, in Nebraska, or somewhere else entirely?

Maybe dig around and see if you can find any records that indicate she may have attended a college near Tulare? I have found an association for her at an address there. Never a guarantee that it’s accurate, but possible.

Public records state she was born in September 1985.

 

[PromotedPawn]

From that link is a picture of the mom on 10-16-25.
I was a bit taken back. M00 her outfit wasn't exactly what I was expecting. You just don't see many women wearing what looks like faux patent leather leggings, especially when your child is missing and you have LE and FBI bearing down on you.

It is an interesting outfit but I couldn’t care less if she dressed herself in Saran Wrap and Cheeto dust, where the hell is Melodee?

MOO

 

[katydid23]

Wasn't Diana Cojocari also seen burning things in the back yard fire pit after Madalina went missing?

yes, this case reminds me very much of that sad case. And we still don't know what happened there.

 

[Warwick7]

It is an interesting outfit but I couldn’t care less if she dressed herself in Saran Wrap and Cheeto dust, where the hell is Melodee?

MOO

I agree with you. However, when I lived in Denver, in the evening, down on Colfax, the only women that wore those clothes were ________. To me her choice of clothing reflects her thinking process M00.

To me our choice of clothing is a reflection of our thinking process because it communicates our values, moods, identity, and aspirations.

So, for argument sake, let's say I am right. What on earth does black faux leather spandex show about her values, her moods or her aspirations while her daughter is missing and she refuses to be cooperative with FBI and LE. M00