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

[Megnut]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1991602135474270665

Well, that was a fun waste of everyone's time.

JMO

 

[arielilane]

Lompoc, Calif. – Sheriff’s detectives are releasing an updated timeline and recently obtained surveillance images as they continue their search for missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard.

The investigation began on October 14, 2025, when a school administrator reported Melodee’s extended absence. Deputies responded to her residence in the 500-block of Mars Avenue in Lompoc, where they contacted Melodee’s mother, 35-year-old Ashlee Buzzard. Melodee was not at the home, and no verifiable explanation for her whereabouts was provided.

Through their ongoing investigation, detectives have narrowed the critical timeline to between October 7 and October 10, 2025. Investigators have confirmed that Ashlee was seen returning to her Lompoc residence on October 10, driving the same rental vehicle she departed with on October 7—but Melodee was not in the car. Investigators understand that this three-day road trip went from Lompoc to the Nebraska area, with the return trip including the state of Kansas. Detectives are now focused on determining where Melodee was during those three days and where she may be now.

As part of this update, detectives are sharing surveillance images of Melodee captured at a local car rental business on October 7. In the photo, Melodee is wearing a hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up and what appears to be a wig that is darker and straighter than her natural hair. Investigators believe the wig may have been used to alter her appearance. Detectives also note that Ashlee is known to wear wigs.

Sheriff Bill Brown said, “Our detectives are following every lead in this case. We continue to seek information from the public that could help us find Melodee,” said Sheriff Bill Brown. “We remain determined to bring her home safely.”

Detectives are asking anyone who has seen Melodee or has information about her whereabouts to contact the Sheriff’s Office through one of the following methods:

• Detectives Line: (805) 681-4150
• Anonymous Tip Line: (805) 681-4171
• Online Tips: Anonymous Tip – Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office

Members of the public are asked not to conduct independent searches or investigations, as doing so could interfere with law enforcement efforts. The best way to help is by sharing factual information directly with detectives.

Melodee Buzzard is described as a 9-year-old female, approximately 4 feet 6 inches tall, 60 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Detectives will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available that does not compromise the integrity of the investigation.

Sheriff’s Detectives Share Updated Timeline and Images in Search for Missing 9-Year-Old 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

Posted October 24, 2025

 

[arielilane]

Update in Ongoing Search for Melodee Buzzard- Investigative Focus on October 9 Travel Route​

Lompoc, Calif. – Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives are sharing additional information, a route map, and photo that includes Ashlee Buzzard in their ongoing search for missing at-risk 9-year-old Melodee… Read more »
Filed under: General, Missing Person

Detectives Serve Additional Search Warrants in Ongoing Search for Melodee Buzzard​

Sheriff’s detectives are sharing an update on their investigation into missing at-risk 9-year-old, Melodee Buzzard. On Thursday, October 30, 2025, Sheriff’s detectives along with the FBI served follow-up search warrants… Read more »
Filed under: General

Sheriff’s Detectives Share Updated Timeline and Images in Search for Missing 9-Year-Old Melodee Buzzard​

Lompoc, Calif. – Sheriff’s detectives are releasing an updated timeline and recently obtained surveillance images as they continue their search for missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard. The investigation began on October… Read more »
Filed under: General, Missing Person

Detectives Continue Search for Missing Child, Melodee Buzzard​

Lompoc, Calif. – Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives continue to seek the public’s help in locating 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, who remains missing and is considered at-risk due to her age… Read more »
Filed under: General, Missing Person

Detectives Share Updated Timeline in Ongoing Search for 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard​

Lompoc, Calif. – Through their investigation, detectives have gathered evidence indicating that Melodee was with her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, as recently as October 7, 2025. Detectives have also determined that… Read more »
Filed under: General, Missing Person

Detectives Arrest Ashlee Buzzard on Unrelated Charges; Search for Melodee Ongoing​

Lompoc, Calif. – Sheriff’s detectives have arrested 40-year-old Ashlee Buzzard on charges unrelated to the ongoing search for her missing 9-year-old daughter, Melodee Buzzard. Detectives learned of a recent incident where Ashlee prevented a victim from… Read more »
Filed under: Breaking News, General

Updated Information in Search for Missing At-Risk Child, Surveillance Video Shared​

Lompoc, Calif. – Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives are releasing additional information in the ongoing search for missing at-risk 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, including a portion of the surveillance video from… Read more »
Filed under: General, Missing Person

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

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… Read more »
Filed under: General, Missing Person

Public’s Help Sought in Search for Missing At-Risk Child​

Lompoc, Calif. – Sheriff’s detectives are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing at-risk child, 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard. The investigation began on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, after a… Read more »
Filed under: General, Missing Person

 

[Stunned]

Was just in court for Ashlee Buzzard -- whose daughter Melodee is missing in California.
Bigger hearing will be tomorrow.
Followed her to her car - but she wouldn't answer any questions. Going to the house now.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1991198955976200469

She looks so determined! For what? What is supposed to come from this drama of her missing child?

 

[Emi]

 

[lightofmine99]

Someone please remind me: is she just straight up not saying anything when asked, “Where’s Melodee?” Is she only saying Melodee is "somewhere safe” when asked?

 

[Emi]

Judge dismisses false imprisonment charge against Ashlee Buzzard

https://twitter.com/x/status/1991610016944562373

 

[Emi]

Someone please remind me: is she just straight up not saying anything when asked, “Where’s Melodee?” Is she only saying Melodee is "somewhere safe” when asked?

she is just not saying anything

 

[Lebowski]

I said this elsewhere but re: her behavior - I’m not sure how one is supposed to act when they’ve disappeared their child so I’m not sure her neutral affect really says anything about her

i can't draw a firm conclusion about her fleeing/not fleeing, because there was possibly one flight attempt (that failed attempt to rent another car), punctuating a bunch of just chilling and going about her daily routine, and because it's not clear to me what to expect under murder / hid melodee scenarios. there is some tendency for a murderer to try to flee the police, but it's a minority of cases. and i can't find directly relevant data on what people tend to do in "hid the kid to avoid losing custody" scenarios. intuitively, in "hid the kid" situation with LE scrutiny, i see less reason to flee than with murder. if you hid the kid, you have power due to knowing where they are, and your legal risks are comparatively low. .... but... hard to draw a conclusion here.

i do read something into her not accounting for melodee's whereabouts. if it was murder, you'd expect her to make up a story accounting for her absence. "we were hiking and got separated", "a man with a gun took her away", etc. but to just not give LE a clear answer, feels to me more like what you'd do if she's fine but hidden, and your position is "**** you, i'm not telling you where she is"

 

[minazoe]

they are freeing her up so they can see what she does, where she goes, who she talks to. mOO

 

[Ontario Mom]

Someone please remind me: is she just straight up not saying anything when asked, “Where’s Melodee?” Is she only saying Melodee is "somewhere safe” when asked?

From the reports we've seen in the media, she's not cooperating at all.

I haven't seen anywhere that she's said anything about Melodee's location or current wellbeing.

 

[Lebowski]

Hey @BlaiseFinlay.
Can you please post where you found out she went missing because of a welfare check? I have thought that was possible, but I have not seen it confirmed.
Thank you.
Tricia

it couldn't have been the welfare check, because that happened after the road trip.

it's known/likely the school/CPS/etc. were escalating, and some of us suspect ashlee saw what was coming and the road trip (and whatever happened to melodee) was ashlee's reaction to the escalation. in that case, the road trip and the welfare check were both triggered by the escalation ... but i don't think the latter is known

 

[TMich6811]

i can't draw a firm conclusion about her fleeing/not fleeing, because there was possibly one flight attempt (that failed attempt to rent another car), punctuating a bunch of just chilling and going about her daily routine, and because it's not clear to me what to expect under murder / hid melodee scenarios. there is some tendency for a murderer to try to flee the police, but it's a minority of cases. and i can't find directly relevant data on what people tend to do in "hid the kid to avoid losing custody" scenarios. intuitively, in "hid the kid" situation with LE scrutiny, i see less reason to flee than with murder. if you hid the kid, you have power due to knowing where they are, and your legal risks are comparatively low. .... but... hard to draw a conclusion here.

i do read something into her not accounting for melodee's whereabouts. if it was murder, you'd expect her to make up a story accounting for her absence. "we were hiking and got separated", "a man with a gun took her away", etc. but to just not give LE a clear answer, feels to me more like what you'd do if she's fine but hidden, and your position is "**** you, i'm not telling you where she is"

I think my point is that we can’t say her affect is mental health related when she is the reason her child disappeared and there’s not exactly a right or wrong affect when you’ve done that

 

[Teche]

I'm guessing the ankle monitor comes off.

 

[arielilane]

Melodee is still missing. Where is Melodee?

At Thursday's preliminary hearing, the judge dismissed the case after hearing audio of a conversation between Ashlee Buzzard and the alleged victim, Tyler Brewer, and found the audio didn't match what Brewer told law enforcement and the media, KEYT reported.

Buzzard had been arrested on the false imprisonment charge on Nov. 7 and she pleaded not guilty last week.

Brewer had claimed Ashlee Buzzard armed herself with a box cutter and kept him from leaving her home on Nov. 6.

Ashlee Buzzard's false imprisonment charge dropped, daughter Melodee still missing

A false imprisonment charge has been dropped against Ashlee Buzzard, the mom of missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard.

abcnews.go.com

 

[Sillybilly]

Just an FYI ... Surviving the Survivor is an approved source.

 

[Beans]

Melodee is still missing. Where is Melodee?

View attachment 626207


At Thursday's preliminary hearing, the judge dismissed the case after hearing audio of a conversation between Ashlee Buzzard and the alleged victim, Tyler Brewer, and found the audio didn't match what Brewer told law enforcement and the media, KEYT reported.

Buzzard had been arrested on the false imprisonment charge on Nov. 7 and she pleaded not guilty last week.

Brewer had claimed Ashlee Buzzard armed herself with a box cutter and kept him from leaving her home on Nov. 6.

Ashlee Buzzard's false imprisonment charge dropped, daughter Melodee still missing

A false imprisonment charge has been dropped against Ashlee Buzzard, the mom of missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard.

abcnews.go.com

I can't say I'm surprised. This claim and the subsequent set of charges never seemed quite right, and neither did the intentions of this 'witness'. I wouldn't be surprised if he was relying on stigma and perceptions of her mental health to position himself as the more believable of the two, not ever thinking she might have recorded the encounter herself. This self-serving sneak may just have exacerbated a very difficult and sensitive situation.

There are vultures circling this case and I'm starting to believe that Ashlee may have good reason to feel defensive and paranoid.

 

[Jo in Calif]

The judge stated that an audio recording taken of Buzzard from the last night Brewer was at her home did not show enough evidence for Brewer to have been in fear. A Santa Barbara County Sheriff's detective testified that following Buzzard's arrest, two cell phones were found in her purse. He says a search warrant was obtained and the audio recording of the conversation between Brewer and Buzzard was discovered when content on one phone was downloaded.

Judge dismisses false imprisonment charge against Ashlee Buzzard

A judge dismissed a felony false imprisonment charge against a Vandenberg Village mother who is also at the center of a missing child investigation.

www.ksby.com

 

[Cedars]

I can't find directly relevant data on what people tend to do in "hid the kid to avoid losing custody" scenarios.

IMO, the parent and/or close relative(s) such as grandmother, sibling, new spouse, disappear along with the child.

IMO, such parents don't want to hand the child over to anyone else, because they want to be with their child themselves, every day, to take care of them, make sure they are well and happy... They want to be in constant contact, not go for weeks behaving as though the child never existed.

JMO

 

[Knox]

That's interesting, I was under the impression that the road trip and Melodee's disappearance (October 8 - 10) happened prior to the welfare check (reported as October 14).
Is that not the case?

You have to go back to the genesis of the case. It all started as a truancy concern with Lompoc Unified. The school's last resort was a door knock from the truancy officer.

It was after that action, we believe Ashlee disappeared Melodee. Likely in response to the escalating action from the school. The letters would have stated that LE/CPS would be notified if she didn't respond. All JMO.