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

[Cedars]

Why, in California has CPS not opened a file for Melodee and hauled AB into family court? Would we know if that happened? In the New York case mentioned in this thread the mother is being held on a civil court contempt warrant and is having her case held in family court.

At her initial appearance the judge didn't allow media at the ask of the defense that the mother might reveal information about her son Jacob. She didn't

Media was allowed at the most recent appearance.

Just a guess, but perhaps the difference is that NY state has every reason to believe Jacob was murdered in her apartment. They refer to it as a crime scene.

Whereas, California police know M did NOT disappear from AB's home, and probably not even from California.

IMO, in order to detain someone, police need to convince a judge they have some credible evidence about the crime, and answering who, what, where and when...as best they can. Not just pure speculation, but actual evidence.

I imagine there's a lot of quiet searching around where M was last seen.

JMO

 

[Inthedetails]

Just a guess, but perhaps the difference is that NY state has every reason to believe Jacob was murdered in her apartment. They refer to it as a crime scene.

Whereas, California police know M did NOT disappear from AB's home, and probably not even from California.

IMO, in order to detain someone, police need to convince a judge they have some credible evidence about the crime, and answering who, what, where and when...as best they can. Not just pure speculation, but actual evidence.

I imagine there's a lot of quiet searching around where M was last seen.

JMO

At some point, imo, the State has the right to demand to know where one if it's minor residents is and to confirm safety. A parent is responsible for knowing that information. Lori Daybell was put in jail because she wouldn't reveal to the State of Idaho where her children were.

Is it because the case involves crossing state lines so "nobody" has jurisdiction?

I don't get it.

jmopinion

 

[Knox]

Why, in California has CPS not opened a file for Melodee and hauled AB into family court? Would we know if that happened? In the New York case mentioned in this thread the mother is being held on a civil court contempt warrant and is having her case held in family court.

At her initial appearance the judge didn't allow media at the ask of the defense that the mother might reveal information about her son Jacob. She didn't

Media was allowed at the most recent appearance.

In the other case here are the circumstances:

• Someone reported possible abuse to CPS.
• CPS responded, she told them she doesn't have a child - they found a birth certificate.
• CPS asked LE to do a welfare-check.
• LE could not locate the boy, she was initially taken to a hospital, later they took her into custody. She's being held on a civil contempt warrant.
• Not sure when CPS visited the home, but LE did the welfare check on 9/26/25. She was taken in to custody a few days later (didn't find an exact date, news source said early October).
• Where Is Jacob? His Mother Won’t Say, and the Police Cannot Find Him.

I realize the circumstances are different. In Melodee's case, it was the school that requested LE's welfare check. But we all saw the news broadcasts which showed CPS at the home simultaneously. So we know they are involved.

Does this whole thing spin differently due to the signing of AB 461 on October 1 this year? BTW, that law doesn't go into effect until 1/1/26.

https://a26.asmdc.org/press-releases/20251001-governor-newsom-signs-assemblymember-patrick-ahrens-legislation-ab-461#:~:text=SACRAMENTO%2C%20CA%20%E2%80%94%20Governor%20Gavin%20Newsom,including%20the%20California%20State%20PTA.

 

[Cedars]

At some point, imo, the State has the right to demand to know where one if it's minor residents is and to confirm safety. A parent is responsible for knowing that information. Lori Daybell was put in jail because she wouldn't reveal to the State of Idaho where her children were.

Is it because the case involves crossing state lines so "nobody" has jurisdiction?

I don't get it.

jmopinion

Lori D was extradicted back to Idaho 3 months after the welfare check. At.that point, police weren't starting from zero, hoping she'd tell them something, and of course, she never told them anything. Police had already discovered the whole conspiracy, they just needed to put together details. IMO, they hoped Chad and Lori would leak info during their phone calls.

I think police prefer.to build a strong case first, rather than arrest someone without any prospects of upgrading the charges, and therefore having to let them go. They may believe they can prod her into a confession while she's free, through some police trick, or have her let her guard down and.then catch her unawares, etc.

JMO