Found Deceased CA - Melodee Buzzard, 9, Vandenberg Village, 14 October 2025 *Mother arrested*

[Knox]

I've wondered the same, except she might have been motivated by wanting to deny the paternal family access to Melodee.

Reportedly, Melodee's father died in an accident when she was less than five months old, without knowing her, but her paternal grandmother and uncle were Melodee's caregivers after the State last removed the child from AB's care. Seems to me AB had to know she was going to lose custody again, and would rather kill her than allow her daughter to live a normal life, attending school, etc.

I imagine AB was dependent on Melodee's survivor benefits, and losing custody would leave her needing to fend for herself.

No winners here. Even Mark Geragos refers to AB as a 'monster' lacking any maternal instinct.

Ashlee Buzzard case is ‘repulsive,’ hard to wrap your head around: Mark Geragos | NewsNation Prime​

I lean this way as well, Ashley completely isolated Melodee. Not just from the paternal side of the family, but the whole world. We don’t have all the details yet, but I don’t believe Melodee attended school in person - ever. Early on in the case, a California Dept of Education official, said there was no record of Melodee in their system.

But there’s zero doubt Ashley has mental health problems. Her older child was permanently removed from her custody, Melodee had been removed as well. Ashley’s own Mom claims she is bipolar. I suspect there is more than that alone.

The only reason Melodee even came back on anyone’s radar is because Ashley enrolled her in a home school program in the Lompc school district. When officials began ramping up demands to produce Melodee, Ashley killed her. I think she believed she was going to lose custody and the paternal relatives would get her permanently.

Why she ever enrolled Melodee is the million dollar question?

If this case ever makes it to trial, I expect it’s going to be years in the making. We haven’t even made it to a preliminary hearing yet!!