Ashlee Buzzard, 35, made a brief court appearance on a felony false-imprisonment charge stemming from an alleged Nov. 6 box-cutter incident that authorities say is separate from the disappearance of her 9-year-old daughter, Melodee. Investigators say Ashlee left California with Melodee on Oct. 7; the missing-person investigation began Oct. 14 after the child’s prolonged absence was reported. A court officer who visited Buzzard says she disclosed possible information about Melodee, then locked him in her home and brandished a box cutter; he believes the child may be in Utah. Surveillance shows the pair wearing wigs while traveling; anyone with information should call (805) 681-4150.
Mother of Missing 9-Year-Old Melodee Buzzard Appears in Court After Alleged Box-Cutter Standoff
Ashlee Buzzard, 35, made a brief court appearance on a felony false-imprisonment charge stemming from an alleged Nov. 6 box-cutter incident that authorities say is separate from the disappearance of her 9-year-old daughter, Melodee. Investigators say Ashlee left California with Melodee on Oct. 7; the missing-person investigation began Oct. 14 after the child’s prolonged absence was reported. A court officer who visited Buzzard says she disclosed possible information about Melodee, then locked him in her home and brandished a box cutter; he believes the child may be in Utah. Surveillance shows the pair wearing wigs while traveling; anyone with information should call (805) 681-4150.
02:53 PM, 11/20/2025Society
The mother of 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard — described by authorities as an "at-risk" child — made a brief appearance in Lompoc Superior Court on a felony false-imprisonment charge connected to an alleged Nov. 6 incident that officials say is separate from the ongoing missing-person investigation into her daughter.
Prosecutors say 35-year-old Ashlee Buzzard was charged for an incident at her Lompoc home several weeks after investigators say Melodee was last seen. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office says the missing-person probe began Oct. 14, when school officials reported Melodee’s prolonged absence; deputies say Ashlee has not provided a verifiable explanation for her daughter’s location and "has remained uncooperative and has not confirmed Melodee’s welfare."
Court officer’s account and alleged standoff
Court officer Tyler Brewer, who says he has known Ashlee Buzzard for years, told authorities that during a visit to her home she disclosed a possible location and companions for Melodee but then appeared distressed, locked the doors and brandished a box cutter, preventing him from leaving. Brewer said she eventually released him and he immediately notified law enforcement. He described her behavior as paranoid and mentally deteriorating and said he believes the child may be in Utah, though he could not independently verify that information.
Arrest, release conditions and hearings
Buzzard was arrested Nov. 7 in connection with the alleged standoff and later released under conditions that include wearing an ankle monitor and avoiding contact with Brewer. Her brief court appearance lasted under a minute, during which attorneys announced a preliminary hearing is scheduled to determine whether the felony charge will advance to trial.
Travel, disguise and description
Investigators say Ashlee left California with Melodee on Oct. 7 in a rented Chevrolet Malibu that initially displayed California plates; officials allege the plate was later swapped for a New York tag believed to be false. Authorities say the pair drove through California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada before the rental car was returned with its original plates reattached. Surveillance video released by the sheriff’s office shows Ashlee and Melodee wearing wigs at a rental location, which officials say may have been a deliberate attempt to avoid recognition while traveling.
Melodee is described by investigators as between 4 feet and 4 feet 6 inches tall, weighing approximately 60 to 100 pounds, with brown curly hair and brown eyes.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with information about Melodee’s whereabouts to call (805) 681-4150. Names mentioned in this report include Ashlee Buzzard, court officer Tyler Brewer and Buzzard’s mother, Lori Miranda, who said she has not spoken with her daughter since 2023 and described a troubled family history.