Felony Charge Dropped Against Mother as FBI Continues Search for Missing 9-Year-Old Melodee Buzzard

A felony false-imprisonment charge against Ashlee Buzzard was dismissed Thursday in Santa Barbara County, and a court removed her ankle monitor and ended her pretrial supervision. The decision came as law enforcement continues a multiagency search for her missing 9-year-old daughter, Melodee Buzzard.

At a preliminary hearing, prosecutors called Tyler Stuart Brewer, a legal-document assistant and freelance paralegal, who testified that he reconnected with Ashlee Buzzard this fall after learning Melodee was missing. Brewer said he visited Buzzard's Lompoc home five times between Nov. 1 and Nov. 6 and exchanged hundreds of text messages with her.

Brewer testified that on Nov. 6 Buzzard appeared agitated, had multiple deadbolts engaged, and had a box cutter visible on a nearby tray. He said that when he told her he wanted to leave, Buzzard blocked the doorway and used an added locking device between the door and frame. Prosecutors submitted photos of the locks and brace and played a roughly six-minute excerpt from a one-hour, 16-minute recording made by Buzzard of the encounter. In the clip, Buzzard accuses Brewer of lying and seeking attention while Brewer twice asks to leave and says he felt "threatened and uncomfortable."

Sheriff's Detective Thomas Brownlee also testified during the proceeding. After reviewing the testimony and evidence, the court dismissed the felony complaint for insufficient evidence.

Ongoing Missing-Child Investigation

Investigators began probing Melodee's disappearance after a school official reported her prolonged absence on Oct. 14. Authorities say Melodee likely went missing in early October during a multi-state road trip with her mother. Surveillance footage released by investigators shows Ashlee and Melodee at a Lompoc rental-car counter on Oct. 7 wearing wigs; officials say the disguises and a reported license-plate swap appeared intended to avoid recognition while traveling.

Melodee was last seen near the Utah–Colorado border, and authorities say Ashlee returned to California without the child. The FBI has joined Santa Barbara County investigators to retrace the travel route and follow up on tips and sightings. A private investigator working on the case reported unconfirmed information that places Melodee back in Ventura County, but there have been no verified sightings and the girl's safety remains unknown.

Melodee’s grandmother, Lisa (Lilly) Denes, has publicly expressed concern and described what she said was a pattern of controlling behavior by Ashlee Buzzard in the months before Melodee disappeared. Denes told reporters she repeatedly requested welfare checks because she feared Buzzard was isolating Melodee from family and others who could help.

Officials emphasized that the court's dismissal of the false-imprisonment charge is separate from the missing-child investigation. Anyone with information about Melodee’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office or the FBI tip line.

Contributors: Jamie Vera and Adam Sabes.