Melodee Buzzard, 9, was reported missing on October 14 after school officials noted her prolonged absence from a remote program. Investigators traced a rented Chevrolet Malibu on a roughly 1,000-mile trip with surveillance last placing Melodee near the Colorado–Utah line on October 9. Her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, was later arrested on an unrelated false-imprisonment allegation; that charge was dismissed at a November 20 hearing for insufficient probable cause. Authorities say investigators noted wig changes and a swapped license plate as possible efforts to conceal identity during travel.
Missing 9-Year-Old Melodee Buzzard: Timeline of the 1,000‑Mile Search and Her Mother’s Arrest
Overview: The search for 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard began when school officials reported on October 14 that she had been absent from her remote studies for an extended period. Investigators have traced a rented vehicle on a roughly 1,000-mile round trip from California into the central United States and have closely examined the actions of Melodee’s mother, Ashlee Buzzard.
Known timeline and key developments
Home and family background: Melodee and her mother lived on Mars Avenue in Lompoc, California. Melodee’s father died in a motorcycle crash when she was an infant. Family members say contact with Melodee and Ashlee had been limited in recent years; Melodee’s aunt, Lizabeth Meza, has said she had not seen her niece in four years. A recent family photo dates to 2023. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office reports Melodee was enrolled in the Lompoc Unified School District’s remote study program and was last noted under that enrollment in August 2025.
Physical description: The child is described as about 4 feet 6 inches tall, roughly 60 pounds, with brown curly hair and brown eyes.
October 7–10: Road trip and last confirmed sighting
On October 7, Ashlee Buzzard left California with Melodee in a rented white 2024 Chevrolet Malibu. Surveillance from the rental agency showed the pair wearing what appeared to be wigs when they departed. Investigators say Ashlee changed wigs during the trip, including to a darker style similar to the one Melodee was seen wearing—an apparent effort to avoid recognition. The Malibu’s visible license plate also appeared to change: beginning October 8 it was seen with a New York plate (HCG9677) though rental records list the original California plate (9MNG101). The vehicle traveled through multiple states and was documented in locations including Utah, northwest Arizona, Nevada and California. Surveillance captured Melodee near the Colorado–Utah state line on October 9—the last confirmed sighting. The rental car was returned to the Lompoc agency with its original California plates the following day.
October 14: Missing-person report
School administrators flagged Melodee’s prolonged absence on October 14 and contacted police to request a welfare check. Officers searched the home but did not find Melodee; investigators say Ashlee Buzzard could not provide a reasonable explanation for the child’s whereabouts.
October 17–22: Investigation intensifies
Authorities described Ashlee as uncooperative with investigators on October 17. The FBI joined the inquiry on October 18. Investigators publicly released a timeline of Melodee’s movements on October 22 and released surveillance images from the rental agency on October 24.
October 24–November 6: Community response and follow-up
Family members held a candlelight vigil on the evening of October 24. Investigators served additional search warrants on October 30 at the Buzzard residence, a storage locker and the rental car. On November 6 authorities released a short video showing Melodee and Ashlee at the rental agency weeks earlier.
November 6–20: Arrest, court proceedings and dismissal
On November 7, law enforcement announced the arrest of Ashlee Buzzard on an alleged false-imprisonment charge tied to an incident reported to have occurred on November 6; investigators said the allegation involved a man who asserted he was prevented from leaving Buzzard’s home. The alleged victim posted a social media statement about the encounter and later removed it. Buzzard pleaded not guilty in court on November 12; her attorney, Adrian Galvan, argued she was not a flight risk. Prosecutors pointed to the wigs and the license-plate swap during the October trip as evidence of efforts to conceal identity and movements. The judge initially ordered GPS monitoring and a no-contact condition for the alleged victim. At a pretrial hearing on November 20, the judge dismissed the charge for insufficient probable cause, finding the available evidence—including an audio recording of the interaction—did not establish that the accuser was in fear.
Ongoing investigation: Authorities continue to investigate Melodee’s disappearance. Anyone with information is urged to contact local law enforcement or the sheriff’s office tip line.
Note: This account summarizes the sequence of public investigative steps and court actions; it omits formal news-organization credits to focus on facts and named individuals cited directly in public statements.
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