Officials confirmed that 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard died from gunshot wounds to the head after remains were found near Caineville, Utah, on Dec. 6 and identified by DNA on Dec. 22. Her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, was arrested about three weeks later and has been booked on a charge of first-degree murder; she is being held without bail. Investigators say the pair traveled across several states in early October and allege a wig was used to alter the child's appearance. The sheriff's office says the investigation is ongoing and has released limited forensic details.
9-Year-Old Melodee Buzzard Died From Gunshot Wounds; Mother Arrested After Multi‑State Search
Santa Barbara County Sheriff's OfficeMelodee Buzzard.
Authorities Confirm Cause Of Death In Case Of 9-Year-Old Melodee Buzzard
Officials with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office say 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard died from gunshot wounds to the head. Investigators located human remains in a remote area near Caineville, Utah, on Dec. 6; DNA testing completed on Dec. 22 confirmed the identity as Melodee.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff's OfficeAshlee Buzzard with Melodee Buzzard (left); and Melodee Buzzard.
Timeline And Investigation
Law enforcement reports that Melodee was last seen on Oct. 9 with her mother, 40-year-old Ashlee Buzzard, near the Colorado–Utah border. The girl's prolonged absence was reported by her school on Oct. 14, triggering a multi-state search. Records indicate the two had been traveling across several states beginning Oct. 7, and that Ashlee returned home on Oct. 10 without Melodee.
Allegations And Evidence
Investigators allege Ashlee used a wig to alter Melodee's appearance while traveling. Security-camera footage from a California car-rental facility dated Oct. 7 shows the child wearing a hoodie and sporting short, wavy hair—markedly different from the long, voluminous curls seen in missing-persons posters.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff's OfficeMelodee Buzzard timeline.
The sheriff's office has confirmed the body was decomposed when found and believes Melodee likely died in October. Officials have stated she sustained gunshot wounds to the head but have not released details on the number of wounds or any additional injuries.
Legal Proceedings And Additional Details
Ashlee Buzzard was arrested roughly three weeks after the remains were discovered and has been booked on a charge of first-degree murder. She is being held without bail at the Santa Barbara County Northern Branch Jail. It was not immediately clear whether she has retained counsel.
In November, Ashlee was arrested on unrelated false-imprisonment allegations; those charges were later dropped after court evidence cast doubt on the accuser's account. Melodee's family has said Ashlee had kept the child from them for years. The girl's father died in a car crash when she was a baby.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and have released limited forensic details. The sheriff's office has not provided information on the total number of gunshot wounds or other potential injuries.
If you suspect child abuse or need immediate resources, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. Calls are toll-free, confidential and available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
