Ashlee Buzzard appeared in court to set a preliminary hearing after her daughter, 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, was found dead in rural Utah from gunshot wounds. Prosecutors have charged Buzzard with first-degree murder and added enhancements for use of a firearm and lying in wait; the district attorney plans to seek life without parole. Forensic evidence, including ATF ballistic work and FBI DNA analysis, reportedly links Buzzard to the killing. Melodee’s grandmother publicly rejected a potential insanity defense, saying the slaying appeared planned.
Grandmother Says Killing of 9-Year-Old Melodee Buzzard Was Planned as Mother Faces First‑Degree Murder Charge
Ashlee Buzzard was escorted by law enforcement inside Santa Barbara County Superior Court in Lompoc on Jan. 7.
The mother accused of killing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard returned to court this week as prosecutors move forward with a first-degree murder case that, authorities say, is supported by ballistic and DNA evidence. Melodee’s remains were found in a remote area of Wayne County, Utah, weeks after she was reported missing following a road trip with her mother.
Case Timeline and Charges
Ashlee Buzzard appeared in Santa Barbara County Superior Court in Lompoc on Jan. 7 to set a date for a preliminary hearing. She is charged with first-degree murder in connection with her daughter’s death and faces two sentencing enhancements alleging use of a firearm during a felony and murder while lying in wait.
Melodee was reported missing in October after leaving California on a road trip with her mother. On Dec. 6, her body was recovered in rural Wayne County, Utah. Authorities say the child died of gunshot wounds to the head. Buzzard was arrested on Dec. 23 and arraigned on Dec. 26. She has pleaded not guilty, is being held without bail, and the district attorney has said it will seek a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole rather than the death penalty. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 21 in Lompoc.
Forensic Evidence and Investigation
Investigators say forensic evidence ties the killing to Buzzard. Officials have reported ballistic matches worked on by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and DNA analysis by the FBI Crime Lab that confirmed the victim’s identity. Authorities believe Buzzard acted alone; the murder weapon has not been recovered and a publicly disclosed motive has not been released.
Family Reaction
“When I met her nine or 10 years ago, she was not like this. I don’t know what happened,” said Lilly Denes, Melodee’s paternal grandmother, speaking outside the courthouse.
Denes described the family’s love for Melodee, recalling a large baby shower and the close bond the child had with relatives. She also questioned the prospect of an insanity defense, saying she believes the killing was deliberate and pointing to allegations that Buzzard switched license plates on a rental vehicle during the trip as evidence of planning.
Official Comments
“This is an extremely tragic case,” Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said, describing the killing as an instance of maternal filicide and calling it "calculated, cold-blooded and criminally sophisticated premeditation." He added that the loss of a child is among the most profound tragedies a community can endure.
Fox News Digital reached out to Buzzard’s lawyer for comment. As the case proceeds, prosecutors and investigators say they will present the evidence they have gathered to the court during upcoming hearings.
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