by Vandenberg Village, California — The search for 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, who disappeared from Southern California more than two months ago, has ended in tragedy after investigators confirmed her body was found in a rural area of Utah and her mother was arrested on suspicion of murder.
Santa Barbara County officials announced Tuesday that Ashlee Buzzard, 40, has been taken into custody and is being held without bail on suspicion of first-degree murder, following what authorities described as an extensive, multi-state investigation.
Child’s Body Found in Rural Utah
According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, Melodee’s body was discovered on December 6 in Wayne County, Utah, by two people who were taking photographs in a remote area.
Sheriff Bill Brown said it was immediately clear the remains belonged to a child. An autopsy later determined the girl died from gunshot wounds to the head.
An Federal Bureau of Investigation DNA analysis confirmed the body was Melodee’s, Brown said.
“Maternal filicide is rare and always difficult to comprehend,” Brown told reporters. “This level of criminal activity is particularly shocking given the calculated, cold-blooded and criminally sophisticated premeditation and heartlessness that went into planning it.”
Investigators Cite Significant Evidence
Authorities said investigators uncovered a “significant amount of evidence” pointing to Ashlee Buzzard’s involvement in her daughter’s death.
Searches of Buzzard’s home, a rented storage locker, and a rental vehicle turned up an expended cartridge case and a live round of similar ammunition, officials said. The suspected murder weapon has not yet been recovered.
Brown said investigators worked on multiple fronts simultaneously, including around-the-clock surveillance, forensic testing, and digital evidence analysis.
“Our investigators and allied agencies worked simultaneously on multiple fronts,” Brown said, emphasizing the scale and intensity of the case.
Timeline Focuses on Multi-State Road Trip
Investigators have centered much of their case on a road trip from Southern California to Nebraska, taken by Ashlee and Melodee Buzzard between October 7 and October 10.
Security footage showed Melodee wearing a wig on October 7 at a rental car business, where the pair picked up a Chevrolet Malibu, sheriff’s officials said. Detectives believe the wig was used to avoid identification, noting that Ashlee Buzzard was known to wear wigs herself.
At some point during the trip, investigators say the rental car’s license plate was temporarily swapped with a New York plate, allegedly to evade detection.
Read Also: Texas Man Charged After Girlfriend’s Toddler Suffers Near-Fatal Injuries, Police Say
Authorities believe Melodee was last seen on October 9 near the Utah–Colorado border. Ashlee Buzzard returned alone to California with the rental car on October 10, investigators said.
Sheriff Brown stated investigators believe Melodee was killed shortly after that border stop.
School District Raised Early Concerns
The Lompoc Unified School District said in an October statement that Buzzard brought Melodee in August to enroll in an independent study program, but the child never attended.
After repeated truancy follow-ups, the district ultimately notified law enforcement, which helped trigger the broader investigation into Melodee’s whereabouts.
Prior Arrest and Community Alarm
Ashlee Buzzard was previously arrested on November 7 on suspicion of felony false imprisonment in an unrelated case. A man alleged she held him against his will while armed with a box cutter. That charge was later dismissed on November 20 due to insufficient and conflicting evidence, prosecutors said.
Neighbors in Vandenberg Village, about 160 miles northwest of Los Angeles, told KSBY they saw deputies remove Buzzard from her home early Tuesday.
Melodee’s disappearance had already sparked growing concern in the community, with residents sometimes gathering outside the home seeking answers.
Family Seeks Answers
Melodee’s half-sister, Corinna Meza, told KSBY the family is still struggling to understand what happened.
“We’re all looking for answers,” she said.
Meza added that Melodee’s father died when the girl was an infant and that the child was rarely seen, even by extended family members.
Case Continues to Develop
Authorities say the investigation remains active as they continue searching for the missing murder weapon and finalize forensic analysis. Ashlee Buzzard is expected to face extradition proceedings and formal charges in California.
Officials emphasized that the case involved premeditation, concealment, and interstate travel, factors that will likely play a central role as the case moves through the courts.
What are your thoughts as investigators continue to uncover details in this case? Share your perspective in the comments below and join the discussion.
