Santa Barbara County, California – Authorities in California have arrested a 40-year-old mother after her 9-year-old daughter, who disappeared during a cross-country road trip, was found dead in a remote area of Utah following a search that lasted several weeks.
At a Tuesday afternoon press conference, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Sheriff Bill Brown confirmed that the decomposed body of Melodee Buzzard was discovered earlier this month in Wayne County. According to officials, a couple visiting the remote area to take photographs came across the remains and immediately contacted local authorities.
Discovery and Identification of the Child
Investigators later confirmed through DNA testing that the remains belonged to Melodee, who had been reported missing in October. Following that confirmation, authorities took her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, into custody on Tuesday morning. Law enforcement officials said she was arrested around 7:45 a.m. without incident.
Buzzard now faces a first-degree murder charge. Sheriff Brown stated that evidence indicates the child was shot in the head, and investigators were able to match ballistics from the fatal injury to a firearm recovered inside the family’s home in California.
“While these developments represent important steps toward holding Ashlee Buzzard accountable for the murder of her daughter, they do not diminish the profound loss that we are acknowledging today,” Brown said during the briefing.
Timeline of the Cross-Country Trip
Authorities outlined a detailed timeline of events leading up to Melodee’s disappearance. According to investigators, Buzzard left her home in Lompoc, approximately 60 miles northwest of Santa Barbara, on October 7, telling others she was traveling to Nebraska.
She returned to California three days later, but without her daughter. Investigators believe Melodee may have already been dead by that time. Sources familiar with the case say authorities now suspect the child was killed in October, before she was even officially reported missing.
Melodee was last seen alive on October 9 near the Utah-Colorado border, while still traveling with her mother.
Efforts to Evade Detection
Sheriff Brown said investigators uncovered troubling evidence suggesting Buzzard attempted to avoid law enforcement during her return trip. Authorities allege that she wore disguises, including wigs, and changed license plates on her vehicle in an apparent effort to avoid being tracked.
Detectives also described Buzzard as uncooperative, noting that she refused to provide clear or helpful information when questioned about her daughter’s whereabouts. These actions, officials said, further complicated early efforts to locate the child.
How Authorities Learned the Child Was Missing
The case first came to the attention of law enforcement on October 14, when the Lompoc Unified School District notified authorities about Melodee’s extended absence from school.
Deputies from the sheriff’s office conducted a welfare check at Buzzard’s residence in the 500 block of Mars Avenue, but Melodee was not there. Officials said there was no verifiable explanation for where the child might be, prompting a missing-person investigation that quickly expanded across state lines.
Sheriff Brown later described the investigation as “perplexing”, citing the lack of cooperation and the complexity of tracking movements across multiple states.
Family Background and Prior Concerns
Ashlee Buzzard’s mother, Lori Miranda, told local media that her daughter had struggled with mental health issues in recent years, particularly after Melodee’s father died in a car crash when the girl was still a baby.
Miranda also revealed that Child Protective Services had previously intervened after discovering Melodee living in unsafe and unsanitary conditions. She described the home as being in disarray, with rotten food and raw eggs left out, raising concerns about the child’s wellbeing.
“I couldn’t believe it was my daughter,” Miranda said. “I think she was trying to give my granddaughter food that had already gone bad.”
Ongoing Investigation and Next Steps
Authorities say the investigation remains active as detectives continue to piece together Melodee’s final days and the exact circumstances surrounding her death. Prosecutors are expected to formally present the case in court in the coming days.
Sheriff Brown emphasized that while an arrest has been made, the focus remains on justice for Melodee and accountability for those responsible.
If you have thoughts about this case or insights on how communities can better protect vulnerable children, share your experiences in the comments below.
