VANDENBERG VILLAGE, Calif. (Scripps News San Luis Obispo) — The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has released new, detailed information about the investigation into the disappearance of 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard.
On October 14, the Lompoc Unified School District reported to authorities that Melodee had not been seen for some time. Sheriff’s officials say her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, could not provide an explanation for Melodee’s whereabouts and has been uncooperative with detectives.
Investigators are sharing another surveillance image of Ashlee Buzzard and daughter, Melodee, 9, they say is from a Lompoc rental car location and taken at the start of a road trip the two took on Oct. 7, 2025. Authorities say Ashlee returned home without her daughter and has been uncooperative with the investigation. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office)
Investigators are currently focusing on a road trip that Melodee and her mother took on October 7.
Sheriff’s officials say Ashlee rented a car and drove off with Melodee in a white 2024 Chevrolet Malibu with a California license plate number of 9MNG101. Detectives believe they drove as far as Nebraska, with a return trip that included Kansas.
Beginning October 8, investigators say the same car was seen with a New York license plate number of HCG9677. Detectives believe it was changed to avoid detection.
By the time Ashlee returned the vehicle to the rental agency in Lompoc, the original California license plate had reportedly been reinstalled.
When Ashlee returned home from that trip on October 10, Melodee was no longer with her. However, sheriff’s officials say the little girl was last seen on surveillance video on October 9. This was in the area between the Colorado-Utah border during the return trip to California.
Investigators believe the Malibu traveled through the following areas on or around October 9, and they are looking for additional surveillance or witnesses in these areas:
- Green River, Utah
- Panguitch, Utah
- Northwest Arizona
- Primm, Nevada
- Rancho Cucamonga
Sheriff’s officials also released a new surveillance image from the local rental car agency showing Ashlee and Melodee together on October 7. Investigators believe they are both wearing wigs, with Melodee’s wig appearing darker and straighter than her natural hair.
Melodee is described as approximately 4’6″ tall and weighing 60 pounds with curly brown hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information about Melodee’s whereabouts is urged to call the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Detectives line at (805) 681-4150. Anonymous tips can be made by calling (805) 681-4171 or on the sheriff’s website.
Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office Investigation
August 2025 — Last sighting by Lompoc Unified School District
October 7, 2025 — Verified sighting of Melodee and her mother, Ashlee, at the beginning of a road trip to Nebraska.
October 10, 2025 — Ashlee returned to Lompoc without Melodee.
October 14, 2025 — Welfare check request made by Lumpoc Unified School District prompts the onset of a missing person investigation. Ashlee was contacted at her home and could not provide a reasonable explanation of Melodee’s whereabouts.
October 15, 2025 — Detectives execute a search warrant at the Buzzard home; Melodee is not located, and investigators say Ashlee remains “uncooperative.”
October 19, 2025 — FBI joins the investigation
October 30, 2025 — Investigators serve additional search warrants
This story was originally written by Scripps News San Luis Obispo, an E.W. Scripps Company.
