The mother of a 9-year-old California girl who hasn’t been seen in months is reportedly hindering search efforts.
According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, Melodee’s mother, Ashlee Buzzard, has been “uncooperative” with the search for her daughter, Melodee Buzzard, who was last seen in August, in Lompoc.
SFGate reports that a school official noticed in October that Melodee, who is homeschooled, never picked up assignments after being registered for an independent study program.
The sheriff’s office said that Lompoc Unified School District employees last saw Melodee in August, when Ashlee Buzzard registered her for the program.
“Lompoc Unified School District deserves credit for recognizing that something wasn’t right, reaching out, and continuing to assist with this investigation,” said sheriff’s office Lt. Chris Gotschall in a statement.
“This important update helps narrow a significant gap in the timeline of when she was last known to be seen and because of that, we’re closer to understanding what happened to Melodee.”
When officers arrived at the family home, in the 500 block of Mars Avenue in Vandenberg Village, they spoke with Ashlee Buzzard but did not see Melodee.
They returned to the home for follow-ups, but could not find her, and her mother didn’t offer valid explanations. Police subsequently carried out a search warrant at the home but have been unable to find the child, KSBY reports.
Cal Coast Times reports that Melodee’s father died in a motorcycle crash when she was an infant, and her mother has been her primary caregiver.
Family members have reportedly expressed concerns about Ashlee Buzzard’s mental health and said they have not seen Melodee in four years.
The provided photo was taken around two years ago.
“I am horrified for my little niece, I can’t imagine what she’s gone through,” Vicky Shade, Melodee’s aunt, told the Los Angeles Times. “This does not sound good. I just want to know if she’s OK. We need to find her.”
“Ashlee is mentally unstable and my mom tried to get custody or at least grandparent rights to visit Melodee because she [Ashlee] wasn’t letting our side of the family see her.”
The sheriff’s office said the case, at this time, is not a criminal investigation.
Anyone with information regarding Buzzard’s whereabouts is asked to call Santa Barbara County investigators at 805-681-4150. Anonymous calls can be made to the tip line at 805-681-4171.
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[Feature Photo: Santa Barbara County police]
