The FBI has joined in the search for a 9-year-old California girl who has not been seen since August.
According to CBS News, the FBI announced that they were assisting Santa Barbara County sheriff’s detectives in the search for Melodee, who lives with her mother, Ashley Buzzard, in Vandenberg Village.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, the sheriff’s office said that Lompoc Unified School District employees last saw Melodee in August, when Ashlee Buzzard registered her in an independent study program.
Melodee, who is homeschooled, never picked up any assignments.
The FBI is assisting Sheriff’s Detectives with @sbsheriff
who are continuing their search for 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard.Details: https://t.co/sGA1v6KiYY
As always, the FBI can be reached 24 hours a day at 1 800 CALL-FBI or online at https://t.co/a8bqmmwqXT. pic.twitter.com/UEGcoVzyyD
— FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) October 20, 2025
“With the assistance of Lompoc Unified School District, detectives have confirmed that Melodee was seen as recently as August 2025,” the sheriff’s office said.
When officers arrived at the family home, in the 500 block of Mars Avenue, 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.
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.”
KSBY reports that neighbors said they’ve seen Ashley Buzzard at the home, while deputies said she has been uncooperative with the investigation.
“Besides the garage been open almost 48 hours, which, we don’t know if she knows or not, she was burning something in the fireplace last night, but paper was coming out,” the daughter of a next door neighbor said.
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. Contact the FBI at 800-225-5324.
For the latest true crime and justice news, subscribe to the ‘Crime Stories with Nancy Grace’ podcast.
[Feature Photo: Santa Barbara County police]
