A man who accused Melodee Buzzard’s mother of false imprisonment says that he believes the missing California girl could be alive.
Tyler Brewer told NewsNation that Ashlee Buzzard started acting erratically November 6 while he visited her home in Lompoc. She allegedly accused him working with law enforcement to return 9-year-old Melodee to her father’s family.
Melodee’s father died in a motorcycle crash when she was an infant. Melodee’s aunt previously said on “Crime Stories” that the paternal family had not seen Melodee in years.
Brewer also accused of Ashlee Buzzard of “shutting her eyes and making fists,” locking her door and preventing him from leaving.
When she eventually allowed him to leave, Brewer filed charges against her. On Friday, police arrested Buzzard for false imprisonment.
Brewer reportedly said that Melodee could be in Utah, adding that Ashlee Buzzard that she told him where she left her at, but he doesn’t know if it’s true.
Brewer said he has known Ashlee Buzzard since 2014, and began checking on her after news regarding Melodee’s disappearance. He described her behavior as “paranoid.”
Ashlee Buzzard, currently behind bars, is schedule for a court appearance Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the search for Melodee continues.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said Buzzard rented a car in Lompoc, and embarked on a cross-country trip on October 7, with possible stops in Kansas and Nebraska.
Security footage placed both Ashlee Buzzard and Melodee at the car rental business while wearing wigs that same day.
The rental car, described as a white 2024 Chevrolet Malibu, initially had California license plate 9MNG101. On October 8, Buzzard allegedly changed it to New York license plate HCG9677.
“It is unknown when the plate was installed or whether additional plates were used at other times during travel. The New York plate seen on the car does not belong to the vehicle or to Ashlee,” the sheriff’s office said.
According to the sheriff’s office, Melodee was last seen on October 9, between the Colorado–Utah border, on a return route.
“Somewhere along that route is where we know Ashlee was no longer with Melodee,” Raquel Zick, Public Information Officer with SBCSO, said.
Police believe Ashlee Buzzard drove through the following locations before returning home to Lompoc without Melodee.
- Green River, Utah
- Panguitch, Utah
- Northwest Arizona
- Primm, Nevada
- Rancho Cucamonga, California
Authorities are now asking businesses and residents and in the aforementioned areas to look at surveillance footage from October 9 and 10.
Before returning the car on October 10, Ashlee Buzzard put the California plate back on the vehicle, the sheriff’s office said.
Anyone with information regarding Melodee’s whereabouts is urged 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.
Anonymous tipsters can also share information online to the sheriff’s office.
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[Feature Photo: Santa Barbara County police]
