When Melodee Buzzard is first reported missing, school officials fear the little girl hasn’t been seen in more than a year.
The school district discovers Melodee was seen much more recently, enrolling in another year of homeschooling.
Santa Barbara County sheriffs then find that her mom, Ashlee Buzzard, left Lompoc with Melodee on October 7; they were spotted together at a car rental.
Security footage caught Melodee for the last time on October 9. Buzzard returns home the next day, alone. Melodee has now been missing for 35 days.
The only photo authorities have of Melodee is more than two years out of date, as the little girl is “homeschooled” in Vandenberg Village, just north of Lompoc, California.
Ashley Buzzard was arrested on Nov 7 for false imprisonment, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. Ashley’s arrest was for false imprisonment. This is not a child-related charge. So, this arrest is not related to Melodee. And it’s not related to the ongoing missing person case directly. But, it is a case that came up amid this missing person case.
Four days after her arrest, Ashlee Buzzard entered a not guilty plea to false imprisonment. Prosecutors argue that Buzzard should remain incarcerated due to her flight risk and potential for violence.
However, her attorneys counter that she does not own a vehicle and did not specifically threaten Brewer with a box cutter. The judge agrees to grant Buzzard bail under close supervision and orders Buzzard to stay away from Brewer.
The 40-year-old is once again walking free.
Anyone with information asked to contact 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.
Joining Nancy Grace today:
Additional Guests
- Raquel Zick – PIO for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office
- Lizabeth Meza – Paternal Aunt of Melodee Buzzard (her husband was Melodee’s dad’s brother, her husband is deceased)
- Greg Morse – Criminal Defense Attorney of Morse Legal, Author of “The Untested” (found on Amazon)
- Lauren Johnson-Norris – Defense Attorney (specializing in juvenile, and CPS cases in Orange County, California), and Founder of Johnson Criminal Law Group
- Sydney Sumner- Investigative Reporter, ‘Crime Stories’
“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” on Fox Nation is also a national radio show on SiriusXM channel 111, airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.
[Feature Photo: Melodee Buzzard/Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office]
