False imprisonment charges against missing California girl Melodee Buzzard’s mother were dropped Thursday, following a Santa Barbara County court hearing.
Audio, played during the court hearing, indicated that Ashlee Buzzard did not prevent Tyler Brewer from leaving her Lompoc home on November 6.
Brewer identified himself as a “legal document assistant” who tried to assist Ashlee Buzzard after her daughter disappeared, the Lompc Record reports. He alleged that while at her residence, she became upset after he asked her about Melodee, who has not been seen since October 9.
Brewer claimed the defendant accused him of working with Melodee’s paternal family and noted a box cutter on a TV stand. Brewer said it made him feel like he couldn’t leave the residence.
However, during the three-hour hearing, Brewer admitted inconsistencies that he told a detective. He acknowledged that Buzzard never threatened him with the box cutter and never clenched her fists or threatened him.
Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Stephen Dunkle dismissed the claims and said Buzzard is no longer required to wear a GPS monitor.
“I find that there’s not probable cause to hold her to answer,” Dunkle said shortly before noon. “There’s insufficient evidence that this was any confinement or restraint effectuated by violence or menace.”
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]
