The disappearance of nine-year-old Melodee Buzzard on Oct. 9 ended in a shocking revelation when her mother was arrested on Dec. 23 for first-degree murder.
Timeline of the Trip
Detectives say the Buzzards left California on Oct. 7 in a white 2024 Chevrolet Malibu, license plate 9MNG101. The vehicle traveled as far as Nebraska before heading back. On or around Oct. 9, the car is believed to have passed through Green River and Panguitch, Utah; northwest Arizona; Primm, Nevada; and Rancho Cucamonga. Security-camera footage from a rental-car business in Lompoc on Oct. 7 shows Ashlee and Melodee wearing wigs.
Investigation Begins
The sheriff’s department started the investigation on Oct. 14 after a school administrator reported Melodee had not been seen at school for several days. The department released the first public statement when the body was found Dec. 8. Sheriff Bill Brown said, “The body was found Dec. 8, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said during a news conference on Tuesday. When the body was discovered, immediate identification was not possible, but it was clear that the deceased was a female with gunshot wounds to the head,” Brown said.
Arrest and Charges
Ashlee Buzzard, 40, was arrested Dec. 23 and charged with first-degree murder. She pleaded not guilty to a murder charge Friday in the shooting death of her 9-year-old daughter, whose body was found earlier this month in a remote part of Utah. The next hearing was scheduled for Jan. 7.
Evidence and Motive
Sheriff Brown said, “We have recovered a significant amount of evidence that clearly indicates that this heinous crime was committed by Ashlee Buzzard, Melodee’s mother, and the very person upon whom she relied upon and trusted the most in this world,” he added. Investigators seized a single cartridge case that matched cases found at the Utah crime scene and at Ashlee’s home. The murder weapon was not found. Investigators believe Ashlee acted alone, but her motive was not immediately clear.
Court Proceedings
Prosecutors announced they would not seek the death penalty against Buzzard, but would be seeking life in prison without the possibility of parole. Ashlee’s attorney entered the not-guilty plea in court Friday morning. The next hearing remains set for Jan. 7.
Sheriff Brown’s Statements
During the news conference, Sheriff Brown emphasized that the evidence pointed strongly to Ashlee. “The evidence recovered indicates that this heinous crime was committed by Ashlee Buzzard,” he said. He also noted that the case involved a single cartridge case linking the crime scene to the mother’s residence.
FBI DNA Confirmation
More than a week after the body was discovered, the FBI crime lab confirmed that the remains were indeed those of Melodee based on DNA analysis. The confirmation came after the initial identification could not be made on the decomposed body.
Vehicle Details
The Buzzards’ white 2024 Chevrolet Malibu bore the California plate 9MNG101 when they departed. Beginning Oct. 8, the vehicle was seen with a New York plate HCG967. Authorities have not clarified when the plate change occurred or whether other plates were used during the trip.
Unrelated Arrest
Ashlee was arrested in November on suspicion of felony false imprisonment, an unrelated crime. The sheriff’s department said the arrest occurred before the December charges.
Key Takeaways
- Melodee Buzzard disappeared Oct. 9; body found Dec. 8 in Utah.
- Ashlee Buzzard, mother and suspect, arrested Dec. 23 on first-degree murder.
- Evidence includes a cartridge case linking the crime scene to Ashlee’s home.
Closing
The case underscores the tragic loss of a child and the swift action taken by law enforcement. With the next court hearing set for January and prosecutors seeking life imprisonment, the community awaits further developments as the investigation continues.
