The confusing loss of 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard has actually left numerous unanswered inquiries, with the regional constable considering the situation “puzzling” and a police specialist calling it “plainly questionable.”
Melodee has actually not been seen for greater than 2 weeks, and her mommy, Ashlee Buzzard, is not accepting private investigators, according to the Santa Barbara Region Constable’s Workplace. The division has actually identified Melodee as an “at-risk missing out on individual” and the FBI is helping.
Right Here’s what we understand:
The last discovery
Melodee and her mommy stay in Lompoc, The golden state, and it shows up Melodee was homeschooled for a minimum of the last couple of years, the constable’s workplace stated. However the division stated the examination right into Melodee’s loss was stimulated when a manager from a regional institution area mosted likely to authorities on Oct. 14 to report her “prolonged lack.”

The FBI and Santa Barbara Region Constable’s Workplace are trying to find missing out on 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard.
FBI
Authorities introduced an examination and later established the last validated discovery of Melodee got on Oct. 7, when she and her mommy took a rental automobile and started a journey from Lompoc to Nebraska, the constable’s workplace stated.
Ashlee Buzzard, 40, later on returned home without Melodee, authorities stated.
Detectives trying to find Melodee would likely “examine to see what background Melodee’s mommy has in this course” in between The golden state and Nebraska, according to ABC Information factor and previous FBI representative Brad Garrett.
” Since, commonly when individuals simply wander off some location, there’s typically some function to it, a link,” stated Garrett, that is not associated with the situation. “Those areas that you have along the road, or individuals that she recognizes possibly along the road, can actually be handy.”
Detectives can track the journey with the rental automobile and certificate plate viewers, along with with bank card usage at resorts, filling station or dining establishments, Garrett stated.
With this information, Garrett stated, private investigators are aiming to verify, “can they really placed Melodee in this journey?”
An uncooperative mommy
The constable’s workplace stated Ashlee Buzzard is not accepting the examination and has actually not offered a “sensible description of Melodee’s location.”
” The last point moms and dads would certainly do if they have a missing out on youngster is be incredibly elusive,” Garrett stated. “To ensure that’s a warning.”
He stated the essential to speaking with an uncooperative person is obtaining them to give timelines and truths that can be validated.
Detectives are most likely doing their research and carrying out “a deep dive” on Ashlee Buzzard, he stated, since “you need to know as a lot, otherwise even more, as the individual you’re speaking to.”
Garrett stated speaking with individuals that understand Ashlee Buzzard will additionally assist address inquiries like, “What were the situations around your house where Melodee and her mommy lived? … What was the connection in between Melodee and her mommy? … Just how did she technique the youngster?”
” Every one of those points are very crucial in examining what you have,” he stated.
If Ashlee Buzzard remains to not coordinate, police might possibly endanger costs versus her, Garrett stated.
ABC Information can not get to Ashlee Buzzard for remark.
An obsolete image
The constable’s workplace stated one of the most current photo of Melodee is the one on the FBI’s missing out on individual poster, which was taken 2 years earlier. The constable’s workplace is recommending the general public that her look might have transformed considering that this image was taken.
” I assume it’s extremely uncommon that there aren’t current photos,” Garrett kept in mind.

The Santa Barbara Region Constable’s Workplace is looking for Melodee Buzzard. This is one of the most current photo readily available, which was taken 2 years earlier.
Santa Barbara Region Constable’s Workplace
A search at the home
The constable’s workplace stated private investigators have actually carried out searches at Buzzards’ home and bordering locations.
Garrett stated a residence search can give a great deal of important details.
” You would certainly be searching in your house for anything that would certainly favor bad deed,” like blood, he stated, along with proof that offers day and time context, like finished schoolwork or invoices.
” Anything that would tangibly offer you intel or details concerning possibly where she can really be,” he stated.
‘ Step forward’
The general public might be essential to addressing the situation, Garrett stated.
” If they understand anything concerning this youngster, either presently or the past– or perhaps extra notably, concerning Melodee’s mommy– they need to step forward,” Garrett stated. “Unless the mommy has actually resided in some type of vacuum cleaner, she has actually functioned some location, she has buddies.”
Garrett called the situation “plainly questionable.”
” I’m worried, based upon what I’m listening to, that Melodee has actually currently remained in damage’s means or is presently in damage’s means,” he stated.
Santa Barbara Constable Costs Brown in a declaration on Wednesday said thanks to the media for advertising Melodee’s loss and stated he really hopes that “will certainly assist us resolve this puzzling situation.”
” We are confident that Melodee may be with somebody– probably an expanded relative or close friend– that might not recognize the situations of her loss,” Brown stated.
The constable’s workplace prompted anybody that has actually seen Melodee or has actually had call with Ashlee Buzzard considering that Oct. 7 to call the division at 805-681-4150. Tips can be sent anonymously at 805-681-4171 or www.sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip.