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Melodee Buzzard's mother arrested on unrelated charges
As the search continues for 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, her mother was arrested on unrelated charges.
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. - The mother of a missing 9-year-old California girl has been arrested, officials announced.
What we know:
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office announced Friday, Nov. 7, that 40-year-old Ashlee Buzzard, the mother of Melodee Buzzard, was arrested. However, it was for charges unrelated to her daughter's disappearance.
Sheriff's officials said Ashlee Buzzard was arrested on charges of false imprisonment in a separate case. She was booked into the Northern Branch Jail with bail set at $100,000. Officials said her booking photo will not be released because it does not meet the criteria for public disclosure.
Authorities previously stated that she is not cooperating with detectives in her daughter's missing person case.
PREVIOUS: Melodee Buzzard: Mom of missing California 9-year-old not cooperating with investigators
Search for Melodee continues
The backstory:
Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s officials said they began investigating the case on Oct. 14 after a school administrator reported Melodee Buzzard's prolonged absence.
When deputies went to the family’s home in the 500 block of Mars Avenue in the Lompoc area, they found her mother, but not the little girl. In addition, there was no clear explanation for her whereabouts.
Detectives released video footage taken on October 7, from a rental car facility in Lompoc, California. Officials say both Ashlee and Melodee were wearing wigs and even swapped wigs throughout the trip. Detectives say it appears they wore wigs to avoid being recognized.
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PREV: Melodee Buzzard: New details released in missing 9-year-old's case
Melodee was last confirmed seen on October 9, 2025, near the Colorado–Utah border, after a multi-state road trip.
Earlier this week, investigators released new details in the investigation, revealing that the mother and daughter traveled across multiple states. Records indicate Melodee was last seen on Oct. 9 near the Colorado-Utah border.
Timeline:
The sheriff's office released the following timeline of events.
- Ashlee left California with Melodee on October 7, 2025, driving a rented white 2024 Chevrolet Malibu that initially displayed California license plate 9MNG101.
- Detectives believe Ashlee and Melodee traveled as far as Nebraska, with a return route that included Kansas.
- Beginning October 8, 2025, the Malibu was observed with a New York license plate: HCG9677. The plate does not belong to the vehicle or Ashlee and is believed to have been used as a false or switched plate to avoid detection. When the Malibu was returned to the Lompoc rental agency, the original California plate was back on the vehicle.
- Detectives have confirmed that Melodee was last seen on October 9, 2025, on video surveillance in the region between the Colorado–Utah border. Ashlee has continued to refuse cooperation and has not confirmed Melodee’s location or welfare.
Travel Route
Detectives believe they traveled through the following areas on or around October 9, 2025:
- Green River, Utah
- Panguitch, Utah
- Northwest Arizona
- Primm, Nevada
- Rancho Cucamonga, California
What you can do:
Melodee is considered at risk. She is described as 4 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing 60 pounds, with brown eyes and curly hair.
Those with information about Melodee’s whereabouts are asked to contact the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office at 805-681-4150. Those who wish to submit tips anonymously can do so online.
The Source: This story was written with information from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's office and previous FOX 11 reports.