The search for nine-year-old Melodee Buzzard continues, shadowed by a growing sense of unease and a mother’s increasingly erratic behavior. Ashlee Buzzard, Melodee’s mother, made a brief court appearance Wednesday facing a separate felony charge, a case authorities insist is distinct from the desperate hunt for her daughter.
Melodee was reported missing after a prolonged absence from school on October 14th. When questioned, Ashlee Buzzard offered no credible explanation for Melodee’s whereabouts, and investigators describe her as uncooperative, raising serious concerns about the child’s well-being.
A court officer who knows Buzzard well, Tyler Brewer, claims she confided in him about Melodee’s location and who she was with, suggesting the child might be in Utah. However, Brewer expressed doubt about the information’s accuracy, citing Buzzard’s visibly unstable state during their conversation.
The encounter with Brewer took a disturbing turn. After seemingly regretting what she’d revealed, Buzzard allegedly locked him inside her home and brandished a box cutter, preventing his departure. He was eventually allowed to leave and immediately alerted the authorities.
Brewer paints a picture of a woman spiraling into paranoia and mental deterioration, a stark contrast to the person he once knew. He describes her as unrecognizable, consumed by fear and instability.
Wednesday’s court hearing lasted less than a minute. Buzzard appeared markedly different from her previous appearance, wearing a long cardigan and with her hair pulled back, avoiding eye contact as she approached the counsel table.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday, where evidence will be presented to determine if the felony case against Buzzard will proceed to trial. She was released with conditions, including an ankle monitor and a strict order to avoid contact with Brewer.
Ashlee Buzzard’s own mother, Lori Miranda, hasn’t spoken to her daughter since 2023. Miranda revealed a history of instability and domestic violence, including periods of homelessness during Ashlee’s childhood, hinting at deep-rooted trauma.
Investigators have traced Ashlee and Melodee’s movements, revealing they left California on October 7th in a rented Chevrolet Malibu. They swapped California license plates for a New York tag, believed to be fraudulent, before traveling through multiple states.
Surveillance footage shows Ashlee and Melodee wearing wigs at a rental location, a clear attempt to disguise themselves and evade recognition during their journey. The deliberate effort to conceal their identities adds another layer of complexity to the case.
Melodee is described as being between four and four-and-a-half feet tall, weighing between 60 and 100 pounds, with brown curly hair and brown eyes. Every detail, no matter how small, is crucial in the ongoing search.
Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding Melodee Buzzard’s whereabouts to come forward and contact the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. The hope of bringing Melodee home rests on the vigilance of the public and the relentless pursuit of answers.
