California authorities are intensifying their search for 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, whose mother, Ashlee Buzzard, has refused to cooperate with investigators since the young girl was reported missing. According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, Ashlee “remains uncooperative and has not provided detectives with any information about Melodee’s current location or condition.”
The search began on October 14, after a Lompoc Unified School District administrator raised concerns about Melodee’s “prolonged absence.” When deputies arrived at the family’s Vandenberg Village home, roughly 160 miles northwest of Los Angeles, Melodee was nowhere to be found — and her mother offered no clear explanation about her whereabouts.
Investigators believe the 9-year-old was last seen with her mother around October 7, and evidence suggests they may have traveled as far as Nebraska in a rented white Chevrolet Malibu, which has since been returned. Officials also disclosed that the “last verified contact” with Melodee occurred about a year ago, and the most recent photo of her was taken two years ago.
In a statement, the Lompoc Unified School District said Melodee had enrolled in August but had been reported to authorities after repeated absences and failure to complete schoolwork. The FBI’s Los Angeles field office is now assisting local law enforcement in the ongoing search.
Members of the Vandenberg Village community gathered near Melodee’s home over the weekend, seeking answers and showing support for her family. Her half-sister, Corinna Meza, told that their father passed away when Melodee was a baby, and that she has rarely been seen by relatives in recent years. “We’re all looking for answers,” Meza said. “I hope Ashlee will come out and tell us where she’s at.”
Authorities are urging residents not to interfere or conduct independent searches, warning that doing so could disrupt investigative efforts. “Detectives are aware of the strong community interest in Melodee’s case,” the sheriff’s office said, “and are asking the public not to attempt to conduct their own searches or investigations.”
