Melodee Buzzard’s mother arrested, body found in Utah
December 23, 2025
Melodee and Ashlee Buzzard
By KAREN VELIE
Santa Barbara County deputies arrested the mother of missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard on Tuesday morning after the child’ remains were found in Utah. It is suspected the child died in October while on a road trip with her mother Ashlee Buzzard.
On Oct. 7, Ashlee Buzzard and Melodee departed Lompoc in a rental car to locations out of the area, including Nebraska and Utah. The Chevrolet Malibu initially had California license plate 9MNG101.
During the return trip from Nebraska, on Oct. 8, the Malibu was observed with a New York license plate HCG9677. It is unknown when the plate was installed or whether additional plates were used at other times during travel.
Investigators believe it was used as a false or switched plate to avoid detection. Melodee was last seen along the return route via video surveillance on Oct. 9, in the region between the Colorado and Utah border.
Deputies booked Ashlee Buzzard in the Santa Barbara Main Jail where she is being held without bail.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is holding a press conference at 2 p.m. CalCoastNews will provide additional information after it is made available.
The comments below represent the opinion of the writer and do not represent the views or policies of CalCoastNews.com. Please address the Policies, events and arguments, not the person. Constructive debate is good; mockery, taunting, and name calling is not. Comment Guidelines