Trendpills
The search for Melodee Buzzard, a 9-year-old girl from Santa Barbara County, has grown increasingly urgent weeks after her last confirmed sighting on October 7. Authorities describe the case as "perplexing" and have expanded their investigation, which now heavily focuses on the actions of her mother, Ashlee Buzzard.
Investigators, including local detectives and the FBI, have executed multiple search warrants on the mother's home, a storage unit, and the rental car Melodee was seen in. According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, Ashlee Buzzard has been uncooperative with the investigation. A significant development emerged when officials revealed she allegedly swapped the license plates on the rental vehicle. The original California plates were replaced with an Oregon plate that was not associated with the car, complicating tracking efforts.
Surveillance footage from a rental car agency in the Santa Barbara area on October 7 provides the last known images of Melodee. In the photos, authorities believe the missing child may be wearing a wig that is darker and straighter than her natural hair, suggesting a possible disguise. The most recent photo of Melodee provided to law enforcement is reportedly two years old, further complicating public identification efforts.
The investigation into Melodee's disappearance centers on a road trip the mother and daughter may have taken. Following the car rental, their movements are largely unknown, though a possible sighting was reported near the Colorado-Utah border. Law enforcement has emphasized that the mother's lack of cooperation is a major hurdle in determining the child's whereabouts and well-being. Melodee is described as being approximately 4'6" tall and weighing 60 pounds. The full timeline of the search for Melodee Buzzard shows a multi-agency effort that is using all available resources as the search continues into its fourth week.
