Authorities have arrested Ashlee Buzzard, the mother of 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, who has been missing since a road trip last month. Ashlee, 40, faces charges of false imprisonment, unrelated to her daughter’s disappearance. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office reported that she was taken into custody on Friday after being accused of holding a person against their will.
The sheriff’s office explained that investigators became aware of an incident in which Ashlee allegedly restricted a victim’s freedom of movement, leading to the felony charge. Although this matter is separate from the ongoing search for Melodee, details about the allegations remain limited to avoid hindering the investigation. Bail for Ashlee is reportedly set at $100,000.
As the search for Melodee continues, authorities have released new surveillance footage showing Ashlee and Melodee at a car rental facility in Lompoc, California, on October 7, marking the beginning of their ill-fated road trip to Nebraska. Notably, Melodee appeared to be wearing a wig during the recording. The last confirmed sighting of the girl occurred on October 9, in an area near the Colorado-Utah border.
Authorities have expressed concern about Ashlee’s lack of cooperation with investigators. After Ashlee returned to her home in Lompoc on October 10, driving the same rental car without Melodee, sheriff’s investigators initiated a search after a school administrator reported the girl’s extended absence on October 14.
Melodee’s half-sister, Corrina Meza, shared that their father passed away when Melodee was an infant, and she was seldom seen among family members. The community remains hopeful that additional information will lead to Melodee’s safe return, as law enforcement continues to solicit help from the public in locating her.