Mom of Missing 9-Year-Old Spotted as Deadline Looms

The Uncooperative Mother of Missing California Girl

The mother of Melodee Buzzard, a 9-year-old girl who has been missing for over a year, has recently been seen for the first time since the police launched an investigation into her disappearance. Ashlee Buzzard, 40, was spotted attempting to rent a car in Santa Maria, a town about 20 miles from her modest three-bedroom home in Lompoc, California.

In a strange sequence of events, Buzzard was picked up by a friend in a black Lincoln sedan and driven to a Budget branch and then to an Avis location at the airport. Despite these attempts, she was denied a rental at both locations and eventually returned home.

Neighbors reported that shortly after Buzzard arrived, a car containing social workers screeched up to the house, but she once again refused to answer the door. Buzzard has consistently refused to answer questions about Melodee's whereabouts and has spent most of the past week holed up in her cream-painted cottage, ignoring visits from Child Protective Services (CPS) and her daughter’s extended family.

Adding to her troubles, a neighbor told the Daily Mail that Buzzard was handed a notice on Monday giving her 72 hours to produce Melodee or reveal her whereabouts—or face arrest. In a sign that the clock is ticking down, Buzzard was shadowed by a fleet of six unmarked cop cars during her fruitless trip. One of the cars subsequently parked on her quiet residential street while another was stationed nearby.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department has been contacted for comment and further details. Police efforts to find the girl, who was reported missing by the Lompoc School District last week after she failed to pick up any assignments for two months, have ramped up in recent days with the FBI announcing they have joined the search on Monday.

On the same day, cops announced there had been a sighting of Melodee on October 7 when her mother's white Chevrolet Malibu was caught on camera on the way to Nebraska—more than 1,500 miles away from her California home. Buzzard returned alone in a rental car and has since been "uncooperative," steadfastly refusing to reveal where the nine-year-old is.

"Ashlee Buzzard remains uncooperative and has not provided detectives with any information about Melodee's current location or condition," the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's office said in a Monday statement. "The primary goal of this investigation is to verify the location and welfare of Melodee Buzzard and ensure that she is safe."

Buzzard, who previously declared bankruptcy after amassing debts totaling $23,000, has given Melodee a solitary lifestyle that includes being homeschooled and almost no involvement with her extended family.

"I haven't talked to either Melodee or Ashlee in four and a half years," Lizabeth said. "Ashlee isolated herself and Melodee from the entire family, and we were told years ago that she was adopted out." She also revealed that Buzzard had previously lost custody of Melodee due to mental health woes, adding that she had had a conversation with the mom-of-one in which she admitted psychological problems run in the family.

Both Lizabeth and Melodee's half-sister Corinna Meza, 30, have made repeated attempts to contact Buzzard since the child vanished, with Meza seen fruitlessly banging on the door on Monday night. "We don't know any more other than that she might be in Nebraska," Meza told the Daily Mail after being asked if she had any further updates on the search. She added that Buzzard is still refusing to talk to her or her family, adding: "I've tried to give Ashlee my number twice, but she never got in touch."

According to Lizabeth, Monday's visit was Corinna's second attempt to make contact and gave an account of a brief conversation they had last week. Lizabeth said: "Corina had asked Ashley if she needed anything, if she could get Melodee anything, and if Melodee was okay. And then Ashley said, 'Why now? Why are you coming here now?'"

When Corinna—who shares a dad with Melodee—explained that she hadn't known where to look or where the child was, Buzzard snapped, "There's reason for that." Lizabeth added: "Ashlee just kept repeating, 'I hope your kids, and you are well' to Corinna. She never said anything about Melodee."

Buzzard, who is unemployed and lives on social security payments, has also struggled with money problems for years and is currently being pursued in court over unpaid debts. The most recent case, which was filed in May by Capital One, says Buzzard has an outstanding debt of $3,745.21 on a credit card she took out in January 2018 and stopped paying off in September 2023. According to the company, Buzzard has steadfastly refused to pony up the balance—despite repeated requests for payment.

The card was issued less than nine months after the 40-year-old filed for bankruptcy in April 2017. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing obtained by the Daily Mail shows Buzzard admitted to owing creditors $23,488 and had just $25 in her Chase bank account. She also said her income totaled just $1,130 per month—all of which came from social security payments.

Despite that, in December 2019, Buzzard was allowed to take out a second credit card, this time via First Bank and Trust. According to debt collection company Crown Asset Management—which is pursuing the mom for the outstanding balance—she owes $2,659.71 and stopped making payments on the card in February 2023.

Buzzard is still making the rent on the modest three-bedroom home she shares with Melodee, which is currently surrounded by placards left by neighbors demanding to know the whereabouts of her daughter.