Missing 9-Year-Old Melodee Buzzard's Mother Arrested

Authorities Friday arrested 40-year-old Ashlee Buzzard, whose missing 9-year-old daughter has prompted a nationwide search effort.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested Buzzard on suspicion of felony false imprisonment unrelated to the search for her missing child. Her daughter, Melodee Buzzard remains missing.

Authorities were vague about the incident leading to Ashlee Buzzard's arrest, contending it would impede the investigation.

"Detectives learned of a recent incident where Ashlee prevented a victim from leaving a location, against their will, which constitutes false imprisonment," the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office announced in a written statement. "This crime is not connected to the ongoing search for Melodee, however, detectives are unable to fully outline the crime as it would impede their ongoing investigation."

She is being booked at the Northern Branch Jail with bail set at $100,000.

The arrest comes a day after the sheriff's department release video footage of the mother and daughter taken on Oct. 7 at a rental car location in Lompoc.

"The footage corresponds to previously released still images and shows both Ashlee and Melodee wearing wigs," according to the sheriff's department. "Investigators also believe that Ashlee swapped wigs throughout the trip, changing to a darker wig that is similar in color and style to the one Melodee was seen wearing. This change in appearance is believed to have been intentional to avoid recognition during travel."

The missing girl and her mother, who is not cooperating with police, may have gone as far as Nebraska during a multi-state road trip last month. On that trip their rental car’s plates were changed repeatedly, the FBI reported Tuesday.

The two left California on Oct. 7 in a rented white 2024 Chevrolet Malibu with the California plate 9MNG101, going as far as Nebraska and returning through Kansas, according to the FBI. On Oct. 8, the Malibu was spotted with the New York plate HCG9677, the FBI reported, adding that plate did not belong to the vehicle or to Ashlee. Eventually, the Malibu was returned to the rental agency with its assigned California plate.

Melodee was last seen Oct. 9 on the return route via video surveillance in the area of the Colorado-Utah border, according to the FBI.

Melodee’s prolonged absence from school was reported to police on Oct. 14 by an administrator, but her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, refused to explain where Melodee was when deputies came to her home in Lompoc, according to the FBI, which said a search of the residence came up empty.

Based on vehicle movement, investigators believe the Malibu traveled through Green River, Utah; Panguitch, Utah; northwest Arizona; Primm, Nevada; and Rancho Cucamonga, all around Oct. 9, the FBI said.

“Detectives are seeking anyone who may have had contact with Ashlee or Melodee at any point from October 9-10, 2025, or any video footage from their route of travel.”

Melodee is described as about 4 feet, 6 inches tall and 60 pounds, with brown curly hair and brown eyes, according to the FBI.

Members of the public who have seen Melodee or who may have information about her whereabouts are urged to contact the Sheriff’s Office at the Detectives Line at (805) 681-4150. Anonymous tips can be called into (805) 681-4171.

Patch Staffer Anna Schier contributed to this report.