Santa Barbara Mother Arrested Amid Search for Missing 9-Year-Old Daughter Melodee Buzzard
A deepening mystery continues to unfold in Santa Barbara County, California, where authorities are urgently searching for 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, a young girl who disappeared last month under troubling circumstances. Her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, 40, was arrested Friday on an unrelated felony charge of false imprisonment, further complicating an already tense investigation that has gripped the Central Coast community.
Location and Background
The search for Melodee began in early October, shortly after she and her mother were seen together in the Santa Barbara County area. Investigators say the last verified sighting of Melodee occurred on October 9, 2025, marking nearly a month since anyone has been able to confirm the child’s whereabouts.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Ashlee Buzzard was taken into custody on a felony warrant Friday and booked into the Northern Branch Jail in Santa Maria. Her bail was set at $100,000, and officials emphasized that this arrest—while occurring during the ongoing missing person case—is not directly related to Melodee’s disappearance.
The Victim: Melodee Buzzard
Melodee Buzzard, 9, is described by family members and friends as a bright, affectionate, and creative young girl. Known for her love of animals and drawing, Melodee attended an elementary school in Santa Barbara County before vanishing. Those close to her say she was a kindhearted child who always smiled and loved spending time outdoors.
Her family’s growing desperation for answers has only intensified as days turn into weeks without any verified sign of her safety. Community members have organized search teams, vigils, and social media campaigns urging anyone with information to come forward. Posters featuring Melodee’s photo now line neighborhoods throughout Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Santa Barbara, as volunteers continue their search efforts in nearby rural areas and along major highways.
Details of the Mother’s Arrest
The sheriff’s office released a brief statement on Friday confirming Ashlee’s arrest, clarifying that it was related to a separate legal matter. “Although this arrest occurred during the course of the missing person investigation, it is not directly related to Melodee’s disappearance,” the department said. “Sheriff’s detectives remain fully focused on locating Melodee and confirming her safety.”
The false imprisonment charge stems from an unrelated incident, though officials have not yet released details regarding the alleged victim or timeline of that case. Authorities did confirm that Ashlee has not cooperated with investigators regarding her daughter’s disappearance, a fact that has raised concern among detectives and fueled public speculation about what may have happened to the 9-year-old.
Timeline and Surveillance Evidence
New surveillance footage, released a day before Ashlee’s arrest, shows her and Melodee at a rental car agency on October 7—two days before the girl’s last verified sighting. Investigators are analyzing the footage to determine where the pair may have gone after leaving the location.
According to Sheriff’s spokesperson Raquel Zick, the last confirmed sighting of Melodee took place on October 9, though authorities have declined to specify the circumstances. Since that date, there has been no communication or credible sightings of the missing girl.
The Investigation
Detectives from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau are leading the investigation. Search teams have canvassed multiple locations in northern Santa Barbara County and beyond, using drones, K-9 units, and ground teams to search rural properties and wooded areas.
While the mother’s arrest adds another layer to the case, law enforcement officials stress that their primary mission remains finding Melodee and ensuring her safety. “Every available resource is being used to locate this child,” one investigator said. “We will not rest until we know where she is.”
Community Reaction
The news of both Melodee’s disappearance and her mother’s arrest has deeply unsettled residents of Santa Barbara County. Many have joined the “Calling for Backup” online discussion group, where community members, true crime followers, and volunteers share information, theories, and updates about the search.
Neighbors describe Ashlee Buzzard as quiet and private, though some noted concerns about her behavior in recent months. Others expressed heartbreak for Melodee, calling her “a sweet little girl who deserves to come home.”
A Family and Community in Distress
As of now, Melodee Buzzard remains missing, and her family—along with the broader community—continues to hold onto hope that she will be found safe. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, emphasizing that even the smallest tip could prove vital in locating her.
While Ashlee Buzzard faces unrelated criminal charges, the search for her daughter presses on with unwavering determination. The case serves as a painful reminder of the vulnerability of missing children and the urgent need for swift, coordinated community response when they vanish without a trace.
Melodee’s name remains on everyone’s lips in Santa Barbara County—a young girl who must be found, and whose story has already touched countless hearts.