The grandmother of Melodee Buzzard, a young girl tragically killed in California, is adamant that the child’s mother orchestrated the attack, dismissing the possibility of an insanity defense.

Speaking to reporters on January 7 outside the Lompoc County Court, Lilly Denes, Melodee’s paternal grandmother, shared her thoughts following Ashlee Buzzard’s court appearance, as reported by the Santa Barbara Independent.

Ashlee Buzzard faces charges for the murder of her daughter, Melodee, whose body was discovered in Utah. She has entered a plea of not guilty.

When questioned about the potential for an insanity plea, Denes expressed her skepticism, stating, “I don’t think that’s right because she planned everything.”

The allegations against Buzzard include renting a vehicle on October 7 to embark on an interstate journey with Melodee.

At the car rental agency in Lompoc, security footage captured both Buzzard and Melodee wearing wigs. Buzzard later allegedly switched license plates on the rental vehicle to avoid detection.

“When I met her nine or 10 years ago, she was not like this. I don’t know what happened,” Denes said, recalling when Melodee’s father, Rubiell Meza, who died in a motorcycle crash years ago, introduced Buzzard to his family.

“When my son brought her to the house, she was really quiet and just looking at me from head to toe,” Denes said. “I told my son, ‘Mijo, is this lady, is this girl OK? … She’s just staring.’”

Denes told the Independent that her son attributed Buzzard’s behavior to shyness.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, investigators found an expended cartridge case inside Buzzard’s Vandenberg Village home during an October 30 search. They also found  “a live round of similar ammunition” inside the vehicle she had rented.

Then, a couple taking photos in a rural area of Wayne County, Utah, found Melodee’s remains near East State Route 24, on December 6.

Last month, Santa Barbara Sheriff Bill Brown said during a press conference that the Melodee had “gunshot wounds to the head.”

Brown called the killing “cold-blooded” with “criminally sophisticated premeditation and heartlessness.”

Meanwhile, Denes added that although she expects that Buzzard will plead insanity, she’s hoping that Buzzard “gets charged the right way.”

Buzzard remains behind bars without bail on charges that include:

• First-degree murder
• Discharge of a firearm causing death
• Special circumstance of murder by lying in wait

The prosecution announced that they would not seek the death penalty but will push for life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Buzzard’s next court hearing is scheduled for January 21. A preliminary hearing will reportedly not take place until after April.

Check back for updates.

Read additional coverage on Melodee Buzzard

[Feature Photo via Santa Barbara County police]