Charges of false imprisonment against the mother of missing California girl Melodee Buzzard were dismissed in a Santa Barbara County court on Thursday.

During the hearing, audio evidence was presented which demonstrated that Ashlee Buzzard did not obstruct Tyler Brewer from leaving her Lompoc residence on November 6.

According to the Lompoc Record, Brewer, who described himself as a “legal document assistant,” was attempting to help Ashlee Buzzard following the mysterious disappearance of her daughter. Brewer recounted that tensions rose when he inquired about Melodee, who has been missing since October 9.

Brewer alleged that Buzzard accused him of colluding with Melodee’s paternal relatives and mentioned noticing a box cutter on a TV stand, which made him feel unable to leave.

However, during the extensive three-hour session, Brewer conceded to providing a detective with inconsistent statements. He confirmed that Buzzard neither threatened him with the box cutter nor took any aggressive stance toward him.

Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Stephen Dunkle dismissed the claims and said Buzzard is no longer required to wear a GPS monitor.

“I find that there’s not probable cause to hold her to answer,” Dunkle said shortly before noon. “There’s insufficient evidence that this was any confinement or restraint effectuated by violence or menace.”

Meanwhile, the search for Melodee continues.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said Buzzard rented a car in Lompoc, and embarked on a cross-country trip on October 7, with possible stops in Kansas and Nebraska.

Security footage placed both Ashlee Buzzard and Melodee at the car rental business while wearing wigs that same day.

The rental car, described as a white 2024 Chevrolet Malibu, initially had California license plate 9MNG101. On October 8, Buzzard allegedly changed it to New York license plate HCG9677.

“It is unknown when the plate was installed or whether additional plates were used at other times during travel. The New York plate seen on the car does not belong to the vehicle or to Ashlee,” the sheriff’s office said.

According to the sheriff’s office, Melodee was last seen on October 9, between the Colorado–Utah border, on a return route.

“Somewhere along that route is where we know Ashlee was no longer with Melodee,” Raquel Zick, Public Information Officer with SBCSO, said.

Police believe Ashlee Buzzard drove through the following locations before returning home to Lompoc without Melodee.

• Green River, Utah
• Panguitch, Utah
• Northwest Arizona
• Primm, Nevada
• Rancho Cucamonga, California

Authorities are now asking businesses and residents and in the aforementioned areas to look at surveillance footage from October 9 and 10.

Before returning the car on October 10, Ashlee Buzzard put the California plate back on the vehicle, the sheriff’s office said.

Anyone with information regarding Melodee’s whereabouts is urged to call Santa Barbara County investigators at 805-681-4150. Anonymous calls can be made to the tip line at 805-681-4171. Contact the FBI at 800-225-5324.

Anonymous tipsters can also share information online to the sheriff’s office.

Read additional coverage on Melodee Buzzard

[Feature Photo: Santa Barbara County police]