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The search for a 9-year-old girl from California, missing since August, now includes the assistance of the FBI.
As reported by CBS News, the FBI has teamed up with Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies to locate Melodee, who resides in Vandenberg Village with her mother, Ashley Buzzard.
Previously highlighted by CrimeOnline, the local sheriff’s department noted that employees of the Lompoc Unified School District last encountered Melodee in August. This was when her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, enrolled her in an independent study program.
Despite being registered as a homeschooled student, Melodee has not collected any coursework.
The sheriff’s office confirmed, with help from the Lompoc Unified School District, that Melodee was observed as recently as August 2025.
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“With the assistance of Lompoc Unified School District, detectives have confirmed that Melodee was seen as recently as August 2025,” the sheriff’s office said.
When officers arrived at the family home, in the 500 block of Mars Avenue, they spoke with Ashlee Buzzard but did not see Melodee.
They returned to the home for follow-ups, but could not find her, and her mother didn’t offer valid explanations. Police subsequently carried out a search warrant at the home.
Cal Coast Times reports that Melodee’s father died in a motorcycle crash when she was an infant, and her mother has been her primary caregiver.
Family members have reportedly expressed concerns about Ashlee Buzzard’s mental health and said they have not seen Melodee in four years.
The provided photo was taken around two years ago.
“I am horrified for my little niece, I can’t imagine what she’s gone through,” Vicky Shade, Melodee’s aunt, told the Los Angeles Times. “This does not sound good. I just want to know if she’s OK. We need to find her.”
“Ashlee is mentally unstable and my mom tried to get custody or at least grandparent rights to visit Melodee because she [Ashlee] wasn’t letting our side of the family see her.”
KSBY reports that neighbors said they’ve seen Ashley Buzzard at the home, while deputies said she has been uncooperative with the investigation.
“Besides the garage been open almost 48 hours, which, we don’t know if she knows or not, she was burning something in the fireplace last night, but paper was coming out,” the daughter of a next door neighbor said.
The sheriff’s office said the case, at this time, is not a criminal investigation.
Anyone with information regarding Buzzard’s whereabouts is asked 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.
[Feature Photo: Santa Barbara County police]