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The search intensifies for 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, a young girl from California who has been missing for several weeks.
According to reports from CrimeOnline, authorities last tracked Melodee on October 7 with her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, at their home in Lompoc.
Melodee’s father tragically passed away in a motorcycle accident when she was just an infant. Since then, Ashlee Buzzard has reportedly been out of touch with the father’s side of the family for many years. Relatives on her father’s side mention they haven’t seen Melodee in approximately four years.
October 7
- Ashlee Buzzard rents a car from a Lompoc car rental business: a white Chevrolet Malibu with the license plate number 9MNG101.
- Security footage places Melodee at the business while wearing what appears to be a wig “that is darker and straighter than her natural hair.” the FBI Los Angeles said.
- The pair take a three-day road trip, with stops in Nebraska and Kansas.
October 10
- Ashlee returns to the rental car, but Melodee is not with her.
- “Detectives are now focused on determining where Melodee was during those three days and where she may be now,” the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said.
October 14
- A school administrator with the Lompoc Unified School District reported Melodee’s extended absence after she fails to pick up assignments for an independent study program.
- Police arrived at the Buzzard home, in the 500 block of Mars Avenue in Lompoc. Ashlee answers the door, but Melodee is not there.
- Ashlee Buzzard provided “no verifiable explanation” as to where Melodee was, the sheriff’s office said.
October 15
- Police execute a search warrant at the home but cannot find Melodee.
October 18
- The FBI joins the search for Melodee.
As of October 22, Melodee is described as being 4 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing 60 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
- Dailymail reports that Ashlee Buzzard was spotted leaving with someone in a black Lincoln Sedan Wednesday morning, headed first to a Budget car rental branch.
- They later drove to the Avis car rental store at an airport.
- She was reportedly denied a rental at both locations and returned home. Officials have not confirmed this information.
October 24
- “Our detectives are following every lead in this case. We continue to seek information from the public that could help us find Melodee. We remain determined to bring her home safely,” the sheriff’s office said.
Melodee is described as standing 4 feet, 6 inches tall, weighing 60 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
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.
“Members of the public are asked not to conduct independent searches or investigations, as doing so could interfere with law enforcement efforts. The best way to help is by sharing factual information directly with detectives,” the sheriff’s office said.
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Santa Barbara County police]