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In California, the FBI and local sheriff’s office carried out several search warrants this week, as the search continues for a missing nine-year-old girl deemed “at-risk.”
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office reported that the investigation into the disappearance of Melodee Buzzard started on October 14. This followed a school administrator’s report of her prolonged absence. Deputies went to her Lompoc home and met her 35-year-old mother, Ashlee Buzzard. However, Melodee was not present, and there was no credible explanation for her location, according to the sheriff’s office.
The FBI has suggested that Melodee may have accompanied her mother on a trip that extended “as far as the state of Nebraska” before she disappeared.
On Thursday, October 30, 2025, detectives from the Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the FBI, executed additional search warrants at the residence of Ashlee and Melodee Buzzard. They also searched a storage locker and the rental car in which Melodee was last seen. To ensure uninterrupted access for an extensive search, detectives relocated Ashlee to an alternate location during the investigation, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office reported.
A photo of Melodee Buzzard, which the FBI states was taken in 2023, is shown here.
Police say the case remains a missing person investigation and no arrests have been made. The sheriff’s office previously described Melodee’s mother as being “uncooperative with investigators” and said Melodee is an “at risk-missing person.”
“In cases like this, every detail matters, and it is invaluable to have additional resources and specialized expertise. Collaboration with our federal partners allows us to ensure we’re using every available tool to help bring resolution to this case,” Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Lt. Chris Gotschall said in a statement.
Last week, the sheriff’s office released new surveillance images of Melodee.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office released an image of Melodee Buzzard it says was “captured at a local car rental business on October 7.” (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office )
“As part of this update, detectives are sharing surveillance images of Melodee captured at a local car rental business on October 7. In the photo, Melodee is wearing a hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up and what appears to be a wig that is darker and straighter than her natural hair,” it said at the time. “Investigators believe the wig may have been used to alter her appearance. Detectives also note that Ashlee is known to wear wigs.”
“Through their ongoing investigation, detectives have narrowed the critical timeline to between October 7 and October 10, 2025. Investigators have confirmed that Ashlee was seen returning to her Lompoc residence on October 10, driving the same rental vehicle she departed with on October 7 — but Melodee was not in the car,” the sheriff’s office continued.
“Investigators understand that this three-day road trip went from Lompoc to the Nebraska area, with the return trip including the state of Kansas. Detectives are now focused on determining where Melodee was during those three days and where she may be now,” it also said.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said footage shows Melodee wearing a hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up and “what appears to be a wig.” (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office)
Melodee Buzzard is described by police as being around 4 feet, 6 inches tall and weighing approximately 60 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. The FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office is assisting in the search.