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The mother of a 9-year-old California girl, who has been reported missing and is considered “at-risk,” made a brief court appearance on Wednesday. She faces a felony charge of false imprisonment, which is not connected to her child’s disappearance.
According to officials, Ashlee Buzzard, aged 35, is charged following an incident alleged to have occurred at her residence in Lompoc on November 6. This event took place several weeks after her daughter, Melodee Buzzard, was last seen.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has made it clear that this charge is unrelated to the ongoing search for the missing girl.
The investigation into Melodee’s disappearance was initiated on October 14, following a report from a school official about her extended absence. Authorities note that Ashlee Buzzard has not provided a credible account of her daughter’s whereabouts and has shown a lack of cooperation, failing to confirm Melodee’s safety.
As the search continues, Ashlee Buzzard remains uncooperative regarding any information about her daughter Melodee’s location, according to authorities. (KKFX)
Tyler Brewer, a court officer who has known Buzzard for years, told NewsNation that Ashlee revealed to him where Melodee was and who she was with, but he remains unsure whether the information was accurate, citing her unstable behavior at the time. He said he believes the child may be in Utah.
Brewer told ABC News that during a visit to Buzzard’s home, she appeared distressed after sharing information she “seemed to regret disclosing,” then locked the doors and retrieved a box cutter, preventing him from leaving. He said she eventually let him go, and he immediately contacted authorities.
Brewer described Buzzard as paranoid and mentally deteriorating, saying she’s “a totally different person” from when he first met her.
Melodee Buzzard, 9, remains missing after traveling with her mother Ashlee through multiple states before the car was returned to a rental agency. Ashlee Buzzard appeared in court Wednesday in an unrelated case. (KKFX)
Wednesday’s hearing in Lompoc Superior Court lasted less than a minute, according to KSBY.
Buzzard appeared in court dressed in a long-knit cardigan and with her hair tied back in a ponytail, a noticeable change from her short curls during her Nov. 12 arraignment. The outlet noted she also avoided eye contact as she walked to the counsel table alongside her public defender.
Attorneys confirmed they are moving forward with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Thursday, when both sides will present evidence. A judge will then decide if the felony case proceeds to trial.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office released a surveillance image, left, of Ashlee and Melodee Buzzard that it says was captured at a rental car location in Lompoc, California, at the start of the road trip on Oct. 7, 2025. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office/FBI)
Buzzard was charged Nov. 7 in connection with the incident involving Brewer. She was later released under conditions that include wearing an ankle monitor and avoiding contact with him.
Buzzard’s mother, Lori Miranda, told NewsNation she has not spoken with Ashlee since 2023. She described a difficult past marked by instability and domestic violence, including periods of homelessness when Ashlee was a child.
Investigators say Ashlee left California with Melodee on Oct. 7, traveling in a rented Chevrolet Malibu with California plates that were later swapped for a New York tag believed to be false.
Investigators say Ashlee and Melodee Buzzard were on a road trip when the young girl disappeared. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office)
The pair reportedly drove through California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada before the car was returned to the rental agency with its original plates reattached.
Surveillance video released by the sheriff’s office shows Ashlee and Melodee wearing wigs at a Lompoc rental location. Authorities believe the disguise was intended to avoid recognition while traveling.
Melodee is described by officials as 4-feet to 4-feet, 6-inches tall, 60 to 100 pounds, with brown curly hair and brown eyes.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone with information about Melodee’s whereabouts to call (805) 681-4150.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and Buzzard’s lawyer for comment.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.