Melody Buzzard’s mother arrested after daughter’s body found in area visited during trip – Mix Vale

Authorities have confirmed the location of the remains of 9-year-old Melody Buzzard, who has been missing since October in California. The body was found in early December in a neighborhood in Utah that the child and her mother had passed during a car trip.

Ashley Buzzard, Melody’s mother, 40, was arrested on the morning of December 23 at her home in Vandenberg Village. The arrest was made after DNA test results confirmed the identity of the remains.

Sheriff de Condado de Santa Barbara announced a press conference this afternoon to detail the progress of the investigation.

Investigation Oct. Beginning on the 14th, school administrators at the Distrito Unificado de Lompoc reported Melody’s prolonged absence from the independent study program. The girl was enrolled by her mother in August, but did not participate in the latter’s activities.

• The school tried to contact the family several times before informing the authorities.
• Melody was considered a risk due to her age and the circumstances of her disappearance.
• The child’s father died when she was an infant, and the paternal parents had recently had little contact.

There was never any hope the Melodee Buzzard would be found alive, judging from the actions of her mother, Ashlee Buzzard.

Poor Melodee.

I will be posting more details soon.

*Melodee is dead and her "mom" Ashlee is in custody.*#MelodeeBuzzard #missing found deceased… pic.twitter.com/WsZkLFp27v

— Jennifer Coffindaffer (@CoffindafferFBI) December 23, 2025

Doubtful trip in October

Ashley and Melody rented a white Chevrolet Malibu in Lompoc on October 7. Surveillance images showed that they were both wearing wigs, raising suspicions of an attempted disguise.

The trip took three days, with travel including Nebraska, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and Kansas. While en route, the vehicle’s license plate was temporarily replaced with a New York plate.

Melody was last seen on October 9 near the Utah-Colorado border. Ashley returned to Lompoc alone on October 10 after returning the rental car.

Investigators reconstructed the route based on toll booth and security camera recordings. The distance crossed 2,400 km.

Previous arrest of mother

On November 7, Ashley Buzzard was arrested on suspicion of unlawful imprisonment in connection with her daughter’s disappearance. One man said he was held against his will at his home.

Charges were dropped on November 20 due to insufficient evidence. The promoters have cited conflicting information in the process.

According to official sheriff’s statements, Ashley remained uncooperative during the search for Melody. Attempts to contact him after October were unsuccessful.

Fossil discovery in Utah

Melody’s remains were found in early December in a remote area that Utah had passed through during the tour. Fontes police suggest the young girl may have died in October before she was officially reported missing.

A DNA test confirmed the identity a week before the mother’s arrest. Paternal grandmother, Lily Danes, was informed of the discovery by authorities.

The father’s family has expressed concern for the child’s well-being in recent years. Danes tried to get custody before disappearing, but the action was unsuccessful.

Reactions in the local community

Vandenberg Village residents have been following the case closely since October. The Elgans gather outside Ashley’s house to ask where the girl is.

Corina Meza, Melody’s half-sister, has said publicly that she is looking for answers. Ella pointed out that the girl was rarely seen, even by those close to her.

The local community provided information about the rental vehicle sightings. The case attracted national attention because of the circumstances of the trip and the disguises used.

Details of recent arrests

In a video recorded by neighbors, Ashley was handcuffed and led away from the house on the morning of December 23.

She was remanded without bail to the Santa Barbara Jail Condado. The arrest took place a few hours before the announcement of the press conference.

FBI investigators were involved in the search from the beginning, helping to reconstruct the interstate highway. The focus remained on the October trip, seen as a turning point in the case.

Research timeline

Officials have released regular updates on the progress of the investigation. Image monitoring and route maps are shared for public guidance.

Distrito Escolar de Lompoc received credit for early warning of absences. The police were notified less than a month after the recording.

The case involved the resources of several agencies, including analysis of license plates and vehicle rental records. Initial searches were complicated by changing license plates and wearing a wig.

Extended family context

Melody lived with her mother in the village of Vandenberg, about 150 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The girl was described as having curly hair and brown eyes.

Paternal relatives reported a gradual loss of contact in earlier years. The paternal grandmother worked with social services to arrange visitation prior to the incident.

Ashley Buzzard faced personal challenges documented in old records, including family problems when she was a teenager. The details of the assays did not directly interfere with the ongoing investigation.