The Heartbreaking Search for Melodee Buzzard: A Grandmother’s Plea

The disappearance of 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard has sparked a multi-state investigation, with the FBI joining the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office in a desperate search for the missing child. The case began unfolding on October 14 when school administrators reported Melodee’s prolonged absence, leading authorities to question her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, who has been unable to provide a verifiable explanation for her daughter’s whereabouts. What makes this case particularly troubling is the revelation from Melodee’s paternal grandmother, Lilly Denes, who was in the process of adopting Melodee when Ashlee, recently released from a mental hospital in 2021, abruptly “took her away.” According to Denes, social services had placed Melodee in her care to avoid foster care while Ashlee was hospitalized, but following her release, Ashlee removed Melodee from school and subsequently cut the child off “from the entire world,” including all family members.

Denes painted a concerning picture of Ashlee’s mental state, recalling her first impression when they met: “When I met her, my son brought her to the house. She looked so quiet and she was following me with her eyes back and forth, and I told my son: ‘Son, is this girl OK? She doesn’t look like she’s normal. Something’s wrong with this lady.'” This stark contrast stands against Denes’s description of Melodee as a “very happy baby, always smiling, very smart.” The grandmother’s pain is palpable in her plea: “I know that maybe somebody out there in the world knows where my baby is. Somebody has to know.” This emotional appeal underscores the heartbreak of a family member desperately seeking answers about a child who has seemingly vanished.

The investigation has revealed a concerning timeline of events beginning on October 7, when Ashlee left California with Melodee in a rented Chevrolet Malibu. Their journey took them as far as Nebraska, with a return trip through Kansas, raising questions about the purpose of this cross-country travel. More troublingly, on October 8, the Malibu was spotted with a New York license plate that authorities believe was “false or switched” to avoid detection. When the vehicle was eventually returned to the rental agency in California, the original license plate had been replaced. Investigators have traced the car’s route through California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada around October 9, with Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Raquel Zick stating ominously, “Somewhere along that route is where we know Ashlee was no longer with Melodee.” This statement has intensified concerns about the child’s safety and current circumstances.

Surveillance footage from a rental car location in Lompoc, California has provided investigators with additional clues. The video shows both Ashlee and Melodee apparently wearing wigs, with the Sheriff’s Office noting that “Ashlee swapped wigs throughout the trip, changing to a darker wig that is similar in color and style to the one Melodee was seen wearing. This change in appearance is believed to have been intentional to avoid recognition during travel.” These deliberate attempts to disguise their appearances suggest premeditation and raise serious questions about Ashlee’s intentions. The seemingly calculated nature of these actions has only deepened investigators’ concerns about Melodee’s current situation and well-being.

The case took another bizarre turn on November 7 when Ashlee was charged with false imprisonment after allegedly holding a man captive in her home. According to Tyler Brewer, who identified himself as a court officer, Ashlee “became visibly distressed after sharing information she appeared to regret disclosing,” then pulled out a box cutter, locked the doors to her home, and refused to let him leave. Brewer later claimed that Ashlee had revealed Melodee’s location and who she was with during this encounter, though he expressed doubts about the truthfulness of this information. Following this incident, Ashlee was released from jail under several conditions, including wearing a GPS monitor, but the critical question of Melodee’s whereabouts remains unanswered as Ashlee has continued to be uncooperative with authorities.

As the search for Melodee continues, authorities have described her as between 4-feet and 4-feet, 6-inches tall, weighing between 60 to 100 pounds, with brown curly hair and brown eyes. The involvement of the FBI indicates the seriousness with which law enforcement is treating this case, particularly given the cross-state nature of the investigation and concerns about Melodee’s safety. Behind the official descriptions and timelines lies the story of a young girl caught in circumstances beyond her control and a grandmother who simply wants to know her granddaughter is safe. Lilly Denes’s emotional plea serves as a reminder of the human impact of this case—a family torn apart, a child missing, and the desperate hope that someone, somewhere, has information that could bring Melodee home. Anyone with information about Melodee’s whereabouts is urged to contact authorities at (805) 681-4150, as every tip could be the one that helps locate this missing child.