Melodee Buzzard was 9 years outdated when it was found in October 2025 that she was lacking.
Melodee had been dwelling along with her mom Ashlee Buzzard in Vandenberg Village, close to Lompoc in California. They lived in a house within the 500 block of Mars Avenue.
Melodee’s father Rubiell Meza died in a bike crash when Melodee was round six months outdated. Based mostly on his obituary, it doesn’t seem that he and Ashlee have been collectively on the time of his dying.
He’s survived by his mom Lilly Denes, sisters Vicky Shade and Bridgette Truhitte and husband Mike, brothers Humberto Meza Jr., Marvin Meza and spouse Brandi Meza, and Damien Denes and spouse Katie Denes, daughters Corinna Meza and Melodee Meza, grandchildren Julian and Josiah , grandmother Ramona Rangel Bautista and several other aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
The Los Angeles Instances does say although that Ashlee and Rubiell have been dwelling together with his mom on the time of his dying and Ashlee moved away shortly after.
In line with household, Rubiell’s dying kickstarted a decline in psychological well being in Ashlee.
Lori Miranda, Ashlee’s mom, mentioned lately that they had not seen or spoken to Ashlee in additional than two years.
“[Ashlee] hasn’t allow us to see [Melodee] for just a few years,” Bridgett Truitt, Melodee’s aunt, advised KEYT. “And all of us have tried. However we by no means stopped occupied with her or loving her or praying for her.”
Vicky Shade, Melodee’s aunt, mentioned that the woman’s mom has an extended historical past of psychological sickness and refused to let relations go to the woman.
“Ashlee is mentally unstable and my mother tried to get custody or not less than grandparent rights to go to Melodee as a result of she [Ashlee] wasn’t letting our facet of the household see her,” Vicky mentioned.
One other aunt, Lizabeth Meza, mentioned that Ashlee has tried suicide a number of instances up to now and has been hospitalised for therapy beforehand.
The house the place Melodee and Ashlee have been dwelling was described as being in ‘disarray.’ There was rotten meals within the fridge and the home was unclean.
“Everyone’s dragging [Ashlee] round,” Lori advised the media. “She must be on the hospital, and you ought to be speaking to her there as an alternative of all people rattling her cage after which making an attempt to behave like they’re making an attempt to assist.”
In 2017, Ashlee filed for Chapter 7 chapter and had not less than 5 collections circumstances for unpaid money owed filed towards her in Santa Barbara County Superior Court docket. This consists of circumstances filed towards her by Capital One Financial institution in Could and December, and by Crown Asset Administration final November.
Melodee was final seen by workers of the Lompoc Unified Faculty District in August 2025. Melodee had been enrolled in an impartial studying program by way of the district.
In line with the college’s web site, instruction by way of that program takes place by way of a mix of on-line work, parent-supported studying at residence, and common one-on-one instructor conferences. The curriculum is supposed to be versatile, in hopes of conserving college students with particular studying wants motivated and engaged, however some within the training world say this setup might clarify why it might have taken a bit longer to suspect one thing was amiss as an absence may not be seen till after an task is due, which could possibly be so long as a month out from the time it was assigned.
She had apparently been homeschooled for a number of years.
Nevertheless, the California Division of Schooling has no file of Ashlee submitting a personal college affidavit, which is a requirement for homeschooling, in line with division spokesperson Scott Roark.
When Melodee and Ashlee failed to choose up her assignments from the college district, workers tried to succeed in the household. Once they couldn’t get involved with them, regulation enforcement have been contacted.
“Lompoc Unified Faculty District deserves credit score for recognizing that one thing wasn’t proper, reaching out, and persevering with to help with this investigation,” Sheriff’s Lt. Chris Gotschall mentioned in an announcement. “This necessary replace helps slender a big hole within the timeline of when she was final recognized to be seen and due to that, we’re nearer to understanding what occurred to Melodee.”
Investigators have decided that the essential timeline on this case is from October 7 to October 10, 2025.
Melodee was seen on CCTV at a automotive rental enterprise on October 7.
Within the footage, Melodee might be seen sporting a grey hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up, and what seems to be a wig that’s darker and straighter than her pure hair, in line with an announcement from the sheriff’s workplace.
“Investigators additionally famous the wig could have been used to change her look,” the assertion reads. “Detectives additionally notice that [Melodee’s mother, 35-year-old Ashlee Buzzard] is understood to put on wigs.”
Ashlee rented a white Chevrolet Malibu with the license plate 9MNG101, in line with the Los Angeles Instances.
Ashlee and Melodee then went on a three-day highway journey from Lompoc, California to Nebraska.
This drive is sort of 1500 miles/2400kms and would have taken round 23 hours, a method.
Ashlee returned residence on October 10, after driving from Nebraska by way of Kansas. Authorities have mentioned that Melodee was not within the automotive.
This might have meant that Ashlee would have been driving not less than 15 hours per day to make the return journey in three days.
“Detectives are actually targeted on figuring out the place Melodee was throughout these three days and the place she could also be now,” the sheriff’s workplace mentioned.
“Our detectives are following each lead on this case. We proceed to hunt info from the general public that would assist us discover Melodee,” Sheriff Invoice Brown mentioned. “We stay decided to deliver her residence safely.”
When the college district notified police that they might not get in contact with Melodee or Ashlee, authorities went to the house. Ashlee was unable to supply an inexpensive rationalization of the place Melodee was.
On October 15, 2025, a search warrant was served on the residence. Melodee was not situated and Ashlee was mentioned to not be cooperating with police.
Simply days later, on October 18, 2025, the FBI joined the seek for Melodee.
“The Sheriff’s Workplace shares the neighborhood’s concern for Melodee’s security and is dedicated to bringing her residence,” mentioned Sheriff Invoice Brown in a press launch. “We’re grateful to the media for disseminating Melodee’s photograph and the knowledge surrounding her disappearance far and vast, which we hope will assist us clear up this perplexing case. We’re hopeful that Melodee may be with somebody – maybe an prolonged member of the family or pal – who will not be conscious of the circumstances of her disappearance.”
Melodee is described as being round 4 ft 6 inches tall and weighing 60 lbs., with brown hair and brown eyes, in line with the sheriff’s workplace.
Anybody with details about Melodee’s location is requested to report it by talking with detectives or leaving an nameless tip:
Detectives Line: (805) 681-4150
Nameless Tip Line: (805) 681-4171
On-line Ideas: SBSheriff.org
SOURCE LIST
https://folks.com/melodee-buzzard-disappearance-new-details-revealed-altered-appearance-wig-11837280
https://www.courttv.com/information/search-for-missing-9-year-old-melodee-buzzard-a-timeline
https://www.fbi.gov/needed/kidnap/melodee-buzzard
https://ktla.com/information/california/melodee-buzzard-disappearance-what-we-know
https://www.dudleyhoffmanmortuary.com/obituaries/Rubiell-Pinoy-Meza?obId=2546188
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-10-17/where-is-melodee-buzzard-missing-california-girl
