The mom of 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, who has been lacking since early October, was arrested Friday by Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies, however officers stated the arrest was unrelated to her daughter’s disappearance.
Melodee was final seen in August however was reported lacking extra just lately when Lompoc Unified College District officers reported her extended absence. Deputies searched the lady’s residence in Vandenberg Village and spoke to her mom, however stated the younger lady was nowhere to be seen and that her mom was uncooperative within the investigation.
On Friday, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s officers introduced Ashlee Buzzard was taken into custody after she allegedly prevented a sufferer from leaving a location.
Sheriff’s officers provided no extra particulars concerning the arrest besides to say in an announcement that it was not linked to the seek for Melodee.
“This crime is just not linked to the continuing seek for Melodee, nonetheless, detectives are unable to totally define the crime as it will impede their ongoing investigation,” the assertion stated.
The arrest, officers stated, occurred in the course of the course of the lacking particular person investigation, officers stated.
Buzzard was anticipated to be booked at Northern Department Jail with bail set at $100,000, the sheriff’s division stated within the assertion.
The FBI has joined native legislation enforcement within the seek for the 9-year-old lady. On Thursday, Ashlee Buzzard was escorted off the property as federal and native officers searched the lady’s Santa Barbara County residence, on the five hundred block of Mars Avenue, searching for clues to her whereabouts.
Lompoc faculty district officers reached out to the sheriff’s workplace on Oct. 14 after Melodee had been absent for a while.
Officers then launched surveillance video that appeared to indicate Ashlee Buzzard and her daughter at a automotive rental enterprise Oct. 7.
Officers imagine Ashlee Buzzard took her daughter and drove to Nebraska, passing via Kansas alongside the best way.
Buzzard returned to the Vandenberg Village residence Oct. 10, officers stated.
Sheriff‘s officers launched surveillance photographs exhibiting the mom and daughter at a automotive rental enterprise, the place Melodee was seen sporting a hooded sweatshirt. Officers stated the lady seemed to be sporting a wig with darker and straighter hair than her pure hair.
Officers imagine her mom rented a white Chevrolet Malibu.