Lompoc, Calif.  – Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives are releasing additional information in the ongoing search for missing at-risk 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, including a portion of the surveillance video from October 7, 2025, and updated investigative details indicating that Melodee’s mother, Ashlee Buzzard, may have changed her appearance during travel.

Detectives are now sharing a segment of the video footage taken on October 7, 2025, at a rental car location in Lompoc, California. The footage corresponds to previously released still images and shows both Ashlee and Melodee wearing wigs. Investigators also believe 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.

Summary of Previously Released Information

The Sheriff’s Office began its investigation on October 14, 2025, when a school administrator reported Melodee’s prolonged absence. Deputies attempted to locate Melodee and her mother, Ashlee, at their residence in Lompoc but were only able to speak with Ashlee, who provided no verifiable explanation for Melodee’s whereabouts. A search of the residence confirmed Melodee was not there.

Through their investigation, detectives confirmed the following:

• Ashlee left California with Melodee on October 7, 2025, driving a rented white 2024 Chevrolet Malibu that initially displayed California license plate 9MNG101.
• Detectives believe Ashlee and Melodee traveled as far as Nebraska, with a return route that included Kansas.
• Beginning October 8, 2025, the Malibu was observed with a New York license plate: HCG9677. The plate does not belong to the vehicle or Ashlee and is believed to have been used as a false or switched plate to avoid detection. When the Malibu was returned to the Lompoc rental agency, the original California plate was back on the vehicle.
• Detectives have confirmed that Melodee was last seen on October 9, 2025, on video surveillance in the region between the Colorado–Utah border. Ashlee has continued to refuse cooperation and has not confirmed Melodee’s location or welfare.

Travel Route – Communities Asked to Review Surveillance

Detectives believe the Malibu traveled through the following areas on or around October 9, 2025:

• Green River, Utah
• Panguitch, Utah
• Northwest Arizona
• Primm, Nevada
• Rancho Cucamonga, California

The Sheriff’s Office has released a travel-route map and is urging businesses, gas stations, hotels, rest stops, and community members in these areas to review surveillance footage from October 9–10, 2025.

Detectives are asking anyone who has seen Melodee or has information about her whereabouts to contact the Sheriff’s Office through one of the following methods:

• Detectives Line: (805) 681-4150
• Anonymous Tip Line: (805) 681-4171
• Online Tips: www.sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip/

Detectives will continue to provide updates as new information becomes available that does not compromise the integrity of the investigation.