The case against a Vandenberg Village mother accused of killing her 9-year-old daughter in Utah last year is scheduled to return to Santa Barbara County Superior Court in Santa Maria at the end of November. 

Ashlee Buzzard, 41, was arrested in December, months after authorities determined that her daughter, Melodee, was missing and asked in mid-October for the public’s help in locating the girl.

For weeks, Buzzard refused to cooperate with law enforcement officers trying to determine the girl’s whereabouts after determining Melodee was not at their home in the 500 block of Mars Avenue in the unincorporated community near Lompoc, according to authorities. 

Investigators determined that Buzzard had left town for a multi-state road trip with Melodee and returned alone. During the trip, Buzzard allegedly wore a disguise and switched license plates on the rental vehicle she was driving.

Melodee’s remains were found in early December in rural Utah. Authorities said she had been shot in the head multiple times.

Buzzard has been charged with murder plus sentencing enhancements for use of a firearm and lying in wait.

In September, defense attorney Erica Sutherland declared a doubt regarding Buzzard’s mental competency, pausing criminal proceedings.

Before a mental-competency hearing, Buzzard must undergo an examination by a pair of professionals chosen by the defense attorney and Senior Deputy District Attorney Jordan Lockey.

One examination reportedly remains to be done, but Judge Stephen Dunkle agreed that it could occur cell-side or remotely. 

The case is set to return to court Nov. 30, when the judge may set a date to conduct a mental-competency hearing.

If Buzzard is found competent, the criminal proceedings would resume, including conducting a preliminary hearing to determine whether enough evidence exists for her to stand trial on the charges.

However, if deemed incompetent, the criminal case would remain suspended while Buzzard undergoes treatment to restore mental competency.

Buzzard remains in the custody of the Santa Barbara County Jail, where she is being held without bail.

Meanwhile, Melodee’s two half-sisters have filed civil lawsuits claiming negligence and naming the Santa Barbara County Department of Social Services and the Sheriff’s Office, the Lompoc Unified School District and the City of Lompoc as defendants, along with up to 100 unnamed individuals.