The mystery of missing 9-year-old girl Melodee Buzzard has prompted people to gather outside her mother’s Vandenberg Village home, while others plan to search local areas despite law enforcement officers asking not to “unintentionally interfere.”
Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office detectives asked the public for information about the girl’s whereabouts last week. Over the weekend, the FBI said on social media that it was assisting local law enforcement officers in the investigation.
On Monday morning, the Sheriff’s Office provided its third update, saying the girl had been seen as recently as Oct. 7.
“Detectives have also determined that Ashlee may have driven with Melodee in a white Chevrolet Malibu (Lic #9MNG101) to locations outside of Santa Barbara County to include as far as the state of Nebraska. The vehicle was determined to be a rental car no longer in Ashlee’s possession,” according to the Monday update sent by Raquel Zick, Sheriff’s Office public information officer.
“At this point in the investigation, Ashlee Buzzard remains uncooperative and has not provided detectives with any information about Melodee’s current location or condition. The primary goal of this investigation is to verify the location and welfare of Melodee Buzzard and ensure that she is safe.”
The mystery of the whereabouts of the girl, shown in a picture with a vibrant smile, has quickly gone viral, sparking many questions and much anger. The case attracted the attention of legal commentator Nancy Grace plus true crime aficionados.
“Detectives continue to pursue all available leads. This public outreach effort is one part of those ongoing efforts to develop information that could assist investigators,” Zick said.
Law enforcement officers typically don’t reveal the details of investigations to protect evidence if a case winds up in court.
Locally, more than two dozen people stood in front of the mother’s home demanding answers with signs asking, “Where’s Melodee?” planted in the grass between the sidewalks and street.
About two dozen people gathered near the house Sunday afternoon, with a shouting match erupting between a neighbor and residents worried about the missing girl, including some relatives.
“They’re not doing nothing. Police ain’t doing nothing. Law enforcement ain’t doing (anything). Somebody got to do something,” one woman said.
Some of the people knocked on the door, but it was not answered.
They believed the mother was inside the home, claiming that smoke rising from the chimney indicated her presence.
“Everybody’s worried about this little girl,” another woman said, explaining what spurred them to show up outside the missing girl’s home.
A Facebook group, “In Search of Melodee,” quickly grew to more than 1,000 members as people offered their theories.
Plans were in the works to conduct searches of some areas around the Lompoc Valley.
“Detectives are aware of the strong community interest in Melodee’s case and are asking the public not to attempt to conduct their own searches or investigations,” the Sheriff’s Office statement said. “While well-intentioned, these efforts could unintentionally interfere with investigative work already in progress.
“Investigators have already conducted a thorough search of the family’s residence and continue to follow verified leads in a coordinated manner.”
Authorities began looking for the 9-year-old after being notified by Lompoc Unified School District representatives on Oct. 14.
Although initially reported that the girl was last seen more than a year ago, officials on Friday confirmed an August sighting when Ashlee Buzzard and her daughter visited Mission Valley Independent Study School to initiate her registration.
Mission Valley is an independent study program offered through the Lompoc Unified School District. The program refers students back to their school of residence if they fail to pick up assignments, LUSD representatives said.
At that point, the school of residence connects the family to complete enrollment.
“If attendance does not begin, the school follows mandatory truancy procedures — including phone calls, letters, emails and home visits. When a student or family cannot be reached after these efforts, the school requests a welfare check from law enforcement,” LUSD representatives said last week.
“We are doing everything within our authority to support this investigation, including providing records and coordinating with the Sheriff’s Office.”
Monday’s mention of the Oct. 7 sighting didn’t say where the girl was located. Investigators also didn’t say when or why the trip to Nebraska occurred.
The girl’s father, Rolando Rubiell “Pinoy”Meza, 40, died in an August 2016 motorcycle crash in Santa Maria.
Anyone who has seen Melodee Buzzard, or has had contact with Ashlee Buzzard since Oct. 7, is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division at 805.681.4150.
Those wishing to remain anonymous can provide information through the tip line at 805.681.4171 or online at sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip/.
The FBI can be reached 24 hours a day by calling 1.800.225.5324 (CALL-FBI) or 310.477.6565 or submitting a tip online at tips.fbi.gov.