Law enforcement officers from at least two agencies served additional search warrants Thursday at the Lompoc Valley home of a woman whose 9-year-old daughter remained missing.
Detectives from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and agents from the FBI served the search warrants at the home at 550 Mars Ave. in Vandenberg Village, as well as a storage locker and a rental car.
For more than two weeks, investigators have sought answers regarding the whereabouts of the young girl, Melodee Buzzard.
“In anticipation of the need for access to the residence during the search for an extended time, detectives escorted (the mother, Ashlee Buzzard) to an alternate location that would not interfere with their ability to conduct a thorough search,” Raquel Zick, Sheriff’s Office public information officer, said Thursday.
“This case remains a missing person investigation,” she added.
Investigators remained at the scene late Thursday afternoon, with a segment of Mars Avenue blocked off while they conducted their search.
As the marine layer moved over the neighborhood and the sun began to set, investigators could be seen through a few of the small windows at the top of the garage door. The shadowy figures appeared to climb a ladder to access the rafters or attic of the home with lighting helping in the search..
Authorities have not made any arrests in the case, Zick said Thursday afternoon.
The search for Melodee began earlier this month after educators asked law enforcement officers to check on the girl.
Ashlee Buzzard has remained “uncooperative” during the investigation, investigators have said.
She reportedly has metal health issues and allegedly feared losing custody of her daughter.
Melodee’s father, Ronaldo Rubiell Meza, 40, died in a Santa Maria motorcycle crash in 2016, and Ashlee Buzzard reportedly has limited contact between the girl and his family.
Detectives said last week that they have narrowed the critical timeline in the search for the girl to Oct. 7 to Oct. 10, releasing still images of Melodee at a rental car business.
The mother returned to her Lompoc residence on Oct. 10, driving the same rental vehicle she left in but without Melodee in the car, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators determined that Ashlee Buzzard traveled to the Nebraska area, with the return trip including Kansas.
The FBI has joined the investigation and assisted in Thursday’s searches.
“In cases like this, every detail matters, and it is invaluable to have additional resources and specialized expertise,” said Lt. Chris Gotschall from the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division.
“Collaboration with our federal partners allows us to ensure we’re using every available tool to help bring resolution to this case.”