A missing 9-year-old Vandenberg Village girl may have traveled as far as Nebraska but didn’t return to the Lompoc Valley, sparking hopes that she ended up with an extended family member or friend instead of in danger — or worse.

Melodee Buzzard, 9, remains missing and has been considered at-risk because of her age and the length of her absence, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday.

“The Sheriff’s Office shares the community’s concern for Melodee’s safety and is committed to bringing her home,” Sheriff Bill Brown said in a written statement. “We are grateful to the media for disseminating Melodee’s photo and the information surrounding her disappearance far and wide, which we hope will help us solve this perplexing case. 

“We are hopeful that Melodee might be with someone — perhaps an extended family member or friend — who may not be aware of the circumstances of her disappearance.”

The girl’s mom, Ashlee Buzzard, continues to remain uncooperative with law enforcement officers seeking information from their home, but Melodee was not at the location, “and there was no verifiable explanation for her whereabouts,” Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Raquel Zick said.

Through their ongoing investigation, detectives have found evidence of a verified sighting of Melodee with her mother as recently as Oct. 7, the start of a road trip as far as Nebraska in a rental car. 

However, Ashlee Buzzard returned to the Central Coast, apparently without the girl, detectives said.

Investigators also have served a search warrant at the mother’s home in the 500 block of Mars Avenue but have not said what, if anything, they found.

“Searches have already been conducted at the family’s residence and surrounding areas, and detectives continue to follow every credible lead,” Zick said. 

The search for the girl began Oct. 14 when the Sheriff’s Office was notified by school officials that the girl hadn’t been seen recently. The FBI joined the effort over the weekend with limited details dribbling out, raising more concerns and questions.

Last week, sheriff’s detectives initially said the last verified contact with Melodee was approximately one year ago, but later confirmed more recent interactions. 

In August, Melodee was first enrolled in the Lompoc Unified School District, when she and her mother went to Mission Valley Independent Study School to register her. 

If a student in the independent study program fails to pick up assignments, the child is referred back to their school of residence, with officials then contacting the family to complete enrollment. That likely was Buena Vista Elementary School in Vandenberg Village.

If the student doesn’t start attending classes, the school launches mandatory truancy procedures, including phone calls, letters, emails and home visits. 

When a student or family cannot be reached, the school will ask law enforcement officers to perform a welfare check. 

Since the release of reports about the missing girl, concerned residents and members of Central Coast and international media outlets have converged on the 500 block of Mars Avenue. Others discussed undertaking their own searches, although law enforcement officers asked people to refrain from interfering. 

“The most effective way to help is by sharing factual information directly with detectives,” Zick said.

Social media users, including a neighbor showing surveillance videos, have shared reports of Ashlee Buzzard sightings around the community, including treks to a Santa Maria fast-food restaurant and car rental firms.

Others have helped ensure that the story about the missing girl is spread into other states, including Nebraska.

The most recent verified photo of Melodee is about two years old, but investigators say the girl is about 4 feet 6 inches tall and weighs about 60 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes. Investigators note that her appearance may have changed since the time the photo was taken.  

The Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone who has information on Melodee Buzzard’s possible whereabouts to contact detectives immediately at 805.681.4150, through the anonymous tip line at 805.681.4171 or by submitting a tip online at SBSheriff.org.