Missing California girl’s mother appears in court in separate case
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his mother 9 year old lost The California girl described as “at risk” appeared briefly in court Wednesday on a felony false imprisonment charge unrelated to her daughter’s disappearance.
Authorities say 35-year-old Ashlee Buzzard is facing charges stemming from an alleged incident at her Lompoc home on Nov. 6, weeks after her daughter’s death. Melodee Sahinlast seen.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office emphasized that the case is separate from the ongoing investigation into the child’s whereabouts.
Authorities began investigating Melodee’s disappearance on October 14 after a school official reported her extended absence. When questioned by deputies, Ashlee said Buzzard made no verifiable statement about her daughter’s location and “was uncooperative and did not verify Melodee’s welfare.”
MISSING MELODEE BUZZARD: NEW SURVEILLANCE PHOTOS SHOW MISSING CALIFORNIA GIRL (9) WITH POSSIBLE GUIDE
Authorities say Ashlee Buzzard has been uncooperative about the whereabouts of her missing daughter, Melodee, as they continue to search for the at-risk California child. (KKFX)
Tyler Brewer, a court clerk who has known Buzzard for years. he told NewsNation He said Ashlee explained to him where Melodee was and who she was with, but he wasn’t sure if the information was accurate, citing Melodee’s erratic behavior at the time. He said he believed in the child Maybe in Utah.
brewer he told ABC News She said that during a visit to Buzzard’s home, he appeared distressed after sharing information he “regretted disclosing”, then locked the doors and grabbed a box cutter to prevent her from leaving. He said he eventually let her go and immediately contacted authorities.
Brewer described Buzzard as paranoid and mentally deteriorating and said he was “a completely different person” from the moment he first met him.
MELODEE BUZZARD’S MOTHER PLANNED TO ‘CUT OFF’ HER 9-YEAR-OLD CHILD FROM THE ‘WORLD’
9-year-old Melodee Buzzard remains missing after traveling with her mother, Ashlee, across multiple states before returning the car to a rental agency. Ashlee Buzzard appeared in court on Wednesday in an unrelated case. (KKFX)
Wednesday’s hearing in Lompoc Superior Court lasted less than a minute. According to KSBY.
Buzzard appeared in court wearing a long knit cardigan and her hair pulled back into a ponytail; it was a noticeable change from her short locks at the time of her hearing on November 12. The press also stated that he avoided eye contact while walking to the lawyer’s table with his lawyer.
Lawyers confirm they will move forward pretrial It is scheduled for Thursday, when both sides will present evidence. The judge will then decide whether the felony case will proceed to trial.
MELODEE BUZZARD’S MOTHER ARRESTED FOR A CRIME NOT RELATED TO HER DAUGHTER’S MISSING
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office released surveillance footage, left, of Ashlee and Melodee Buzzard captured at a rental car location in Lompoc, California, at the start of the trip on October 7, 2025. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office/FBI)
Buzzard was charged on Nov. 7 in connection with the incident involving Brewer. He was later released under conditions such as wearing an ankle monitor and avoiding contact with her.
Buzzard’s mother, Lori Miranda, told NewsNation that she hasn’t spoken to Ashlee since 2023. Miranda described Ashlee’s difficult past marked by instability and domestic violence, including periods of childhood homelessness.
Investigators say Ashlee left California with Melodee on Oct. 7 and was traveling in a rented Chevrolet Malibu with California license plates that was later replaced with a New York tag believed to be fake.
MELODEE BUZZARD’S MOTHER RELEASED AFTER ALLEGEDLY IMPRISONED OFFICER BY REVEALING HER MISSING DAUGHTER’S LOCATION
Investigators said Ashlee and Melodee Buzzard were on a road trip when the young girl disappeared. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office)
The couple reportedly drove through California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada before the car was returned to the rental agency with its original plates reattached.
Ashlee and Melodee are seen in surveillance video released by the sheriff’s office wearing a wig At the Lompoc rental point. Authorities believe the disguise was intended to avoid recognition while traveling.
Authorities say Melodee is 5 feet, 4 feet, 6 inches tall, weighs between 190 and 100 pounds, with brown curly hair and brown eyes.
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The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with information about Melodee’s whereabouts to call (805) 681-4150.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and Buzzard’s attorney for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Adam Sabes contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price covers crimes including missing persons, murders and immigration crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
