Key Takeaways
- Melodee Buzzard, a 9-year-old California girl, was found dead in a rural area of southern Utah after a multi-state search.
- Her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
- Authorities believe Ashlee deliberately tried to hide her steps and avoid detection by surveillance cameras.
- The investigation found a significant amount of evidence linking Ashlee to the crime, including DNA analysis and ballistic evidence.
- The motive for the killing is still unclear, and Ashlee is being uncooperative with investigators.
Introduction to the Case
The disappearance of 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard sparked a multi-state search that ultimately led to the discovery of her remains in a rural area of southern Utah. The investigation took a shocking turn when authorities announced that Melodee’s mother, Ashlee Buzzard, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. According to Santa Barbara County Sheriff-Coroner Bill Brown, Ashlee deliberately tried to hide her steps, including backing a rental car at gas stations to avoid detection by surveillance cameras. The body was initially discovered by a couple taking photos in a remote part of Wayne County, Utah, and while the remains couldn’t be immediately identified, DNA analysis later revealed a familial match to Ashlee.
Investigation and Evidence
The investigation into Melodee’s disappearance began when she was reported missing on October 14, not by a family member, but by a school administrator concerned about her long absence. Detectives served a search warrant at Ashlee’s home on October 15 and later found evidence, including an expended cartridge case, that linked Ashlee to the crime. Further search warrants were served on October 30, and the FBI Evidence Response Team recovered a live round of similar ammunition from the rental car. The ATF later found that cartridge cases from the Utah crime scene matched a single cartridge case found at the Buzzard residence, providing a significant link between Ashlee and the crime. Brown described the crime as "cold-blooded and criminally sophisticated" and said that the "ruthlessness" that went into committing it was shocking.
Timeline of Events
The timeline of events surrounding Melodee’s disappearance and death is crucial to understanding the investigation. According to Brown, Ashlee went on a road trip with Melodee on October 7, and surveillance footage captured the girl at a local car rental agency dressed in what seemed to be a disguise. Melodee was wearing a hoodie pulled over her head and what appeared to be a wig that was darker and straighter than her natural hair. The rental car traveled through several states, including Nebraska, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and Kansas, before returning home to Lompoc, California. At some point during the trip, Ashlee switched the license plates on the vehicle to a New York plate. Investigators believe Melodee was killed shortly after a stop on the Colorado side of the Colorado-Utah border on October 9.
Arrest and Charges
Ashlee Buzzard was arrested on Tuesday morning and charged with first-degree murder. Authorities say she is being uncooperative with investigators, and the motive for the killing is still unclear. The investigators do not have the murder weapon, which is a significant gap in the case. Brown said that the evidence recovered during the investigation clearly indicates that Ashlee committed the crime, and the DNA analysis found a familial match to Melodee. The case has sent shockwaves through the community, and Melodee’s paternal grandmother, Lilly Denes, was informed of the discovery of Melodee’s body by the sheriff’s office. Denes declined to comment, citing that she was on her way to the news conference.
Conclusion and Ongoing Investigation
The case of Melodee Buzzard’s disappearance and death is a tragic and shocking example of the worst of human nature. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to piece together the events surrounding Melodee’s death. The arrest of Ashlee Buzzard and the charges of first-degree murder bring some sense of closure to the case, but many questions still remain unanswered. The motive for the killing, the exact circumstances of Melodee’s death, and the events leading up to it are all still unclear. As the investigation continues, it is likely that more information will come to light, and the community will be watching closely as the case unfolds.