SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif. — Authorities have confirmed that Ashlee Buzzard, the mother of missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, has been booked on a murder charge after the child’s body was found in a remote area of Wayne County, Utah.
Body of Melodee Buzzard Found in Utah
According to Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown, Melodee’s remains were discovered on December 6 in a rural area near Caineville, Utah, by two people taking photographs along East State Route 24.
“Evidence clearly indicates that Ashlee Buzzard is responsible for this heinous crime,” Sheriff Brown said during a Tuesday press conference, describing the killing as “calculated, cold-blooded, premeditated, and criminally sophisticated.”
Authorities believe Melodee died shortly after October 9, when she was last seen with her mother near the Colorado-Utah border.
Due to the advanced state of decomposition, DNA testing was required to confirm the child’s identity. The remains were positively identified on Monday, December 22, leading to Ashlee’s arrest the following day.
Evidence Linking Ashlee Buzzard to the Crime
Investigators say Melodee died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head. Cartridge casings found at the Utah crime scene matched a casing recovered from Ashlee’s home on Mars Avenue in Vandenberg Village during an earlier search on October 30.
Authorities have not yet recovered the murder weapon and are still investigating the motive behind the killing. Sheriff Brown said that evidence suggests Ashlee acted alone, with no other suspects currently involved.
Ashlee is being held without bail in the Santa Barbara County Jail.
Timeline of the Case
- October 9: Melodee last seen with her mother during a road trip across multiple states, reportedly reaching as far as Nebraska.
- October 14: School officials report Melodee’s prolonged absence, prompting a missing child investigation.
- October 30: Investigators execute a search warrant at Ashlee’s home.
- December 6: Melodee’s remains discovered near Caineville, Utah.
- December 22: DNA confirmation completed.
- December 23: Ashlee Buzzard arrested and booked for murder.
A Troubled History
Prior to this week’s arrest, Ashlee had faced legal trouble in November when she was charged with false imprisonment after allegedly refusing to let a man leave her home. The charge was later dismissed due to insufficient evidence.
Neighbors described Tuesday morning’s arrest as quiet and swift, with deputies using a metal tool to breach the front door of her Mars Avenue residence.
Community in Mourning
Outside the Buzzard home, a sign that once read “Where is Melodee?” now serves as a grim reminder of a community’s heartbreak. Authorities said the FBI and multiple law enforcement agencies have assisted in the investigation, which spanned California, Colorado, and Utah.
The investigation remains active as detectives work to recover the missing weapon and determine what led to the 9-year-old’s tragic death. Stay with HonkNews.com for continuing coverage and official updates from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.