The desperate search continues for 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard of Lompoc, California — a girl who vanished somewhere between the Colorado-Utah border and Nebraska during what authorities describe as a mysterious “cross-country road trip” with her mother, Ashlee Buzzard. The trail is as haunting as it is baffling, and investigators fear time is running out.
Timeline of the Disappearance
October 7, 2025:
Ashlee Buzzard rents a white 2024 Chevrolet Malibu (CA plate 9MNG101) from a Lompoc-area rental agency. Surveillance footage confirms Melodee was with her — wearing a gray hoodie and what appears to be a dark straight wig, concealing her naturally curly brown hair. Both mother and daughter seemed disguised.
October 8–9, 2025:
The Malibu is seen with a switched New York license plate (HCG9677) as it travels east through Colorado and Utah. The last confirmed sighting of Melodee comes from surveillance video near the Colorado-Utah border on October 9.
October 10, 2025:
Ashlee returns the rental car alone. Melodee is nowhere to be seen.
October 14, 2025:
After Melodee’s prolonged absence, the Lompoc Unified School District requests a welfare check. Deputies visit Ashlee’s home on Mars Avenue, Vandenberg Village. She gives vague, conflicting answers about her daughter’s whereabouts.
October 15–20, 2025:
Search warrants are served at the Buzzard home. The FBI joins the case. Authorities confirm Melodee was on the October 7 trip but did not return.
October 24, 2025:
Sheriff’s Office releases new photos showing Ashlee and Melodee together at the rental counter — both wearing wigs.
November 3, 2025:
Officials announce that Ashlee switched plates on the vehicle mid-trip — a felony act if proven intentional. Investigators expand the search into five states: California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado.
Evidence So Far
- Rental Records: Confirm Ashlee rented and returned the Chevrolet Malibu alone.
- Surveillance Footage: Multiple angles show Melodee and Ashlee together on October 7; none after October 9.
- Switched License Plates: The false New York plate (HCG9677) was found on the car during travel but not when it was returned.
- Wigs and Disguises: Both were seen wearing wigs, suggesting premeditation to avoid recognition.
- No Recent Photos: Investigators say Melodee hadn’t been photographed in two years — highly unusual for a child her age.
- Isolation: Relatives report Ashlee cut off family contact years ago, homeschooling Melodee with no verified records in the state database.
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Fact vs. Speculation
Fact: Melodee was alive and seen with her mother on October 7, 2025.
Fact: Ashlee returned from the road trip without her daughter and refuses to cooperate.
Fact: The FBI considers Melodee an “at-risk missing child.”
Speculation: Some online theories claim Ashlee handed Melodee off to someone in Nebraska or Utah — but no verified evidence supports this.
Speculation: Rumors that Ashlee belongs to an underground religious group have circulated on social media. Investigators have found no official link to any organization.
Fact: Authorities believe Melodee’s appearance may have been altered, and she could still be alive, possibly traveling under another name or look.
Lompoc is a tight-knit community, and this case has shaken it to its core. Neighbors describe Melodee as “quiet, bright, and sheltered.” Teachers say she was shy but observant. Since the story broke, volunteers and parents have gathered nightly for candlelight vigils outside the Lompoc Unified School District, placing stuffed animals and handwritten notes beneath a poster that reads, “Bring Melodee Home.”
Sheriff’s Lt. Chris Gotschall summed it up best:
“Every hour that passes is critical. We will not stop until we find this little girl.”
The FBI continues to analyze digital data, vehicle GPS logs, and interstate footage from October 7–10. Investigators are urging businesses in Utah and Nevada to review their security tapes from that timeframe.
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Public Appeal
Anyone with credible information about Melodee Buzzard’s whereabouts is urged to contact:
- Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line: (805) 681-4150
- Anonymous Tips: (805) 681-4171
- FBI Los Angeles Field Office: (310) 477-6565
Closing Thoughts
The story of Melodee Buzzard is every parent’s nightmare — a child who vanishes during a trip with the one person who should protect her most. Somewhere out there, the truth of what happened between October 7 and October 10 holds the key to bringing her home.
What do YOU think happened to Melodee Buzzard?
Share your thoughts, theories, and insights in the comment section below — your perspective might help uncover something new.
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