The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has released new surveillance images of 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard—photos taken on October 7, the last confirmed day she was seen—and authorities believe the child may have worn a wig to change her look. The development comes as Melodee’s mother, Ashlee Buzzard, continues to refuse cooperation in the search for the missing girl, who has been unaccounted for more than two weeks.
Melodee, a California resident deemed “at-risk” due to her age and the length of her disappearance, was captured in the surveillance shots at a car rental business. The images mark the first new photos of her in two years; the most recent picture previously available—used on the FBI’s missing person poster—was taken two years prior. In the new footage, Melodee wears a hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up, and beneath it, authorities say she appears to have on a wig. Unlike her natural curly brown hair, the wig is darker and straighter, leading detectives to suspect it was used to alter her appearance. Notably, investigators add that Ashlee Buzzard is known to wear wigs herself.
The investigation into Melodee’s disappearance began on October 14, after a school administrator reported her extended absence. For years, Melodee had been homeschooled, but Ashlee recently enrolled her in the Lompoc Unified School District’s independent study program, according to ABC News citing a district statement. The district explained its protocol for such cases: If a student fails to pick up assigned work, they are referred back to their home school, which then reaches out to the family to complete enrollment. If attendance still doesn’t start, the school follows mandatory truancy procedures—including phone calls, letters, emails, and home visits. When the district couldn’t reach Melodee’s family even after these steps, it requested a welfare check from law enforcement.
Deputies responded by visiting the family’s home in Lompoc, where they spoke with Ashlee Buzzard, 35. Melodee was not present, and Ashlee provided no verifiable explanation for her daughter’s whereabouts. Since then, Ashlee has remained uncooperative, refusing to share any details about Melodee’s current location or well-being.
Authorities have now narrowed the “critical timeline” of the case to October 7 through October 10. On October 7, Melodee was seen at the car rental business (the day the surveillance photos were taken), and Ashlee rented a white Chevrolet Malibu there. Investigators confirm the pair then took a three-day road trip from Lompoc to the Nebraska area, with the return route passing through Kansas. Ashlee returned to the Lompoc home on October 10, driving the same white Malibu—but Melodee was not with her. The FBI notes the car is no longer in Ashlee’s possession. Detectives are now focused on uncovering where Melodee was during that road trip and where she might be today.
Melodee is described as 4 feet 6 inches tall, weighing about 60 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Due to the time since her last confirmed photo, officials warn her appearance may have changed beyond the possible wig.
“The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office shares the community’s fear for Melodee’s safety, and we’re doing everything to bring her home,” said Sheriff Bill Brown. “Our detectives are following every lead, and we keep asking the public for help—any piece of information could be the key to finding her. We remain fully committed to getting Melodee back safely.”
The Sheriff’s Office and FBI are urging anyone with information to come forward immediately. You can reach the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division at (805) 681-4150, or submit an anonymous tip by calling (805) 681-4171 or visiting https://www.sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip/. For FBI tips, call the toll-free line at 1-800-CALLFBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit online at tips.fbi.gov.
Authorities strongly discourage the public from conducting their own searches or investigations, as this could disrupt ongoing law enforcement work or lead to duplicated efforts. The most effective way to assist is by sharing factual information directly with officials. The Sheriff’s Office plans to provide updates as new details emerge—provided they don’t compromise the investigation.