Overview
- Ashlee Buzzard, 40, was arraigned Friday in Santa Maria and entered a not guilty plea to first-degree murder with special allegations of intentional firearm discharge and lying in wait.
- She was ordered held without bail, and prosecutors said they will not pursue the death penalty but will seek life in prison without the possibility of parole.
- Judge John McGregor approved a temporary gag order limiting public statements by Sheriff Bill Brown and his staff, with the motion set for a Jan. 7 hearing.
- Buzzard waived her right to a preliminary hearing within 10 days, and the court set a deadline of Feb. 24, 2026, for that proceeding.
- Investigators say FBI DNA testing identified the remains found Dec. 6 in rural Wayne County, Utah, as 9-year-old Melodee; ATF linked cartridge cases from the scene to one at Buzzard’s home, the murder weapon has not been found, and the trip included wigs and a license plate swap during a multi-state drive where Melodee was last seen Oct. 9 near the Colorado–Utah border.