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Mother of Missing 9-Year-Old Arrested on Unrelated Charge as Search Narrows to Oct. 9–10 Route

Detectives are zeroing in on the return leg of the trip based on new footage showing efforts to avoid recognition.

Investigators are sharing additional surveillance images of Ashlee and Melodee that were captured at a rental car location in Lompoc California at the start of the road trip on Oct. 7.
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Overview

  • The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ashlee Buzzard, 40, on a felony false imprisonment warrant, setting bail at $100,000 and stating the case is not connected to her daughter’s disappearance.
  • Investigators released surveillance from Oct. 7 that shows Ashlee and 9-year-old Melodee wearing wigs at a Lompoc rental car agency, which authorities say was likely to avoid being recognized.
  • Detectives say the rented white 2024 Chevrolet Malibu displayed a switched New York plate (HCG9677) during the trip before its California plate (9MNG101) was restored when the car was returned.
  • The last verified sighting of Melodee is Oct. 9 near the Colorado–Utah border, and Ashlee returned to Lompoc on Oct. 10 without the child and has not cooperated with investigators.
  • With FBI assistance, authorities are asking businesses and the public along the mapped route through Utah, northwest Arizona, Nevada and Southern California to review Oct. 9–10 surveillance and report tips.