A long-running missing child investigation ended in tragedy this week when authorities located the body of 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard in a remote area of Wayne County, Utah. The California girl, who vanished in early October while traveling with her mother, was identified through forensic testing. Investigators have now arrested Ashlee Buzzard, 40, charging her with murder in connection with her daughter’s death.
Discovery of Remains Shocks Investigators and Community
The child’s remains were found on December 6 by civilians in a secluded region of Utah and were later confirmed through DNA analysis. Officials say Melodee sustained gunshot wounds to the head, and her death is being treated as a homicide. The identification was completed on December 22, bringing a grim closure to weeks of nationwide concern.
Mother Arrested on Murder Charges
Shortly after the remains were identified, Ashlee Buzzard was taken into custody by law enforcement in Santa Barbara County. She has been charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bail. Law enforcement sources say evidence links shell casings found at the death site with ammunition located in her home and the rental car used on the cross-country trip.
Timeline: From Disappearance to Arrest
Melodee was last seen on October 9 on surveillance footage with her mother near the Utah-Colorado border during an unplanned road trip that began in Lompoc, California. After returning alone a few days later, Ashlee Buzzard did not report her daughter missing. Melodee’s prolonged absence was first noted by a school official, which triggered the missing person investigation on October 14. Authorities say the mother and daughter even altered appearances and vehicle details during the journey in an apparent attempt to avoid detection.
