Ashlee Buzzard Pleads Not Guilty to Murder of 9-Year-Old Melodee
Ashlee Buzzard, a 40-year-old California mother, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of her 9-year-old daughter, Melodee Buzzard. The plea was entered during a brief but emotional arraignment in Santa Barbara County Superior Court. Buzzard is accused of first-degree murder, “lying in wait,” and related firearm charges in connection with Melodee’s death.
The case against Buzzard is built on a combination of physical, digital, and forensic evidence, including ballistics evidence and DNA testing. Authorities allege that Buzzard fatally shot Melodee during a multistate road trip in October, before returning alone to Santa Barbara County. The investigation was launched after Melodee’s prolonged absence was reported by a school administrator, triggering a welfare check.
Investigation and Arrest
Investigators believe the killing occurred on or around October 9, shortly after the pair were last seen together on surveillance video near the Utah-Colorado border. Melodee’s remains were discovered on December 6 in a remote area of Utah. Buzzard was arrested at her Santa Barbara County residence on December 23, after authorities obtained search warrants for her home, a storage unit, and the rental vehicle tied to the road trip.
According to law enforcement officials, Buzzard was “uncooperative” throughout the investigation and declined to provide a verifiable explanation for her daughter’s whereabouts when deputies first contacted her in October. The case has drawn widespread attention, with family members and community members organizing searches as authorities tracked the mother’s movements through multiple states.
Prosecution and Next Steps
Prosecutors allege that Buzzard carried out the murder with a high degree of “planning, sophistication, or professionalism.” The criminal complaint describes the murder as thoroughly planned and “professional,” alleging Buzzard carried out the killing with a “high degree of cruelty, viciousness, or callousness.” Buzzard will remain held without bail pending further proceedings, with her preliminary hearing scheduled for January 7.
The case will be tried locally in Santa Barbara County, despite the killing occurring out of state, as prosecutors allege that Buzzard’s intent to kill was formed in the county. For more information on this case, please visit Here
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