Missing Melodee Buzzard’s body found, girl’s mother taken into custody: report

California authorities are acceptable to denote "major developments" successful the disappearance of 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard aft her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, was taken into custody successful transportation with the investigation, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office and Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Fox News Digital.

Multiple sources told ABC News that Melodee’s assemblage was recovered successful aboriginal December successful Utah, successful an country wherever investigators judge she and her parent traveled successful October. Authorities judge the 9-year-old was killed and was apt already dormant weeks earlier she was reported missing, the sources said.

According to ABC News, Ashlee Buzzard was taken into custody pursuing DNA results that linked her to the recovered remains. Officials person not yet publically confirmed those details, and Fox News Digital has reached retired to authorities for further comment.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said the developments volition beryllium elaborate during a quality league astatine 2 p.m. section clip Tuesday.

MISSING ‘AT-RISK’ GIRL MELODEE BUZZARD’S MOM APPEARS IN COURT AFTER ALLEGED BOX-CUTTER STANDOFF

Ashlee Buzzard, left, the parent of Melodee Buzzard, right, is seen successful a surveillance representation taken astatine a rental car concern successful Lompoc, Calif., connected Oct. 7, 2025. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office)

Buzzard, 35, had antecedently been successful custody connected an unrelated felony false-imprisonment charge, and officials person not yet disclosed however the caller improvement straight ties to the missing kid case.

Melodee, who authorities had described arsenic "at-risk," was past seen connected Oct. 7 portion traveling with her parent aft the brace near California successful a rented Chevrolet Malibu. 

CHARGE AGAINST MELODEE BUZZARD’S MOM DISMISSED, ANKLE MONITOR REMOVED AS FBI HUNTS FOR MISSING 9-YEAR-OLD

Melodee Buzzard was reported missing connected Oct. 14, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and FBI)

Investigators accidental the conveyance traveled done aggregate states earlier being returned, and authorities judge its licence plates were temporarily swapped during the trip.

The Sheriff’s Office said it began investigating Melodee’s disappearance connected Oct. 14 aft a schoolhouse authoritative reported her prolonged absence.

Ashlee Buzzard sits with her lawyer astatine the defence array during grounds successful court. (Jamie Vera/Fox News)

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Deputies person said Buzzard failed to supply a verifiable mentation for her daughter’s determination and remained uncooperative successful confirming Melodee’s welfare.

This is simply a processing story. Please cheque backmost for updates. 

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send communicative tips to [email protected].