Missing ‘at-risk’ girl Melodee Buzzard’s mom appears in court after alleged box-cutter standoff

The parent of a missing 9-year-old California miss described arsenic "at-risk" appeared concisely successful tribunal Wednesday connected a felony false-imprisonment complaint unrelated to her daughter’s disappearance.

Authorities accidental Ashlee Buzzard, 35, faces the complaint aft an alleged incidental astatine her Lompoc location connected Nov. 6, weeks aft her daughter, Melodee Buzzard, was past seen. 

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office emphasized that the lawsuit is abstracted from the ongoing probe into the child’s whereabouts.

Officials began investigating Melodee’s disappearance connected Oct. 14, aft a schoolhouse authoritative reported her prolonged absence. When questioned, deputies said Ashlee Buzzard failed to supply a verifiable mentation for her daughter’s determination and has "remained uncooperative and has not confirmed Melodee’s welfare."

MELODEE BUZZARD DISAPPEARANCE: NEW SURVEILLANCE PHOTOS SHOW MISSING CALIFORNIA GIRL, 9, IN POSSIBLE DISGUISE

Authorities accidental Ashlee Buzzard remains uncooperative astir missing girl Melodee's whereabouts arsenic authorities proceed their hunt for the at-risk California child. (KKFX)

Tyler Brewer, a tribunal serviceman who has known Buzzard for years, told NewsNation that Ashlee revealed to him wherever Melodee was and who she was with, but helium remains unsure whether the accusation was accurate, citing her unstable behaviour astatine the time. He said helium believes the kid whitethorn beryllium successful Utah.

Brewer told ABC News that during a sojourn to Buzzard’s home, she appeared distressed aft sharing accusation she "seemed to regret disclosing," past locked the doors and retrieved a container cutter, preventing him from leaving. He said she yet fto him go, and helium instantly contacted authorities.

Brewer described Buzzard arsenic paranoid and mentally deteriorating, saying she’s "a wholly antithetic person" from erstwhile helium archetypal met her.

MELODEE BUZZARD’S MOM PLOTTED TO ‘CUT OFF’ MISSING 9-YEAR-OLD FROM ‘ENTIRE WORLD,’ GRANDMA SAYS

Melodee Buzzard, 9, remains missing aft traveling with her parent Ashlee done aggregate states earlier the car was returned to a rental agency. Ashlee Buzzard appeared successful tribunal Wednesday successful an unrelated case. (KKFX)

Wednesday’s proceeding successful Lompoc Superior Court lasted little than a minute, according to KSBY.

Buzzard appeared successful tribunal dressed successful a long-knit cardigan and with her hairsbreadth tied backmost successful a ponytail, a noticeable alteration from her abbreviated curls during her Nov. 12 arraignment. The outlet noted she besides avoided oculus interaction arsenic she walked to the counsel array alongside her nationalist defender.

Attorneys confirmed they are moving guardant with a preliminary proceeding scheduled for Thursday, erstwhile some sides volition contiguous evidence. A justice volition past determine if the felony lawsuit proceeds to trial.

MELODEE BUZZARD'S MOTHER ARRESTED ON CHARGE UNRELATED TO HER DAUGHTER'S DISAPPEARANCE

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office released a surveillance image, left, of Ashlee and Melodee Buzzard that it says was captured astatine a rental car determination successful Lompoc, California, astatine the commencement of the roadworthy travel connected Oct. 7, 2025. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office/FBI)

Buzzard was charged Nov. 7 successful transportation with the incidental involving Brewer. She was aboriginal released nether conditions that see wearing an ankle show and avoiding interaction with him.

Buzzard’s mother, Lori Miranda, told NewsNation she has not spoken with Ashlee since 2023. She described a hard past marked by instability and home violence, including periods of homelessness erstwhile Ashlee was a child.

Investigators accidental Ashlee near California with Melodee connected Oct. 7, traveling successful a rented Chevrolet Malibu with California plates that were aboriginal swapped for a New York tag believed to beryllium false.

MELODEE BUZZARD’S MOM RELEASED AFTER ALLEGEDLY IMPRISONING OFFICER, REVEALING MISSING DAUGHTER’S LOCATION

Investigators accidental Ashlee and Melodee Buzzard were connected a roadworthy travel erstwhile the young miss disappeared. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office)

The brace reportedly drove done California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada earlier the car was returned to the rental bureau with its archetypal plates reattached.

Surveillance video released by the sheriff’s bureau shows Ashlee and Melodee wearing wigs astatine a Lompoc rental location. Authorities judge the disguise was intended to debar designation portion traveling.

Melodee is described by officials arsenic 4-feet to 4-feet, 6-inches tall, 60 to 100 pounds, with brownish curly hairsbreadth and brownish eyes.

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The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone with accusation astir Melodee’s whereabouts to telephone (805) 681-4150.

Fox News Digital reached retired to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and Buzzard's lawyer for comment. 

Fox News Digital’s Adam Sabes contributed to this report.

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