LOMPOC, CALIFORNIA — What began as a routine welfare concern has turned into a heartbreaking and urgent search for 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, a Lompoc girl whose mysterious disappearance has rattled an entire community. Authorities say the fourth-grader stopped attending school several weeks ago, and when school staff could not reach her family, they contacted law enforcement — unaware that their call would spark a multi-state investigation.
When Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives, assisted by agents from the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, arrived at the Buzzard family’s home on Mars Avenue, they expected to find Melodee and her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, safe inside. Instead, the residence was completely empty. Investigators found no sign of either of them and no clear indication of where they had gone. According to authorities, Melodee was last seen on October 7, 2025, traveling with her mother in a white Chevrolet Malibu with California license plate 9MNG101. The car, later identified as a rental, has since been returned, leaving detectives with few physical clues to follow.
Officials now believe the pair may have left California and traveled to another state — possibly Nebraska — in the days before Melodee was reported missing. However, investigators revealed a chilling new detail this week: Ashlee Buzzard has since returned home alone. Authorities say she has been uncooperative with investigators, deepening fears for Melodee’s safety. The young girl has officially been classified as “at-risk”, and the case has become a top priority for law enforcement agencies.
Melodee’s disappearance has shaken the Lompoc community. Friends, teachers, and classmates describe her as a bright, creative, and kind-hearted child who loved drawing and reading. Many community members have taken to social media to spread awareness, sharing missing-person flyers and urging anyone with information to come forward. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and FBI continue to coordinate search efforts across multiple jurisdictions.
In an emotional public plea, Melodee’s grandmother, Lori Miranda, spoke about her heartbreak and fears for both her granddaughter and daughter. She revealed that she hasn’t seen Melodee in over two years, explaining that Ashlee had cut ties with the family following a severe decline in her mental health. Miranda said the struggles began after the death of Melodee’s father in a 2016 car crash, when Melodee was still an infant. “Ashlee should be in a hospital receiving treatment right now,” Miranda said tearfully. “Please, just let us know you’re safe. Melodee, if you can hear this, your family loves you — we just want you home.”
Authorities are urging anyone with information — no matter how small — to contact investigators. Tips can be submitted to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division at (805) 681-4150, the Anonymous Tip Line at (805) 681-4171, or the FBI Tip Line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) and tips.fbi.gov. Officials emphasize that every second counts. “Someone, somewhere, knows something,” one investigator said. “Please, help us find Melodee before it’s too late.”