LOMPOC, Calif. (KUTV) — The mother of Melodee Buzzard, the 9-year-old girl who’s been missing for about a month, was arrested.
Ashlee Buzzard, 40, was arrested on Friday on charges unrelated to the ongoing search for her daughter.
According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, detectives learned of a recent incident where Ashlee prevented a victim from leaving a location — against their will — which constitutes false imprisonment.
MORE | Melodee Buzzard:This crime is not connected to the ongoing search for Melodee, however, detectives are unable to fully outline the crime as it would impede their ongoing investigation,” the sheriff’s office said.
She will be booked at the Northern Branch Jail with bail set at $100,000.
Melodee was last seen in the region between the Utah/Colorado border on Oct. 9.
Investigators believe she traveled through the following areas on or around October 9, 2025:
Green River, UtahPanguitch, UtahNorthwest ArizonaPrimm, NevadaRancho Cucamonga, California
Ashlee’s mother and Melodee’s grandmother, Lori Miranda, said that there is “a lot more going on than the media is portraying.”
She said multiple times that Ashlee is bipolar, which causes her to make up stories.
“I know my daughter needs to be in a hospital,” she said.
She also said she will be working with the FBI until her granddaughter is home.
Detectives are seeking anyone who may have had contact with Ashlee or Melodee at any point from October 9-10, 2025, or any video footage from their route of travel.
Anyone who has seen Melodee Buzzard, or has had contact with Ashlee Buzzard since October 7, 2025, is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division at (805) 681-4150. Those wishing to remain anonymous can provide information through the tip line at (805) 681-4171 or online here.
Samantha Hoffman contributed to this report.
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