A 9-year-old girl from California, who had been missing for a year, recently traveled 1,500 miles with her mother, who is described as “extremely mentally unstable.” Authorities stated that the mother has been uncooperative in the search for her daughter.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office reported that Melody Buzzard was officially declared missing only last week. School officials flagged her absence when she had not checked in since October of the previous year.
An update from the police on Monday revealed that Melody and her mother, Ashley Buzzard, were seen driving to Nebraska in a rental vehicle until October 7.
The two made several stops along the journey in a white Chevrolet Malibu. However, details about their destination remain unclear.
“Ashley Buzzard has been uncooperative and hasn’t given detectives any information on Melody’s current whereabouts or well-being,” the sheriff’s office shared.
“The primary focus of this investigation is to locate Melody and ensure her safety.”
Melody’s aunt, Lizabeth Meza, spoke on Facebook about the mother’s mental state, saying she has kept Melody away from other family members for years. “We haven’t seen her for over four years; her mother just wouldn’t allow it,” Meza explained.
Melody’s father and older brother have both passed away, with her brother dying in an accident when she was an infant. Meza described Melody as someone who had a “great smile” and loved being with her family.
Law enforcement attempted to locate Melody at her home near Lompoc last Tuesday, prompted by a concerning report from the school district, but she was not there. They noted that Buzzard did not provide a clear account of their whereabouts.
While police initially lacked confirmed sightings of Melody over the past year, they later mentioned the possibility she was seen in August 2025, though they did not elaborate on this.
The latest available photo of Melody dates back to when she was just two years old.
Officials indicated that she had recently enrolled in Buena Vista Elementary School and had participated in a homeschooling program about a year ago.
The school district reported their concerns for Melody’s health, which led to the official missing person status.
