Concerns Grow Over Missing Girl’s Family Situation
Melody Buzzard’s grandmother has expressed worries about the mental health of her mother, Ashley Buzzard. She recounted a frightening incident in the past when police had to intervene due to Ashley’s unstable state while living in a home cluttered with spoiled food, which raised alarms about the safety of her daughter.
Relatives are now apprehensive about Ashley’s mental state, mentioning she’s been “uncooperative” with investigators following a report from California school officials that Melody hadn’t engaged in a self-learning program for a year. This prompted the search for the missing nine-year-old.
Lori Miranda, Melody’s grandmother, has not seen her granddaughter for over two years. After the tragic loss of Melody’s father in 2016 and a previous loss at just six months old, she believes her daughter’s mental health significantly declined.
Miranda remembered a call from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office when Melody was still a baby, informing her that they were taking Ashley to the hospital and placing Melody into Child Protective Services. The chaotic state of Ashley’s home during that time shocked Miranda.
“I couldn’t believe it was my daughter. The house was a mess—raw eggs in pots and rotten food in the fridge. I think she may have intended to give it to Melody,” she said, though she didn’t elaborate on what led to the police call.
Miranda suggested that Ashley needs immediate treatment at a hospital.
Meanwhile, investigations intensified after officials from the Lompoc Unified School District declared Melody as an “extended absenteeist.”
On October 7, police reported seeing Melody and her mother driving in a rental car, traveling from Lompoc—approximately 90 miles north of Santa Barbara—to Nebraska, which is about 1,500 miles away. While they have since returned, Melody’s whereabouts remain unaccounted for.
Authorities searched the Buzzard home last week after receiving distressing information from the school, but found neither Melody nor any clear answers from Ashley regarding her daughter’s location.
The situation escalated as the FBI became involved due to the case crossing state lines.
In an official statement, the sheriff’s office noted that Ashley Buzzard continues to be uncooperative, lacking any information about Melody’s current condition or location.
Melody’s aunt, Lizabeth Meza, shared on Facebook that she believes Ashley is “very mentally unstable” and has kept her daughter away from family for over four years. She also mentioned the tragic loss of Melody’s father when she was just six months old.
