(NewsNation) — The FBI has joined the search for 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, who was last seen in August.

Melodee is from Lompoc, California, about 60 miles north of Santa Barbara.

Initially, authorities said the last verified contact with Melodee was a year ago but later confirmed that there was a verified contact in August.

Family members say the girl’s father died in a motorcycle accident, and her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, had not allowed them to see Melodee. They also described Buzzard as having a history of mental illness and instability.

The last confirmed contact with Melodee was in August of 2025, when she and her mother went to the Lompoc Unified School District to register her for an independent study program.

The school alerted authorities after an employee realized the family had not checked in again after registering for the program.

Investigators went to the home and found Buzzard but not Melodee. They say Buzzard has not been cooperating with the investigation.

According to the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s office, the most recent available photo of Melodee is two years old.

Anyone with information on Melodee should call 805-681-4150 or the tipline at 805-681-4171.