LOMPOC, Calif. (NewsNation) — A California mother was arrested on murder charges Tuesday after her 9-year-old daughter’s body was found in a remote area of Utah, authorities said.
Ashlee Buzzard, 40, of Lompoc, was taken into custody by the FBI and booked into Santa Barbara County jail without bail in the death of her daughter, Melodee Buzzard, according to local Sheriff Bill Brown.
Melodee was reported missing Oct. 14 after school administrators noted her prolonged absence. When deputies responded to the family’s Lompoc residence, Buzzard provided no information about her daughter’s whereabouts, Brown said.
“Maternal filicide is rare, difficult to comprehend and shocking,” Brown said during a news conference. “We have recovered a significant amount of evidence that clearly indicates that this heinous crime was committed by Ashlee Buzzard, the very person upon whom she relied upon and trusted the most in the world.”
Brown said they haven’t established a motive and don’t believe anyone else was involved.
Detectives served a search warrant Oct. 15 and discovered Buzzard had rented a car. Surveillance footage showed both mother and daughter wearing wigs at the rental car office, apparently to conceal their identities.
Investigators traced a cross-country route through California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming and Nebraska, with a return path through Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada and back to California.
Detectives learned Buzzard switched the rental car’s license plates to New York plates and backed into gas stations to avoid security cameras.
Cartridge cases, DNA evidence linked Ashlee Buzzard to Utah crime scene
Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives are sharing additional information, a route map, and photo that includes Ashlee Buzzard in their ongoing search for missing at-risk 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard. 
A California mother was arrested Tuesday on murder charges after her 9-year-old daughter’s body was found in a remote area of Utah, authorities said. Ashlee Buzzard, 40, of Lompoc, was taken into custody by the FBI and booked into Santa Barbara County jail without bail in the death of her daughter, Melodee Buzzard, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown announced. (Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office) 
Ashlee Buzzard, the mother of missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard 
Melodee Buzzard of Lompoc is seen in this undated photo provided by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. 
The Chevrolet Malibu driven by Ashlee Buzzard during a cross-country trip where Melodee Buzzard was last seen 
Ashlee Buzzard, the mother of missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, outside court on Wednesday 
Melodee Buzzard, now 9, during 2020 
Melodee Buzzard, now 9, during 2020 
Melodee Buzzard and Ashlee Buzzard in 2020 (L) and Oct. 7, 2025 (R) 
Melodee Buzzard’s sister and aunt are ‘in the dark’ as to the ongoing investigations 
Melodee Buzzard seen in these images as part of an investigation into her disappearance. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office) 
Missing Santa Barbara County girl Melodee Buzzard is believed to be seen in this Oct. 7, 2025, photo taken at a car rental business prior to departing on a road trip with her mother. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office))
Melodee was last seen on video Oct. 9 with her mother at the Colorado-Utah border. Detectives believe she was killed shortly after that stop.
On Dec. 6, two people taking photographs in a remote area of Wayne County, Utah, discovered human remains. The body was identified as a female who died from gunshot wounds to the head.
Detectives served follow-up search warrants Oct. 30 at the family home, a storage locker and the rental car. An expended cartridge case was recovered from the residence, and a live round of similar ammunition was found in the vehicle.
On Dec. 17, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives matched the cartridge cases found at the Utah crime scene to the single case recovered from the Buzzard residence through the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network.
The FBI crime lab notified authorities Dec. 22 that DNA from the remains was a familial match to Ashlee Buzzard.
Investigators maintained round-the-clock surveillance on Buzzard throughout the investigation, Brown said. She was arrested without incident Tuesday and is being held without bail.
Inside the Buzzard family home
A NewsNation source provided an exclusive behind-the-scenes look inside the Lompoc home where Melodee was raised.
Videos obtained by NewsNation show a disheveled home. It is unclear if that is how Buzzard left the home or whether it was a result of law enforcement searches following her arrest.
Relatives and acquaintances held a prayer vigil outside the home following the arrest, with some relatives saying Melodee is now reunited with her father in heaven.
Buzzard did not resist arrest and was not wearing a wig at the time, but according to sources, she is still not yet cooperating with police.