Mother arrested after body of missing nine-year-old girl found

December 24, 2025

A nine-year-old California girl named Melodee Buzzard was discovered deceased in a remote Utah location by photographers in early December, with her decomposed remains showing gunshot wounds. Her mother, 40-year-old Ashlee Buzzard, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder after investigators collected substantial evidence implicating her in the crime. The child had been missing since August, though her disappearance wasn't officially reported until her school contacted authorities in mid-October when they noticed her prolonged absence.

Who is affected

Melodee Buzzard (9-year-old victim, deceased)
Ashlee Buzzard (40-year-old mother, arrested suspect)
The man and woman who discovered the body while taking pictures
Melodee's school personnel who reported her missing
A man who was allegedly falsely imprisoned while helping search for Melodee
Santa Barbara County law enforcement investigators

What action is being taken

Ashlee Buzzard is being held in custody on suspicion of first-degree murder
Investigators have recovered significant evidence from the case

Why it matters

This case represents an extreme betrayal of trust involving a child murdered by her own mother, the person responsible for her care and protection. The case highlights critical failures in child welfare oversight, as months passed between the girl's last sighting and when authorities were notified. The mother's pattern of non-cooperation and alleged subsequent criminal behavior (false imprisonment) demonstrates the obstacles law enforcement faces when investigating missing children cases where parents or guardians are uncooperative.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC