Utah Desert Discovery: Mother Charged After Missing Daughter’s Remains Found

A California mother has been charged with murder. This follows the grim discovery of her missing daughter’s body in the Utah desert. Authorities confirmed the news on Tuesday.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff-Coroner’s Office stated the remains are those of 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard. Her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, is now in custody. This case has shocked communities in two states.

Evidence Points to Calculated Crime

Sheriff Bill Brown described the case as calculated and cold-blooded. The child’s remains were found with gunshot wounds to the head. A key break came from ballistic evidence.

Investigators matched shell casings from the Utah scene to a cartridge found in the mother’s home. Similar ammunition was found in a rental car she used. According to the Associated Press, the weapon itself remains missing.

The mother and daughter vanished on a cross-country trip in early October. They were last seen together on surveillance video near the Colorado-Utah border. The discovery of Melodee’s body ended a two-month search.

A Troubling Timeline of Disappearance and Deception

Ashlee Buzzard and her daughter left their Lompoc, California home on October 7. They drove a rented white Chevrolet Malibu. Their route spanned several western states.

Detectives say the pair took steps to avoid detection. They altered their appearance with wigs. The rental car’s license plate was also swapped.

Melodee was reported missing by her school on October 14. Her mother had returned home alone four days earlier. She refused to tell deputies where her daughter was.

The child’s remains were found on December 6 by a couple taking photos in a remote Utah area. The FBI used DNA analysis to confirm the identity. The match was made to the mother.

The Utah desert discovery has closed a painful missing person case, but opened a complex murder investigation. Authorities continue to search for a motive in this tragic loss.

Thought you’d like to know

What motive has been suggested for the crime?

Authorities have not publicly determined a motive. Sheriff Bill Brown stated the investigation into why this happened remains active and ongoing. No specific reason has been released.

How was the evidence connected?

Ballistic evidence was crucial. Shell casings found near the body matched a cartridge from the mother’s home. Ammunition in the rented car also provided a link.

Where is Ashlee Buzzard now?

She is being held without bail at the Northern Branch Jail in Santa Barbara County. She has been formally charged with murder. Court proceedings are pending.

How was Melodee remembered by family?

Her grandmother, Lilly Denes, described Melodee as lovable, always smiling, and well-behaved. The family is grieving an unimaginable loss.

When was Melodee last seen alive?

She was last captured on surveillance video on October 9. The location was near the Colorado-Utah border. This was during the road trip with her mother.