California Girl Melodee Buzzard Missing After Cross-State Road Trip, Surveillance Shows Possible Wig Disguise

Authorities in California are searching for 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, who was last seen in surveillance footage at a car rental business wearing a gray hoodie and what appears to be a wig, possibly used to disguise her identity. Melodee and her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, who is known to wear wigs herself, rented a white Chevrolet Malibu and took a road trip from Lompoc, California, traveling as far east as Nebraska and Kansas between October 7 and October 10 before returning without Melodee. Melodee was reported missing on October 14 after school officials noted her prolonged absence, and her mother has not provided a verifiable explanation for her whereabouts. Despite Ashlee Buzzard’s lack of cooperation, she has not been arrested, though authorities have served a search warrant at their home and involved the FBI. Law enforcement officials are urging the public not to conduct independent searches to avoid complicating the investigation, which remains focused on locating Melodee and understanding her movements during the road trip. Sheriff Bill Brown emphasized that detectives are following every lead and remain determined to bring Melodee home safely.