The mom of 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, who has been lacking since early October, was arrested Friday by Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies, however officers mentioned the arrest was unrelated to her daughter’s disappearance.
Melodee was final seen in August however was reported lacking extra not too long ago when Lompoc Unified College District officers reported her extended absence. Deputies searched the woman’s residence in Vandenberg Village and spoke to her mom, however mentioned the younger woman was nowhere to be seen and that her mom was uncooperative within the investigation.
On Friday, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s officers introduced Ashlee Buzzard was taken into custody after she allegedly prevented a sufferer from leaving a location.
Sheriff’s officers provided no extra particulars in regards to the arrest besides to say in a press release that it was not linked to the seek for Melodee.
“This crime just isn’t linked to the continuing seek for Melodee, nonetheless, detectives are unable to completely define the crime as it could impede their ongoing investigation,” the assertion mentioned.
The arrest, officers mentioned, occurred throughout the course of the lacking individual investigation, officers mentioned.
Buzzard was anticipated to be booked at Northern Department Jail with bail set at $100,000, the sheriff’s division mentioned within the assertion.
The FBI has joined native regulation enforcement within the seek for the 9-year-old woman. On Thursday, Ashlee Buzzard was escorted off the property as federal and native officers searched the woman’s Santa Barbara County residence, on the five hundred block of Mars Avenue, on the lookout for clues to her whereabouts.
Lompoc faculty district officers reached out to the sheriff’s workplace on Oct. 14 after Melodee had been absent for a while.
Officers then launched surveillance video that appeared to indicate Ashlee Buzzard and her daughter at a automobile rental enterprise Oct. 7.
Officers imagine Ashlee Buzzard took her daughter and drove to Nebraska, passing by Kansas alongside the best way.
Buzzard returned to the Vandenberg Village residence Oct. 10, officers mentioned.
Sheriff‘s officers launched surveillance photographs exhibiting the mom and daughter at a automobile rental enterprise, the place Melodee was seen sporting a hooded sweatshirt. Officers mentioned the woman seemed to be sporting a wig with darker and straighter hair than her pure hair.
Officers imagine her mom rented a white Chevrolet Malibu.
