The mom of a lacking Southern California woman — who authorities say has refused to reply questions on her daughter’s whereabouts — has now been accused of holding a person captive in her dwelling after allegedly disclosing delicate info to him.
Ashlee Buzzard, 40, of Lompoc was charged with one depend of false imprisonment by violence, in response to the prison criticism filed in opposition to her Monday. Buzzard is accused of unlawfully violating the non-public liberty of Tyler S. Brewer on Thursday and is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday.
Buzzard’s daughter, 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, was reported lacking Oct. 14, in response to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Workplace.
The mom has emerged as a central focus within the investigation after taking her daughter on a sudden highway journey to Nebraska on Oct. 7 after which returning dwelling alone, in response to the Sheriff’s Workplace. In the course of the journey, Buzzard switched license plates on her rental automobile and wore wigs in what investigators described as potential makes an attempt to keep away from detection.
Melodee was final confirmed seen on surveillance digicam close to the Utah-Colorado border on Oct. 9, in accordance the the Sheriff’s Workplace.
Investigators are sharing surveillance photographs of Melodee Buzzard that had been captured at a rental automobile location in Lompoc on Oct. 7.
(Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Workplace)
Buzzard was arrested Thursday on false imprisonment fees unrelated to the investigation into Melodee’s disappearance.
Brewer mentioned in an announcement that he came around Buzzard at her Vandenberg Village dwelling to supply help within the seek for the lacking woman, and that the scenario shortly escalated.
“Ms. Buzzard turned visibly distressed after sharing info she appeared to remorse disclosing,” mentioned Brewer. “A field cutter was produced, and regardless of a number of requests to be allowed to exit the house, I used to be not instantly permitted to depart.”
He mentioned that Buzzard used a number of locks to safe the door and that this quickly prevented him from leaving.
Brewer, who works as a paralegal within the Central Coast space, mentioned that he’s a mandated reporter and contacted the authorities.
“In that capability, I instantly reported all regarding communication and inconsistencies on to legislation enforcement,” he mentioned.
He additionally instructed NewsNation’s “Banfield” that Buzzard had instructed him the place and with whom she dropped Melodee off, though he’s not certain whether or not this info is true. He instructed the program he has identified Buzzard since 2014 and has been coming to examine on her since information of her daughter’s disappearance turned public, noting that she has been appearing extraordinarily paranoid and he’s anxious for her well-being.
Melodee’s paternal household mentioned that Buzzard has not permitted them to contact the woman since 2021 and that they’re extraordinarily involved for her. Melodee’s father, Rubiell “Pinoy” Meza, was killed in a motorbike accident shortly after the woman was born in 2016.
The woman’s paternal grandmother, Lilly Denes, mentioned she had initiated the method to try to acquire custody of Melodee a number of years in the past on account of issues over Buzzard’s well-being and talent to look after her. Denes nonetheless lovingly refers to Melodee as her child, even if the woman has grown significantly since she noticed her final.
“She’s such a cute woman and I’m simply dying to see her,” mentioned Denes. “I simply know that she’s going to wish lots of remedy, lots of assist after they get the child.”
