Melodee Buzzard

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0:59Voices for Justice is a podcast that uses adult language and discusses sensitive and potentially triggering topics, including violence, abuse, and murder. This podcast may not be appropriate for younger audiences. All parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Some names have been changed or omitted per their request or for safety purposes. Listener discretion is advised. My name is Sarah Turney, and this is Voices for Justice.

1:32Today, I'm discussing the case of Melody Buzzard. Now, this is a brand new case that needs as many eyes and ears on it as possible. Nine-year-old Melody has been missing from her home in Vandenberg Village, California, for an unspecified period of time. She was only reported missing after administrators with her school district reported that they hadn't seen her in nearly a year in October 2025. This sparked an immediate and aggressive response to finding Melody. A search warrant for her home was executed the very next day. The FBI became involved and they've been able to determine that Melody's mother, Ashley Buzzard, may have taken her from California to Nebraska earlier this month, but returned without her daughter.

2:21While this has narrowed down the timeline of her disappearance significantly, Melody is still missing. And unfortunately, while the rest of Melody's family and community have been extremely vocal about her past and her disappearance, Melody's mother isn't speaking to anyone. Not to her family, not to the community, and not to authorities. This is the case of Melody Buzzard. It's Tuesday, October 14, 2025, and administrators with the Lompoc Unified School District in California have discovered something unsettling. One of their students, nine-year-old Melody Buzzard, has been noticeably absent from their independent studies program for about a year.

3:08Now, Melody actually attended the first grade at Buena Vista Elementary in Santa Barbara County, but after that, her mother, Ashley Buzzard, enrolled her in the independent study program, basically homeschool. This was through the Mission Valley Independent Study Program backed by the school district. This program offers optional classes and extracurricular activities for the children in these programs, but there are mandatory check-ins. Basically, officials at the school noticed that Ashley had failed to pick up classroom assignments for Melody for several weeks, and that Melody wasn't attending some of these programs as she had in the past, things like certain group activities and field trips.

3:51They say they hadn't heard or seen from Ashley or Melody since the previous October in 2024. Ashley had also failed to file homeschooling paperwork legally required by the state of California. Really, they just missed all these checks and balances that ensure that these children enrolled in homeschool are getting a proper education. So at this point, the school district follows their mandatory truancy procedures. Now, we don't have the specifics, but typically it would include things like phone calls, emails, letters home, and home visits. But they're not able to get a hold of Ashley or get any type of status update on Melody.

4:30This is when they report her prolonged absence to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office. They respond by conducting a welfare check that same day, again October 14th, to Melody's home on the 500 block of Mars Avenue in Vandenberg Village. Ashley does answer the door, but according to investigators, she's uncooperative, and they ultimately are not able to make contact with Melody or confirm her whereabouts. In fact, Ashley doesn't even provide them with an updated picture for Melody to help in the search. The photo you'll see for today's episode is what's been widely circulated, and that's from two years ago in 2023.

5:11It is, unfortunately, the most current photo they have for her at this time. So investigators start trying to make contact with other family members, and they get a hold of Melody's paternal aunt, Elizabeth Mesa, and she tells them that her family hasn't seen Melody in nearly five years. According to reporting by Clara Harder for the LA Times, Melody's father, Rubiel Meza, unfortunately passed away in a motorcycle accident in 2016 when Melody was just under a year old. At that time, Melody and her mother were living with Rubiel's mother in Santa Maria but moved away shortly after Rubiel's passing.

5:53According to several of Melody's family members, shortly after that, Ashley cut off all contact with the family and no longer allowed them to see Melody. So when investigators start trying to make contact with Melody's other family members, this is really the response that they get. That they love and care for Melody, but haven't been allowed to see her or have any contact with her for years. Basically, no one has had eyes on her or Ashley for a very long time. It's becoming overwhelmingly clear that something is very wrong with this situation, so the sheriff's office returns to Melody's home the following day, October 15th, to again ask Ashley where her daughter is and if she's okay.

6:39They do make contact with her again, but Melody is not there. And Ashley is completely uncooperative, according to the sheriff's office. She's not telling them where Melody is or her current condition. So they come back that night with a search warrant. When it comes to what your family eats and drinks, you know your choices matter. You're the expert because you know what fits your life. And getting it right starts with good information. That's why America's beverage companies are sharing more information about our ingredients at goodtoknowfacts.org. No spin, no judgments, just the facts straight from the experts for more than 140 beverage ingredients.

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8:12At this point, her school district says that they haven't had contact with her or her mother for about a year, and most of her family says that they haven't seen Melody in about five years. It really is the worst-case scenario for this type of investigation. Forget the first 48 hours. They're behind by at least a year at this point, and Melody's mother, Ashley Buzzard, isn't talking. Now, there's a lot that we do not know about this search. We don't have photos of Melody's living space. We don't know if there was even a room for her or if there was any clothing or toys that would seem to fit a nine-year-old in that home, evidence that she'd been there recently, but this is what we do know.

8:56They do not find any evidence of a crime. There's no blood, no signs of a struggle, or signs that anything traumatic may have happened in that home. That's really all we know, which honestly does make sense for a brand new investigation. I have to have hope that they found something that will help them find Melody. Now at this point, the story breaks in the media. There are headlines everywhere about Melody being reported missing after not being seen in a year. But we now know that that isn't accurate As investigators begin digging into whatever they can find out about Melody They discover that one of the administrators at the school district Saw her and Ashley at the beginning of August 2025 That's when Ashley was enrolling her in the independent study program for the 2025-2026 school year Now we don't know exactly what caused this miscommunication within the school district that caused the first administrators to report that Melody hadn't been seen in a year.

10:02But honestly, it seems like it was a good thing, because the bottom line is that Melody is seemingly missing, and her mom is not cooperating with investigators. And it's definitely helped them narrow down the timeline a lot more. Instead of being missing for an entire year, it seems she's been missing for a few months. But then, they narrow down that timeline even more. They discover that Melody was seen with her mother as recently as October 7th, 2025. But here's where things in this case get even scarier. Investigators reveal that Ashley Buzzard may have driven Melody as far as Nebraska in a rented white Chevy Malibu.

10:46For some context, that's about halfway across the U.S. from Southern California, about 22 hours or about 1 ,500 miles. It's a long way to go, and at this point, we don't know what's in Nebraska, just that Ashley and possibly Melody drove this route in a rented vehicle starting on October 7th. But investigators are quick to share this information because they want everyone to have it that Ashley was driving a rented white Chevy Malibu from Lompoc, California to Nebraska. While she is no longer in possession of the car, it's since been returned. They stress the importance of sharing the license plate number, 9-M-N-G-1-0-1, and they urge anyone who may have seen them or the car to report it to the sheriff's office or the FBI.

11:40They have since become involved at this point due to the possibility of Ashley transporting Melody across state lines. And don't worry, they did find the vehicle. It's been impounded, they've got it for forensic testing, but as far as any DNA evidence found, they haven't released any of that to the public just yet. But possibly by using GPS or license plate readers, they've narrowed down this trip from Lompoc, California to Nebraska, and then back to California as occurring between October 7th and October 14th. The trouble is, they don't know exactly when Melody was with Ashley, and when Ashley was alone.

12:24According to reporting by Patrick Riley for the New York Post, they were seen making several stops along the route, but the public information officer for the sheriff's office has stated that they don't know the specifics of this trip just yet. All they really seem to know is that the trip began in Lompoc, California on October 7th, and it seems that Ashley returned home without Melody a week later on October 14th. And that's basically where Melody's case is today. But that's not where this episode ends, because in response to Melody seemingly going missing, or worse, her family and community have stepped up big time.

13:05They've provided more information that gives us a bit more insight into Ashley's possible mental state, and Melody's life leading up to this point. This is a real good story about Bronx and his dad, Ryan, real United Airlines customers. We were returning home, and one of the flight attendants asked Bronx if he wanted to see the flight deck and meet Captain Andrew. I got to sit in the driver's seat. I grew up in an aviation family, and seeing Bronx kind of reminded me of myself when I was that age. That's Andrew, a real United pilot. These small interactions can shape a kid's future. It felt like I was the captain.

13:42allowing my son to see the flight deck will stick with us forever. That's how good leads the way. Ashley's mother, Lori Miranda, spoke with KSBY news reporter Crystal Bermudez about her daughter and granddaughter. Like Melody's family on her father's side, Lori also says she hasn't seen either of them for about two years, and only found out that Melody was missing when she was contacted by law enforcement. She reiterated that she hadn't seen either of them, and isn't aware of any family in Nebraska that Ashley could have left Melody with. But this wasn't the first time authorities contacted her about Ashley and Melody.

14:22Shortly after Melody's father passed away, Lori got a call from police letting her know that they planned to take Melody into state custody, and to take Ashley to the hospital. At this time, Melody was just a few months old, under a year. And Ashley actually has another older daughter who was also involved in this incident. Now, this daughter is no longer in Ashley's care, and it appears that she hasn't been for many years. So to be crystal clear, this older daughter does not appear to be missing or in any danger. But here is Lori Miranda telling Crystal Bermudez from KSBY News about this incident.

15:01About 15 minutes later, a sheriff calls me. He says, I'm at your daughter's house in Orkut, and I was just getting ready to take your granddaughter Melody with me to CPS because we're getting ready to take your daughter to the hospital. House was in disarray. There were raw eggs in pans. There was rotten food in the fridge that I think she was trying to give my granddaughter. So this is when Lori Miranda comes to Ashley's home and finds it in complete disarray. She believes Ashley was trying to feed her older daughter this rotten food, and Lori tells Bermudez that Ashley does have a history of mental illness and has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

15:39Now, as far as I could find, this comes exclusively from Ashley's mother. It has not been confirmed by a medical professional or law enforcement, so take that for what you will. According to Melody's aunt, Elizabeth Meza, who you'll hear from later in this episode, Melody is taken from Ashley's care and placed with family on her father's side for a brief period of time before being returned to her mother's care. At this point, Lori says it was due to Ashley's behavior that she voluntarily took a step back from her daughter for her own safety and sanity Causing about a two-year gap in seeing Melody But she thought Melody was in school and doing just fine before discovering that she was missing Now I have to give the biggest shout out to Crystal Bermudez for getting this interview as well as what I'm about to tell you next she really has gotten some of if not the most crucial interviews with melody's family at this point but as she's outside of ashley's house reporting on this case she captures something else melody has another older half-sister on her father's side her name is karina meza in the video she appears to be an adult and karina was not shy to confront ashley to get answers about her sister Ashley, it's Karina.

17:00I just want to see if you're okay. If Melody's okay, how you guys are doing. Do you have the time to speak with me? Although she did not answer questions about Melody, Ashley stated she was feeling overwhelmed and stressed and told Karina she did not appreciate her being parked outside when she did not want to communicate with her. Wait, this is my number right here. If you ever want to talk to me, I want a relationship with Melody, please. Please, Ashley. Is she okay? Are you okay? Did she mention anything about Melody? No, she didn't. I did ask her if Melody is okay as well if she's okay, but she did not answer.

17:47Karina confirms that Ashley cut off her side of the family from having any contact with Melody and as you heard or I guess didn't hear Ashley wasn't giving Karina any answers either at this point it seems that the only other person speaking about Melody is her paternal aunt Elizabeth Meza here she is speaking with Nancy Grace giving more details on Karina's interaction with Ashley? We found out last Tuesday, the investigator reached out and was asking questions and, you know, about her whereabouts. So to hear that she was missing was completely mind-blowing. And to find out she was homeschooled by the mom and the last time anybody seen her was a year.

18:37And then it turned out to be two months ago was the last time that the school had seen her. So the timeline was very sketchy and mom is not giving any information at all. So she answered the door for my niece Karina, which is Melody's sister on her dad's side. she opened the door and answered very little questions but as far as anybody else no she will not answer anybody she will not answer the door she will not answer questions but she stood there very stoic with a very stone look on her face and my niece asked her where's malady if she's okay. And she said, why now? Why now? And my niece said, well, we couldn't get a hold of you.

19:35We had no address. We had no phone number. And she said, well, there's a reason for that. And my niece just kept asking her, is Melody okay? Are you okay? And she said, I hope you and your kids are well. And she shut the door. when Elizabeth asked investigators if Melody was okay she says they told her they couldn't say due to it being an open investigation and that at this time they're simply trying to determine Melody's whereabouts she added that she hadn't seen Melody in about five years and that her last interaction with Ashley was very strange she was acting very strange she had And she just draped her head down.

20:18I mean, she had like a buzz cut and she had a hoodie on. The mom, Ashley, did. And she was acting very strange. And my mother-in-law had told her, if you don't want to leave her here, she could stay here because she was playing with my kids. And Ashley looked and she said, I can't do this. And she grabbed her and they left. And that was the last time that we seen her. Elizabeth also claimed that at one point, Ashley had crashed her car intentionally with Melody inside when she was a baby. It really seemed that everyone in the family was extremely concerned, and she goes on to explain that Melody has a lot of family on her father's side who was more than willing to care for her.

21:02Like I told you earlier, she says that Melody had been removed from her mother's care by the state at one point, presumably in the same incident Ashley's mother described earlier, and she was placed with her aunt and uncle on her father's side for some time, but was eventually reunited with Ashley. After that, she was completely cut off from that side of the family. We just found that out. We had no contact with her. The last, like I said, the last time we were informed that she was removed from the mother's care, and we all tried to, you know, like, get her, you know, she could be with me, she could be with, you know, whoever they would allow her to be.

21:44And then she was finally able to be placed with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, and they had her for quite some time, I don't know exactly how long. And then the state came back and they removed her.

21:59But as reporters and investigators begin speaking to Melody's neighbors, they discover that Melody wasn't just kept from her family, but it kind of seems like she was kept from the entire world. She was apparently very sheltered, and seldom able to do things like just play with other kids on her block. But they do remember seeing her with her mother in the neighborhood. They've also gathered personal surveillance video from these neighbors to help establish a timeline, though the results, if any, have not been disclosed to the public as of recording this episode. Now, despite not being close with Melody, this community has led efforts to help find her.

22:40Not only have they put up flyers for her in the area, and created a Facebook group titled In Search of Melody, they've quite literally posted up outside of her home, and put signs outside with Melody's pictures and the words, Where is Melody? and We're not going to stop until you tell us. They are very serious about finding Melody And are demanding answers from Ashley While they have expressed interest in forming their own search party for Melody Without any idea of where she could be They don't really know where to start The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office has also openly discouraged community members From conducting their own searches or investigations They have instead asked them to help share the facts of Melody's case without any further involvement.

23:29Here is Raquel Zick, Public Information Officer for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office. We are seeing a lot of people that are showing up at the residence, especially people who are kind of concerned, you know, wanting to conduct their own searches and their own investigations. And we really want to encourage the public to just kind of share information with law enforcement as opposed to conducting your own investigation and just kind of warn that, you know, that some of this stuff could possibly impede our investigation or interfere. And we know that the public is very adamant and passionate about helping to locate Melody, and we very much appreciate that.

24:07But we're, again, encouraging people not to have that result in a community-led investigation. I know that can be hard to hear, but I have to believe that they have information we don't that would lead them to this specific request. Either way, this community has been truly amazing. And I want to play you a small snippet of those neighbors and Melody's sister, Karina, speaking with Crystal Bermudez with KSBY News. We're all looking for answers, but, you know, we're showing up today so that way, you know, she knows we care, we're here for Melody, and hopefully she will come out and tell us where she's at.

24:52Besides the garage being open, almost 48 hours now, which we don't know if she knows or not. She was burning something in the fireplace last night, but paper was coming out. Organization is going to be key in this. Like, if they're not going to press her until she cracks, like, I'm sorry, it's time. Now that is alarming. What she was burning seems to be anyone's guess. But I think it's safe to say that there are many eyes on Ashley and her home at all times.

25:47anymore. We are. Begonia. Weighted R. Under 17. Not admitted without a parent. Now playing in select theaters. In theaters everywhere. October 31st. So where is Melody Buzzard? Well, of course, we don't know for sure. But it's clear that for some reason, her mother Ashley, her sole caregiver for most of her life, isn't talking. In my research about Melody, I discovered the statements about Ashley being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, that she seemed erratic in some of her last interactions with Melody's family on both sides, and it does seem that Ashley was also having a bit of financial trouble.

26:30Now, I just want to say that plenty of perfectly loving, functional families have money issues. It happens to the absolute best of people. But one theory that's been thrown out there is that Ashley may have trafficked Melody for money due to these issues, so it did feel appropriate to bring up here. In 2017, Ashley filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. In 2024, Discover Bank took her to court for$4 ,200. That same year, Capital One did the same thing for$3 ,000. And in May of this year, she was facing another court case from Capital One. Now, is a combined$7 ,200 worth of debt enough to sell your child?

27:15I don't know But if all those debts are suddenly paid off I have to assume that investigators will catch on pretty quickly The latest information about Melody as of recording this episode is that investigators are focused on the October 7th to October 14th time period that Ashley may have taken Melody from California to Nebraska They theorize that Ashley may have taken Melody to a relative along that route, but can't say for sure. This seems to be their best lead right now. And they are really appealing to the public for assistance. The sheriff's office has asked the public for help in sharing Melody's picture and information, which again, I want to stress, this photo is from two years ago, but it is the most recent photo available.

28:07Sheriff Bill Brown said, quote, The Sheriff's Office shares the community's concern for Melody's safety and is committed to bringing her home. We are grateful to the media for disseminating Melody's photo and the information surrounding her disappearance far and wide, which we hope will help us solve this perplexing case. We are hopeful that Melody might be with someone, perhaps an extended family member or friend, who may not be aware of the circumstances of her disappearance. End quote. That brings me right to our call to action. Please share Melody's picture and information, especially if you live in the states between California and Nebraska.