Melodee Buzzard Part 2

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1:26Listener discretion is advised. My name is Sarah Turney, and this is Voices for Justice.

1:37Today, I am back with updates in the case of Melody Buzzard. The timeline has changed. At least three new search warrants have been served, and family members are speaking out about trying to submit new tips to investigators who are not returning their phone calls. This is part two of the case of Melody Buzzard. Now, like I always say when I create several episodes about one case, I definitely recommend going back and listening to the previous coverage before proceeding with the new. But as a brief recap, this case made major headlines all across the country in October of this year, 2025, when the media began reporting that nine-year-old Melody hadn't been seen in over a year.

2:24But we've since learned that that isn't the case. Melody was officially homeschooled by her mother, Ashley Buzzard, in an independent study program supported by the Lompoc School District in Santa Barbara County, California. But after failing to pick up assignments and participate in some other district-supported programming as she had in the past, officials with the district reported her missing to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office on October 14th. At the time of that initial report, officials stated that they hadn't seen Melody in about a year. However, another official with the school district has since come forward to say that Melody was seen with Ashley while she was enrolling her in the independent study program for the 2025-2026 year in early August.

3:11Unfortunately, according to the sheriff's office, Ashley has been completely uncooperative in the search for Melody. And really, since the news broke, the media and community have swarmed Melody and Ashley's home on Mars Avenue in Vandenberg Village. They've placed signs outside of her home with Melody's picture and the words, Where is Melody? and We aren't going to stop until you tell us. They also often camp outside of the home waiting for Ashley to come out. Of course, I go into more detail in part one and play you interviews with some pretty crucial people in this case, but that's the gist.

3:47I told you in that episode that this is a rapidly evolving case that really needs our attention. Right now is a crucial time in Melody's case and the chance that someone saw something seems to be very high. So I'm back to tell you about all the updates since we last covered Melody's case, because they really do change a lot. So let's dig in. In part one, I told you that officials were focusing on a road trip Ashley made with Melody from California to Nebraska between October 7th and October 14th. Not long after that episode aired, officials announced a new, tighter timeline for Melody's disappearance, along with new information and surveillance photos of Melody and Ashley.

4:31Let's break it down. According to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, Ashley left California with Melody on October 7th in a rented white 2024 Chevy Malibu with California license plate 9MNG101. They have now released images of Ashley and Melody at the rental car location in Lompoc, California from the 7th. Prior to these images, the most current photo we had of Melody was from two years ago, so this is very helpful in giving us an idea of what Melody looks like now. But I say just an idea because unfortunately, investigators believe that both Ashley and Melody were wearing wigs in these photos.

5:15Melody appears to be wearing black or dark-colored tennis shoe-style shoes, multicolored leggings with what appears to be some type of cartoon characters on them, and a light gray hoodie with the hood covering up much of the wig. In my opinion, the images of her from the car rental company look nothing like the photo of her from two years ago. Which is to be expected. Kids change a lot from ages 7 to 9. But at this point, we still don't really have a clear photo of her face. For what it's worth though, Melody's paternal aunt, Lisbeth Meza, has stated that while she hasn't seen her niece since she was about four, that it does appear to be Melody in the photos, specifically stating that she absolutely recognizes her father's nose.

6:01Who, as you might remember from part one, unfortunately passed away in a motorcycle accident when Melody was under a year old. I will, of course, have these photos on our social media pages and website for you to take a look for yourself, and of course, to please share. Now, during this trip, they went as far as Nebraska. We already knew that. But we now know that Melody was with Ashley on her return trip to California, and during that return trip, they traveled through Kansas. What's also new is that beginning on October 8th, the rented Chevy Malibu had a new license plate, a New York license plate, HCG 9677.

6:45So at some point between the 7th and 8th, Ashley switched the plates. The rental car company has also confirmed that the New York plate was not issued to Ashley at the time she rented the vehicle. Where she obtained the plate is really anyone's guess at this point, possibly something she coordinated with another party, or she just saw the plate and took it from another vehicle during her travels. Investigators have not confirmed whether the owner of the plate and the vehicle it was legally assigned to had reported it or their vehicle stolen, or if this plate was completely counterfeit. Now, I want to pause here and talk about the possibility of plate switching, which does seem to me, just my opinion, to be more likely than Ashley having connections to print some type of counterfeit plate.

7:34Really ask yourself how often do you look at your license plate? Now I'm sure some of you are saying right now that you look every single time before you get into your vehicle, but I think it's safe to say that many people could go quite some time without realizing that their plate was stolen or switched with another plate. It's not uncommon for people who steal cars to switch the license plate before doing so to buy them some extra time. Growing up, I saw this a lot. So let's say Ashley stole a New York license plate from a Toyota Tacoma, leaving them without any plate at all. She could then take that license plate and swap it out with a New York license plate from a white Chevy Malibu and place it on her rental.

8:16If a cop runs Ashley's plates, it's going to come up as a white Chevy Malibu, and if the owner hasn't realized that the plates have been swapped, a flag won't come up in the system. As long as she isn't pulled over and they aren't checking the registration, she's in the clear until the owner of the other Chevy Malibu realizes that their plates have been switched. Of course, we don't know if this is the case, but if Ashley was afraid of being tracked on this trip, which does seem to be the case, this line of reasoning would make sense. Now, all the sheriff's office has said is that they believe that the plate was used as a false or switched plate to avoid detection.

8:53It doesn't appear that the actual plate has been located. We also know that when Ashley returned the vehicle to the rental company, it was returned with the original California plate. So that's what we know about Ashley switching the license plates out. But back to the timeline. Ashley has a new plate by the 8th, and investigators are now saying that Melody was last seen along this return route on October 9th. She was apparently captured on surveillance near the Colorado-Utah border on the Colorado side. They say they're still trying to narrow down this timeline even further to figure out when Melody was no longer with Ashley, but we do know that after that, Ashley made stops in Green River, Utah, Panguitch, Utah, St.

9:37George, Utah, Northwest Arizona, Prem, Nevada, and Rancho Cucamonga, California all on October 9th. This would have been about a 10-hour drive straight through before returning to her home in Vandenberg Village, California without Melody on the 10th. So our timeline has been narrowed down a lot with these new developments. Instead of that October 7th through 14th timeframe, investigators are now looking for anyone who may have seen or interacted with Ashley and Melody on October 9th or 10th to come forward. They're also working with law enforcement agencies in California, Colorado, Utah, and Arizona to aid in the search for Melody.

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12:16Not long after I posted my first episode about Melody's case, Child Welfare Services, or CWS officials were seen going to Ashley and Melody's home, and according to reporting by NewsNation, neighbors reported that Ashley was handed a document stating she needed to produce Melody in 72 hours. Of course, if that is true, that time period has long expired, and Melody is still missing. However, this was a significant development in this case, as various media outlets and concerned members of the community have recorded many different types of government officials, including those from Child Welfare Services, knocking on Ashley's door only to receive no answer.

12:59But for some reason, on this day, on or about October 23rd, Ashley answered the door, was served, and signed a set of papers. Not long after, at the end of October, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, along with the FBI and a CSI unit, participated in another search of the buzzard home. They also removed Ashley from the residence as it was being conducted, but according to law enforcement, she was not officially detained or arrested. Spokesperson for the sheriff's office, Raquel Zick, gave a statement to KSBY News, who is still doing a fantastic job covering Melody's case. But here is Zick.

13:40We're doing multiple searches and that we're utilizing our partners at the FBI that have some really, you know, great equipment, training, experience, people, all of those things. You know, we're coming at this investigation from every angle and with everything that we have access to. The KSBY news cameras also captured agents removing items from the home in large black trash bags. But what was taken is unclear. They were also seen looking through Ashley's garbage bins. Officials have called it an ongoing effort to collect evidence in Melody's case, and specifically said that it was a secondary, more detailed search than what had previously been done.

14:22Search warrants were also issued to a storage locker belonging to Ashley Buzzard, as well as for the rental car in what would be at least the second search of the vehicle. Unfortunately, again, what if anything was found is unknown. But this was huge in the media. Many people were hoping that this was it, especially after Ashley was removed from the property. But she has since returned and is still avoiding answering the door for reporters, CWS, law enforcement, and her own family. Which does bring me to something that I want to address in this case that I think is pretty vital. There doesn't appear to be any one member of the family who is getting updates from law enforcement.

15:05Usually, we see that there's one or more family members who keep in contact with authorities and receive updates. But that doesn't appear to be the case here. While many family members have been outspoken in the media, none have confirmed that law enforcement is giving them updates in the case. And two of the most outspoken family members, Melody's older half-sister on her father's side, Karina Meza, and Melody's aunt, Lisbeth Meza, confirmed to Ashley Banfield with News Nation that they aren't really being kept in the loop in Melody's case. In fact, they weren't even asked if they know about any possible connection Ashley may have to Nebraska or Kansas with this new information about the route she and Melody traveled.

15:47To be clear, they did confirm with Ashley Banfield that they don't know of any family or any reason for them to be in those states, but it does feel like something investigators should be asking. Even more disturbing, Lisbeth added that she tried to connect with detectives about tips she's received from the public, and as of that interview with News Nation, she says they never responded to her phone call. Now as far as not sharing information, of course, this could be for good reason. It's possible they have information they don't want getting back to Ashley, which is valid. I just thought it was worth noting that it appears Melody doesn't have a family advocate, at least not one that the police are willing to work with.

16:29She is seemingly unrepresented at this point. It also seems that things are getting more tense with Ashley Buzzard. Since our first episode about Melody, we also have new videos showing Ashley Buzzard ripping down Melody's missing persons posters outside of her home. At least one of those posters was put up by Melody's sister Karina, who you may remember approached Ashley asking if she and Melody were okay and offering her help. but Ashley refused and basically shut the door in her face. There's also been new speculation that Ashley may be planning on moving out of the home. Neighbors captured video footage of what appears to be moving boxes delivered to the home.

17:10In that video, you can clearly see that it's boxes. Ashley leaves her home fully dressed in boots, even a purse, as if she might be leaving. But then she goes back inside. We also have some new statements from Melody's maternal grandmother, Lori Miranda, who, despite being greatly criticized for her first statements that she hadn't seen Melody in a few years, continues to give interviews about this case. Crystal Bermudez has gone back out to speak with Lori Miranda again. She showed Lori that picture I told you about earlier, of Melody in what appears to be a disguise, and Lori Miranda says that this entire thing is shocking, overwhelming, and has really left her numb.

17:50She's also proposed the theory that Ashley and Melody may have crossed paths with family on that road trip. Here is Lori Miranda speaking with Crystal Bermudez. You're saying that her father's family, his people... And my family. And your family are along those routes. Utah. Lori also told Bermudez that she believes Ashley knows where Melody is, that someone has helped her in these endeavors, and is pleading for Ashley to speak up. You need to tell them where the baby is. you need to tell them who's setting all these things up for you. I know you're not doing it. This episode of Voices for Justice is sponsored by Chewy.

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19:53There was a candlelight vigil held for Melody outside of the Buzzard home at the end of October. This was organized by Melody's father's side of the family. At the vigil, members of Melody's family and the community prayed for both Ashley and Melody, as well as for Melody's safe return, and they spoke to the media. Here is her paternal grandmother, Lily, speaking with Crystal Bermudez from KSBY News about Melody and her son. If she's listening, we love you. We're here for you. And we just want you to be happy and call me. While Melody's father died in a motorcycle crash when she was six months old, his mother tells me he's there in spirit.

20:34This is my baby. And there's, he's gone and she was just a baby, but here, I took this picture at the hospital. I walk in and he said, Mom, Mom, wait, Mom. I know your dad is watching you from heaven. I love you, baby. This community and Melody's family have been showing up every single day to bring her home. But one question that I think is lingering in everyone's mind right now is what else can be done? And how can Ashley be compelled to speak? In part one of my coverage, I told you that the FBI has already joined the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office in their efforts to locate Melody. Since that episode aired, the Santa Barbara County Prosecutor's Office has also confirmed that they're partnering with these agencies to help in the case as well.

21:28But at this point, what are their options to compel Ashley to speak or cooperate with investigators. Across social media, I see so many comments of people asking why can't they just make her talk, make her speak to investigators. I often get the same question about my sister's case, as our father, like Ashley Buzzard, has refused to cooperate in the investigation for their missing child. In the nearly 25 years since Alyssa went missing, he has never once sat down for a formal interview. So I think I have some unique insight here and can empathize with this frustration. We cannot force people to cooperate.

22:08We cannot arrest people for not cooperating and keep them in a cell until they speak, and that's due to the Fifth Amendment in our Constitution. Now, again, while I do have practical experience in this area, I am by no means a legal expert. So let's read right from the Constitution. Quote,

22:55nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation." Now, I know that may seem a little excessive to read from the Constitution instead of just saying that she pled the Fifth, but I want to thoroughly address the many people who are asking why she can't be arrested and held until she talks. So, in short, it's unconstitutional if Ashley has invoked her Fifth Amendment right to stay silent, which it appears she has. But that doesn't mean that there are zero options to compel her to speak or hold her accountable for seemingly not caring for Melody at this time.

23:39Prosecutors, investigators, and other experts have spoken out across several media outlets reiterating her right to remain silent. So far, there is no criminal violation to act on at this time. However, the idea of issuing a summons for Ashley to appear before a dependency court has also been presented. Now, if you don't know what a dependency court is, these courts address cases where a parent may be unfit to care for a child, or cases of concern for a child who is at significant risk of becoming abused or neglected. Basically, the court would just summon Ashley and ask her about Melody's well-being.

24:17If she refuses to speak then, she could be considered in contempt of court and held in jail until she complies. So how could they make this happen? Well, the petition for the summons would need to come from Child Welfare Services in Santa Barbara County, or I've read that in some cases the court will accept a private petition from law enforcement officials. But usually, from what I could find, it seems that local child services agencies do most of the petitions. And as of recording this episode, that hasn't happened yet. Many people are also asking why Ashley can't be arrested on charges related to truancy laws in California.

24:57Well, it turns out that in early October 2025, those laws changed. It used to be that parents and caregivers could face fines and even jail time for excessive absences, even for independent study programs such as the one Melody was enrolled in, but those criminal penalties have since been removed. So while that would have been a viable option a few months ago, that's no longer the case. But again, they're not out of options. According to a statement local attorney Michael Clayton gave to KSBY News, another avenue would be to file felony child endangerment charges, which he says is absolutely an option at this point.

25:37Which brings me to one of the largest points of controversy in Melody's case thus far. How much pressure is too much pressure to put on Ashley? Of course, the goal is to make her cooperate, and since she's already been so quiet, it seems, just speculation here, that authorities are hesitant to apply pressure from something like a dependency court or child endangerment charges at this time. Again, it's just a guess. For all we know, authorities could simply just not see this as a viable option, but I think this idea of pressure is important to address. Many people, including those who know Ashley, believe it's very possible she's going through some type of mental health crisis right now.

26:23Since our first episode about Melody, a neighbor has come out to say that she saw Melody and Ashley in the park around July 2025. She says it was pretty clear that Ashley appeared to be in distress, rubbing her head as Melody, like any child, asked her repeatedly to come play. It's not the most definitive example I know, but it's what we have. And while I don't think this excuses her lack of cooperation to ensure Melody's safety, I think all of this gives us some insight into why investigators may not be applying the maximum amount of pressure just yet. Ashley may be the only person outside of, you know, unknown potential witnesses who knows what happened to Melody or where she may be.

27:07Basically, if they throw everything at her, it's possible Ashley may never say where Melody is or what happened to her. So I am back once again to ask, what happened to Melody Buzzard? Well, there are still so many things that we don't know about this case that could hold the key to finding Melody. Like, where are Ashley's cell phone records? GPS records from the rental company? Credit card records? What steps are being taken to track this path down even further? Have they connected with the family members Lori Miranda has been speaking about? As it stands, it feels like there are few options as to what may have happened to Melody.