Authorities have taken Ashlee Buzzard into custody in connection with the death of her 9-year-old daughter, Melodee Buzzard, whose remains were located in a remote area of Utah earlier this month, according to multiple law-enforcement sources familiar with the case. DNA testing performed on the recovered remains led investigators to confirm the child’s identity and triggered the decision to detain the mother as part of the homicide investigation.
Investigators say Melodee’s body was discovered in early December in a sparsely populated region of Utah that the mother and daughter visited during an October road trip. Although the discovery was made several weeks ago, officials kept the information confidential while forensic testing proceeded. According to the same sources, detectives now believe the girl was killed in October, before her disappearance was reported to local authorities. The precise cause and manner of death have not been released.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, which is leading the inquiry with support from the FBI, has not yet provided public comment on the arrest. The agency stated only that “major developments” will be announced during a news conference scheduled for Tuesday. Until that briefing occurs, officials have declined to discuss the nature of the evidence linking Ashlee Buzzard to her daughter’s death, citing the active status of the investigation.
