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The mother of a missing "at-risk" 9-year-old girl reportedly told a man she's accused of falsely imprisoning that she knows where her daughter is.
An investigation into 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard's location was opened by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 14 after a school administrator reported she hadn't attended school for a "prolonged" period of time. The sheriff's office said Melodee's mother, Ashlee, wasn't able to give a verifiable explanation to deputies when asked where her daughter was. Deputies said that Ashlee has "remained uncooperative and has not confirmed Melodee’s location or welfare."
Tyler Brewer, who said he's a court officer, said in a statement that Ashlee told him information that she "appeared to regret disclosing," pulled out a box cutter and locked the doors to her home, ABC News reported. He claimed Ashlee "became visibly distressed after sharing information she appeared to regret disclosing" when she allegedly pulled out the box cutter and refused to let him leave.
Brewer told NewsNation that Ashlee revealed to him where Melodee was located and who she was with.
Ashlee Buzzard, left, the mother of Melodee Buzzard, right, is seen in a surveillance image taken at a rental car business in Lompoc, Calif., on Oct. 7, 2025. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office)
However, Brewer said he has concerns if the information Ashlee told him was true. Buzzard was charged with false imprisonment on Nov. 7 and a judge allowed her to be released from jail but must wear an ankle monitor and cannot contact Brewer.
Lily Denes, Melodee's paternal grandmother, told KTLA she was frustrated that Ashlee was released from jail, saying that the 9-year-old's name wasn't brought up during the court hearing.
"They let her go, and they didn’t even [say] anything about the baby missing," Denes said, adding she was "really mad."
Melodee Buzzard is shown here in a photo that the FBI says was taken in 2023. (FBI)
Denes also claimed that Ashlee was previously treated for mental health issues.
"She has a record of being in the loony hospital in Camarillo twice … I knew she was an odd lady; I knew it from the first time I met her. I knew something was wrong with her," Denes said.
According to authorities, Ashlee left California with her 9-year-old daughter on Oct. 7 and traveled as far as Nebraska in a Chevrolet Malibu bearing a California license plate, with the return trip including Kansas.
On Oct. 8, the Malibu was seen with a New York license plate. Detectives said the New York plate doesn't belong to Ashlee and they think it was used as a "false or switched plate to avoid detection." When the car was returned to the rental car agency in California, the original license plate was allegedly placed back on the car.
MELODEE BUZZARD'S MOTHER ARRESTED ON CHARGE UNRELATED TO HER DAUGHTER'S DISAPPEARANCE
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office released a new image of Melodee Buzzard "captured at a local car rental business on October 7." (Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office )
Investigators believe that the Malibu traveled through several areas between California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada on or around Oct. 9, according to the sheriff's office.
"Somewhere along that route is where we know Ashlee was no longer with Melodee," Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Raquel Zick told KUTV.
Investigators say Ashlee and Melodee Buzzard were on a road trip when the young girl disappeared. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office)
Detectives released video from a rental car location in Lompoc, California, showing Ashlee and Melodee Buzzard apparently both wearing wigs.
"The footage corresponds to previously released still images and shows both Ashlee and Melodee wearing wigs. Investigators also believe that Ashlee swapped wigs throughout the trip, changing to a darker wig that is similar in color and style to the one Melodee was seen wearing. This change in appearance is believed to have been intentional to avoid recognition during travel," the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office said.
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The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office said "Melodee is wearing a hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up and what appears to be a wig that is darker and straighter than her natural hair," and that, "investigators believe the wig may have been used to alter her appearance." (Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office)
Melodee is described by officials as 4 feet to 4 feet, 6 inches tall, 60 to 100 pounds, with brown curly hair and brown eyes.
Individuals with information related to Melodee's whereabouts are asked to contact (805) 681-4150.
Fox News Digital reached out to Ashlee's attorney for comment.
Fox News Digital's Greg Norman contributed to this report.
Adam Sabes is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter @asabes10.
