Melodee Buzzard’s grandmother shreds possible insanity defense for accused killer mom: ‘planned everything’

The parent charged with murdering 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard returned to tribunal this week, arsenic the child’s grandma said she believes the sidesplitting was planned, weeks aft Melodee’s assemblage was recovered successful a distant country of Utah with gunshot wounds to the head.

Ashlee Buzzard appeared successful Santa Barbara County Superior Court successful Lompoc connected Jan. 7 to acceptable a day for her preliminary proceeding successful the execution lawsuit involving her daughter, according to the Santa Barbara Independent.

Buzzard is charged with first-degree execution successful Melodee’s death. The miss was reported missing successful October aft leaving California connected a roadworthy travel with her mother. Her assemblage was recovered successful Wayne County, Utah, connected Dec. 6, astir 2 months later. Authorities person said Melodee died from gunshot wounds to the head.

Prosecutors person besides filed 2 sentencing enhancements against Buzzard, alleging usage of a firearm during a felony and execution portion lying successful wait, the Independent reported.

MELODEE BUZZARD'S MOTHER ARRESTED ON CHARGE UNRELATED TO HER DAUGHTER'S DISAPPEARANCE

Ashlee Buzzard was escorted by instrumentality enforcement wrong Santa Barbara County Superior Court successful Lompoc connected Jan. 7. (KKFX)

Buzzard was arrested connected Dec. 23 and arraigned 3 days later. At that time, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office announced it would question a condemnation of beingness successful situation without the anticipation of parole, alternatively than the decease penalty. Buzzard has pleaded not guilty, is being held without bail, and is tentatively scheduled to instrumentality to tribunal for a preliminary proceeding connected Jan. 21 successful Lompoc.

Outside the courthouse, Melodee’s paternal grandmother, Lilly Denes, spoke publically astir the lawsuit and reflected connected her aboriginal impressions of Buzzard, according to the Independent.

"When I met her 9 oregon 10 years ago, she was not similar this. I don’t cognize what happened," Denes said.

MISSING MELODEE BUZZARD’S MOTHER ALLEGEDLY TOLD MAN SHE LEFT DAUGHTER WITH STRANGERS SHE MET AT ZOO: REPORT

Melodee Buzzard's grandma speaks to reporters aft a tribunal quality for Melodee's parent connected Wednesday, Jan. 8. (KKFX)

Denes recalled the archetypal clip her son, Rubiell Meza, brought Buzzard to the household home.

"When my lad brought her to the house, she was truly quiescent and conscionable looking astatine maine from caput to toe," Denes said. "I told my son, ‘Mijo, is this lady, is this miss OK? … She’s conscionable staring.’"

Denes said Meza, who aboriginal died successful a motorcycle mishap portion Melodee was inactive an infant, dismissed her concerns astatine the time, telling her his woman was simply shy.

MELODEE BUZZARD DISAPPEARANCE: FBI, DETECTIVES EXECUTE SEARCH WARRANTS AS 'AT-RISK' 9-YEAR-OLD REMAINS MISSING

She told the Independent that portion she did not spot overmuch of Buzzard afterward, the household embraced Melodee, including hosting a ample babe shower.

"All my household came," Denes said. "That tin archer you however overmuch we loved her. We loved our baby, precise much."

Denes besides questioned immoderate imaginable insanity defense, saying she believes the transgression was planned.

MISSING ‘AT-RISK’ GIRL MELODEE BUZZARD’S MOM APPEARS IN COURT AFTER ALLEGED BOX-CUTTER STANDOFF

Ashlee Buzzard, left, the parent of Melodee Buzzard, right, is seen successful a surveillance representation taken astatine a rental car concern successful Lompoc, Calif., connected Oct. 7, 2025. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office)

"I don’t deliberation that’s close due to the fact that she planned everything," Denes said, referencing allegations that Buzzard switched licence plates connected a rental car during a roadworthy travel with Melodee.

Investigators person said Melodee was considered "at-risk" aft she failed to look astatine schoolhouse and her whereabouts could not beryllium verified.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown antecedently said Melodee’s remains were discovered by 2 radical taking photographs successful a distant country of agrarian Utah. Forensic grounds aboriginal tied the sidesplitting to Buzzard, including ballistic grounds matched by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and DNA investigation by the FBI transgression lab, which confirmed the victim’s identity.

Authorities judge Buzzard acted unsocial and person said determination are nary further suspects. The execution limb has not been recovered, and a motive has not been publically disclosed.

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"This is an highly tragic case," Brown said, describing the sidesplitting arsenic an lawsuit of maternal filicide, which helium called uncommon and hard to comprehend. He described the alleged transgression arsenic involving "calculated, cold-blooded and criminally blase premeditation."

"The nonaccomplishment of a kid is among the astir profound tragedies immoderate assemblage tin endure," Brown said. "That nonaccomplishment is exacerbated erstwhile it is astatine the manus of idiosyncratic other and peculiarly astatine the manus of the 1 who should person loved them the most."

Fox News Digital reached retired to Buzzard's lawyer for comment. 

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send communicative tips to [email protected].