Melodee Buzzard’s mom released after allegedly imprisoning officer, revealing missing daughter’s location

The parent of a missing "at-risk" 9-year-old miss reportedly told a antheral she's accused of falsely imprisoning that she knows wherever her girl is.

An probe into 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard's determination was opened by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office connected Oct. 14 aft a schoolhouse head reported she hadn't attended schoolhouse for a "prolonged" play of time. The sheriff's bureau said Melodee's mother, Ashlee, wasn't capable to springiness a verifiable mentation to deputies erstwhile asked wherever her girl was. Deputies said that Ashlee has "remained uncooperative and has not confirmed Melodee’s determination oregon welfare."

Tyler Brewer, who said he's a tribunal officer, said successful a connection that Ashlee told him accusation that she "appeared to regret disclosing," pulled retired a container cutter and locked the doors to her home, ABC News reported. He claimed Ashlee "became visibly distressed aft sharing accusation she appeared to regret disclosing" erstwhile she allegedly pulled retired the container cutter and refused to fto him leave.

Brewer told NewsNation that Ashlee revealed to him wherever Melodee was located and who she was with.

MELODEE BUZZARD DISAPPEARANCE: NEW SURVEILLANCE PHOTOS SHOW MISSING CALIFORNIA GIRL, 9, IN POSSIBLE DISGUISE

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)

However, Brewer said helium has concerns if the accusation Ashlee told him was true. Buzzard was charged with mendacious imprisonment connected Nov. 7 and a justice allowed her to beryllium released from jailhouse but indispensable deterioration an ankle show and cannot interaction 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 sanction wasn't brought up during the tribunal hearing.

"They fto her go, and they didn’t adjacent [say] thing astir the babe missing," Denes said, adding she was "really mad."

CAR USED BY MISSING CALIFORNIA GIRL'S MOM ON ROAD TRIP HAD LICENSE PLATES SWAPPED TO 'AVOID DETECTION'

Melodee Buzzard is shown present successful a photograph that the FBI says was taken successful 2023. (FBI)

Denes besides claimed that Ashlee was antecedently treated for intelligence wellness issues.

"She has a grounds of being successful the loony infirmary successful Camarillo doubly … I knew she was an unusual lady; I knew it from the archetypal clip I met her. I knew thing was incorrect with her," Denes said.

According to authorities, Ashlee near California with her 9-year-old girl connected Oct. 7 and traveled arsenic acold arsenic Nebraska successful a Chevrolet Malibu bearing a California licence plate, with the instrumentality travel including Kansas.

On Oct. 8, the Malibu was seen with a New York licence plate. Detectives said the New York sheet doesn't beryllium to Ashlee and they deliberation it was utilized arsenic a "false oregon switched sheet to debar detection." When the car was returned to the rental car bureau successful California, the archetypal licence sheet was allegedly placed backmost connected the car.

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

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office released a caller representation of Melodee Buzzard "captured astatine a section car rental concern connected October 7." (Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office )

Investigators judge that the Malibu traveled done respective areas betwixt California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada connected oregon astir Oct. 9, according to the sheriff's office.

"Somewhere on that way is wherever we cognize Ashlee was nary longer with Melodee," Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Raquel Zick told KUTV.

Investigators accidental Ashlee and Melodee Buzzard were connected a roadworthy travel erstwhile the young miss disappeared. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office)

Detectives released video from a rental car determination successful Lompoc, California, showing Ashlee and Melodee Buzzard seemingly some wearing wigs.

"The footage corresponds to antecedently released inactive images and shows some Ashlee and Melodee wearing wigs. Investigators besides judge that Ashlee swapped wigs passim the trip, changing to a darker wig that is akin successful colour and benignant to the 1 Melodee was seen wearing. This alteration successful quality is believed to person been intentional to debar designation 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 beryllium a wig that is darker and straighter than her earthy hair," and that, "investigators judge the wig whitethorn person been utilized to change her appearance."  (Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office)

Melodee is described by officials arsenic 4 feet to 4 feet, 6 inches tall, 60 to 100 pounds, with brownish curly hairsbreadth and brownish eyes.

Individuals with accusation related to Melodee's whereabouts are asked to interaction (805) 681-4150.

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

Fox News Digital's Greg Norman contributed to this report.