California Woman Charged in Her 9-Year-Old Daughter’s Murder Case

Detectives learned the mother and daughter changed their appearance during travel.

This image made from surveillance footage captured at a rental car company shows Melodee Buzzard (left), and Ashlee Buzzard in Lompoc, Calif, on Oct. 7, 2025. Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office via AP

A California woman has been arrested in her 9-year-old daughter’s murder case after the missing child’s remains were found in Utah, authorities said Tuesday.

Ashlee Buzzard, 40, was arrested after 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard’s body was found in an area they had traveled through two months ago, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office announced at a news conference Tuesday.