The mom of a 9-year-old California woman who vanished throughout their highway journey final month was arrested Friday on a felony cost of false imprisonment –—however it’s circuitously associated to the seek for her daughter, officers stated.
Investigators have been trying into the disappearance of Ashlee Buzzard’s daughter Melodee once they realized the mom had lately “prevented a sufferer from leaving a location in opposition to their will,” the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Workplace stated in a information launch.
“This crime shouldn’t be linked to the continued seek for Melodee; nevertheless, detectives are unable to totally define the crime as it could impede their ongoing investigation,” the discharge stated.
The Santa Barbara County District Legal professional’s Workplace accused Buzzard in a criticism of “false imprisonment by violence.” It stated the best way the alleged crime was carried out indicated “planning, sophistication, or professionalism.”
Investigators have shed little mild on the latest incident as they proceed to research Melodee’s whereabouts. To date, prosecutors have solely disclosed that the occasion occurred on November 6 in Buzzard’s hometown of Lompoc.
The arrest comes a few week after the FBI served search warrants at Buzzard’s residence and a storage locker, in addition to the rental automotive that Melodee was final seen in.
The seek for Melodee has captured nationwide consideration as investigators shared surveillance photographs of the kid apparently sporting a wig at a automotive rental company final month, started scrutinizing a cross-state highway journey and described her mom as being “uncooperative.”
This surveillance picture shared by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Workplace reveals Melodee and Ashlee Buzzard at a rental automotive location in Lompoc, California on October 7. – Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Workplace
The seek for Melodee
Buzzard went on a highway journey with Melodee on October 7, authorities stated. That day, surveillance footage captured the woman at an area automotive rental company wearing what gave the impression to be a disguise.
Melodee was sporting a hoodie pulled over her head and “what seems to be a wig that’s darker and straighter than her pure hair,” the sheriff’s workplace stated. “Investigators imagine the wig might have been used to change her look.”
Investigators additionally imagine that the mom swapped wigs all through the journey, probably “to keep away from recognition throughout journey,” the sheriff’s workplace stated Thursday.
Over the following three days, the rental automotive traveled by means of Nebraska, Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Kansas, in some unspecified time in the future seen with “a false or switched” license plate, in response to the sheriff’s workplace.
The rental automotive then returned to the household’s residence in Lompoc, about 55 miles northwest of Santa Barbara, authorities stated.
“Ashlee was seen returning to her Lompoc residence on October 10, driving the identical rental car she departed with on October 7 — however Melodee was not within the automotive,” the sheriff’s workplace stated.
The kid was final seen a day earlier than on video surveillance within the area between the Colorado and Utah state line.
Melodee was reported lacking days in a while October 14 – not by a member of the family, however by a college administrator involved about her lengthy absence.
When authorities visited her mom’s residence, “Melodee was not on the residence, and no verifiable clarification for her whereabouts was offered,” the sheriff’s workplace stated.
“Ashlee has remained uncooperative and has not confirmed Melodee’s location or welfare,” authorities stated on Monday.
Although the mom’s arrest Friday did occur through the lacking individuals investigation, “it isn’t instantly associated to Melodee’s disappearance,” the sheriff’s workplace stated.
“Sheriff’s detectives stay totally targeted on finding Melodee and confirming her security,” the Friday launch stated.
Anybody who has seen Melodee or might know one thing about her whereabouts is inspired to name the sheriff’s workplace or go away an nameless tip.
It was not instantly clear whether or not Buzzard has an legal professional. She might be booked at a Santa Barbara County jail with bail set at $100,000, officers stated.
For extra CNN information and newsletters create an account at CNN.com