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Relations are desperately trying to find Melodee Buzzard, a 9-year-old lady who was final seen in Lompoc in August and whose mom refuses to reply questions on her whereabouts.
Melodee was formally reported lacking Tuesday after officers on the Lompoc Unified College District contacted the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Workplace to report her extended absence, in accordance with authorities.
The lady had enrolled in an unbiased studying program in August, the college district stated in a press release, and sheriff’s officers say she has not been seen since.
Sheriff’s deputies went to the lady’s house in Vandenberg Village on Tuesday. Inside they made contact with Ashlee Buzzard, Melodee’s mom, however the lady was nowhere to be seen, in accordance with authorities. Her mom stays uncooperative with the investigation.
Vicky Shade, Melodee’s aunt, stated that the lady’s mom has an extended historical past of psychological sickness and refused to let kinfolk go to the lady.
“Ashlee is mentally unstable and my mother tried to get custody or at the very least grandparent rights to go to Melodee as a result of she [Ashlee] wasn’t letting our aspect of the household see her,” Shade stated.
Shade’s brother, Rubiell Meza, is Ashlee’s father. He died in a bike accident in 2016, shortly after Melodee was born.
Buzzard and Rubiell Meza beforehand lived in Santa Maria with Meza’s mom. Nevertheless, Buzzard moved away shortly after Meza died and altered her cellphone quantity, Shade stated.
“I’m horrified for my little niece, I can’t think about what she’s gone by way of,” Shade stated. “This doesn’t sound good. I simply need to know if she’s OK. We have to discover her.”
The newest picture out there of Melodee is 2 years previous, in accordance with the Sheriff’s Workplace.
One other one among Melodee’s aunts, Lizabeth Meza, stated that Buzzard had struggled with psychological sickness for years. She stated Buzzard has tried to take her personal life a number of occasions and was beforehand hospitalized for remedy.
Meza’s household has not been capable of see Melodee in round 4 and a half years, she stated.
They’re presently targeted on placing up lacking youngster posters round Lompoc and sharing Melodee’s story on social media in hopes of producing leads concerning the lady’s whereabouts.
Buzzard was seen getting into her Vandenberg Village house Thursday by native TV station KSBY, however refused to talk with a reporter. She additionally didn’t reply to requests from The Occasions for remark.
Federal courtroom information present that Buzzard filed for Chapter 7 chapter in 2017 and has had at the very least 5 collections instances for unpaid money owed filed in opposition to her in Santa Barbara County Superior Court docket. This contains instances filed in opposition to her by Capital One Financial institution in Might and December, and by Crown Asset Administration final November.
Sheriff’s Workplace spokesperson Raquel Zick stated that Melodee had beforehand been homeschooled for a number of years. Nevertheless, the California Division of Schooling has no file of Buzzard submitting a personal college affidavit, which is a requirement for homeschooling, in accordance with division spokesperson Scott Roark.
In response to a press release from the Lompoc Unified College District, Melodee and her mom visited Mission Valley Impartial Research College to provoke her registration in August. However Melodee then failed to select up assignments, prompting the college to provoke outreach attain out to her mom, and, finally, legislation enforcement.
“Lompoc Unified College District deserves credit score for recognizing that one thing wasn’t proper, reaching out, and persevering with to help with this investigation,” Sheriff’s Lt. Chris Gotschall stated in a press release. “This essential replace helps slender a big hole within the timeline of when she was final identified to be seen and due to that, we’re nearer to understanding what occurred to Melodee.”
Anybody with details about Melodee is requested to contact the Sheriff’s Workplace at (805) 681-4150. Ideas can be left anonymously at (805) 681-4171 or at SBSheriff.org.
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