Deputies confirmed the body of Melodee Buzzard, the nine-year-old missing from Santa Barbara County, was found in Utah. Buzzard's mother was arrested.
During a press conference on Tuesday, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff said DNA results prove the decomposing body of a girl found earlier this month in rural Utah was Melodee Buzzard.
Sheriff Bill Brown said Melodee's mother shot her daughter to death while on a suspicious road trip in a rental car in early October. Both were seen on video wearing wigs, and Ashlee switched the license plate on the car during the drive.
He also said a bullet casing found in Ashlee's home forensically matched casings found near Melodee's body. He noted that Ashleee is still not cooperating. She is charged with premeditated murder.
Deputies began investigating Buzzard’s appearance on October 14 after a school official reported the child’s "prolonged absence.” Deputies then went to Buzzard’s home in the 500 block of Mars Ave.
Raquel Zick, spokesperson for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, told KNX News at the time that deputies spoke with Buzzard’s mom, but that the mom couldn’t tell them where Melodee was.
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