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Mom arrested on murder charge after body of missing ‘at-risk’ girl Melodee Buzzard found
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The body of missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard has been found in rural Utah, and her mother has been arrested and charged with her murder, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown announced Tuesday.
During a press conference, Brown said Melodee’s remains were discovered earlier this month in a remote area of Utah, and that investigators moved swiftly after forensic evidence tied the crime to her mother, Ashlee Buzzard.
Authorities arrested Buzzard early Tuesday morning following the execution of search and arrest warrants, Brown said. She was taken into custody without incident and booked on a charge of first-degree murder. She is being held without bail.
“This is an extremely tragic case,” Brown said, describing the killing as an instance of maternal filicide, a crime he said is rare and deeply difficult to comprehend.
MELODEE BUZZARD DISAPPEARANCE: NEW SURVEILLANCE PHOTOS SHOW MISSING CALIFORNIA GIRL, 9, IN POSSIBLE DISGUISE
Ashlee Buzzard, left, the mother of Melodee Buzzard, right, is seen in a surveillance image taken at a rental car business in Lompoc, Calif., on Oct. 7, 2025. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office)
“But this level of criminal activity is particularly shocking,” Brown added, citing what he described as the “calculated, cold-blooded and criminally sophisticated premeditation” involved.
Brown said investigators recovered significant evidence indicating the crime was committed by Melodee’s mother, the very person the child trusted most.
Authorities detailed how Melodee’s body was discovered on Dec. 6, after two people came across a decomposed body while taking photographs in a remote area of Utah. Local authorities responded and later determined the remains belonged to a young female.
CHARGE AGAINST MELODEE BUZZARD’S MOM DISMISSED, ANKLE MONITOR REMOVED AS FBI HUNTS FOR MISSING 9-YEAR-OLD
Melodee Buzzard was reported missing on Oct. 14, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office and FBI)
Two days later, Utah investigators notified the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office of the discovery. Brown said it was apparent the child had died from gunshot wounds to the head, though her identity could not immediately be confirmed.
Forensic work would later provide that confirmation and directly link the crime scene to Buzzard.
Brown said investigators recovered ballistic evidence while executing search warrants connected to the case, including an expended cartridge case and live ammunition. Analysis by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined that cartridge cases recovered at the Utah crime scene matched a cartridge case found during a search tied to Buzzard.
MISSING ‘AT-RISK’ GIRL MELODEE BUZZARD’S MOM APPEARS IN COURT AFTER ALLEGED BOX-CUTTER STANDOFF
Ashlee Buzzard sits with her attorney at the defense table during testimony in court. (Jamie Vera/Fox News)
The FBI crime lab later confirmed through DNA analysis that the remains found in Utah were a familial match to Buzzard, identifying the victim as Melodee.
With those results in hand, authorities moved to make an arrest.
Brown said investigators do not believe anyone else was involved in Melodee’s killing and that there are no additional suspects at this time. He added that authorities have not recovered the murder weapon and have not yet determined a motive, but emphasized the investigation remains active as detectives continue working closely with prosecutors.
MELODEE BUZZARD’S MOM PLOTTED TO ‘CUT OFF’ MISSING 9-YEAR-OLD FROM ‘ENTIRE WORLD,’ GRANDMA SAYS
Ashlee Buzzard appears in court with her attorney, Adrian Galavan. (Jamie Vera/Fox News)
Melodee had been reported missing in October after leaving California on a road trip with her mother. Authorities previously described the child as “at-risk” and said immediate concerns were raised after she failed to appear at school and her whereabouts could not be verified.
In closing remarks, Brown reflected on the broader impact of the case.
“The loss of a child is among the most profound tragedies any community can endure,” he said. “That loss is exacerbated when it is at the hand of someone else and particularly at the hand of the one who should have loved them the most.”
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“Today we stand together in grief, but also with resolve,” Brown added. “Melodee deserved a far better life than she had. We will honor her memory by ensuring that every step of this process is handled with care, compassion and a steadfast commitment to justice.”
“Our investigation does not end here,” Brown said. “We will continue working closely with prosecutors and ensure that the judicial process moves forward with integrity. May God bless the innocent soul of Melodee Buzzard, who we will never, ever forget.”
Fox News’ Jamie Vera contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
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Forecast for Big Island Windward and Southeast
| Shores | Tonight | Saturday | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surf | Surf | |||
| PM | AM | AM | PM | |
| North Facing | 0-2 | 0-2 | 0-2 | 0-2 |
| East Facing | 1-3 | 1-3 | 1-3 | 1-3 |
| South Facing | 4-6 | 3-5 | 4-6 | 5-7 |
| Weather | Sunny until 6 PM, then partly cloudy. Scattered showers. |
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| Low Temperature | In the lower 70s. | |||||
| Winds | Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph, becoming northwest after midnight. |
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| Weather | Mostly sunny. Scattered showers. | |||||
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| High Temperature | In the mid 80s. | |||||
| Winds | Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. | |||||
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| Sunrise | 5:42 AM HST. | |||||
| Sunset | 7:02 PM HST. | |||||
Forecast for Big Island Leeward
| Shores | Tonight | Saturday | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surf | Surf | |||
| PM | AM | AM | PM | |
| West Facing | 2-4 | 2-4 | 2-4 | 2-4 |
| South Facing | 4-6 | 3-5 | 3-5 | 4-6 |
| Weather | Mostly sunny until 6 PM, then mostly clear. Isolated showers. |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Temperature | In the upper 60s. | ||||||||
| Winds | Northwest winds around 5 mph, becoming southeast in the evening, then becoming light and variable after midnight. |
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| Weather | Sunny. Isolated showers. | ||||||||
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| High Temperature | In the upper 80s. | ||||||||
| Winds | West winds around 5 mph. | ||||||||
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| Sunrise | 5:46 AM HST. | ||||||||
| Sunset | 7:06 PM HST. | ||||||||
A small, medium period south swell will continue to steadily fade into Saturday, allowing surf along south and west-facing shores to drop a notch. A series of small, medium to long period south and southeast swells will fill in Saturday into the first half of next week, which will boost surf heights back near seasonal averages.
Tiny surf will prevail along north-facing shores through most of the coming week as only some limited short-period energy reaches the islands from the north. Trade winds remain lighter than normal through the weekend, keeping surf along east-facing shores below average. East shore surf will begin to trend up early next week as trade winds increase upstream and across the region.
NORTH EAST
am pm
Surf: Minimal (ankle high or less) surf.
Conditions: Semi choppy with ESE winds 5-10mph in the morning increasing to 10-15mph in the afternoon.
NORTH WEST
am pm
Surf: Minimal (ankle high or less) surf.
Conditions: Clean in the morning with ESE winds less than 5mph. Bumpy/semi bumpy conditions for the afternoon with the winds shifting W 5-10mph.
WEST
am pm
Surf: Minimal (ankle high or less) surf.
Conditions: Light sideshore texture in the morning with NNW winds 5-10mph. Bumpy/semi bumpy conditions for the afternoon with the winds shifting to the WNW.
SOUTH EAST
am pm
Surf: Minimal (ankle high or less) surf.
Conditions: Sideshore texture/chop with NE winds 10-15mph.
Data Courtesy of NOAA.gov and SwellInfo.com
Idaho
‘Land back’ gift to Boise Valley tribes celebrated during annual Return of the Boise Valley People
BOISE, Idaho — A celebration of culture, healing and history took on new meaning Friday as descendants of the Boise Valley’s original Indigenous inhabitants gathered at Eagle Rock Park to honor a three-acre land gift that tribal leaders say will preserve their heritage for generations.
The announcement was celebrated during the 15th annual Return of the Boise Valley People gathering, an event that reunites descendants of the Boise Valley’s original tribes to reconnect with their ancestral homeland while sharing their history, traditions, and culture with the public.
WATCH | New land gift gives Boise Valley tribes a future home for cultural education
Land gift to Boise Valley tribes celebrated during Return of the Boise Valley People
“We honor the relationship between this land and the generations of the original Boise Valley people, their ancestors, their descendants, and those yet to be born,” organizers said during the ceremony.
Among those celebrating was Lance Dick Jr., a member of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes Tribal Council who grew up on the Duck Valley Reservation. He joined the Duck Valley Singing Group as tribal members marked the return of the land.
“It feels good to come and connect with the people and come back and reclaim ourselves here in the Boise Valley,” Dick said.
He said the land represents more than property—it represents a renewed connection to the Boise Valley.
“It just feels good knowing that there’s people willing to contribute back to our people and give that land, and being able to reclaim ourselves here in the valley,” he said.
The property, located near the Boise Foothills in the North End, will remain home to the Keener family during their lifetime. Afterward, it will become a cultural gathering place where future generations can learn about the Indigenous peoples whose ancestors lived throughout the Boise Valley for thousands of years.
Lori “BirdWing” Edmo, co-founder of the Return of the Boise Valley People gathering, said the vision extends beyond preserving the land.
“Our plan is to use it as a place to educate about our people, our version of our history, and also to educate everyone,” Edmo said. “We’ll grow our traditional foods and have a walking path with information about the original Boise Valley people.”
Ed Keener said his family’s decision to return the land followed years of building relationships with members of the Shoshone-Paiute and Shoshone-Bannock tribes.
“I’ve been working to get to know Native people for 20 years, particularly people from Duck Valley,” Keener said. “I thought this would be really good for folks whose ancestors were here to begin with and had always been here.”
The Return of the Boise Valley People gathering continues through the weekend. Friday’s public cultural celebration featured tribal booths, songs, language demonstrations and educational exhibits. Saturday’s activities include a walk and run at Eagle Rock Park before tribal events move to Gowen Field, while the weekend concludes Sunday with a sunrise ceremony for participating tribes.
The Keener family says they hope their gift inspires other landowners to consider ways to help preserve Indigenous history and strengthen connections between communities.
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- Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
- Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
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