Connect with us

Southwest

Car used by missing California girl’s mom on road trip had license plates swapped to ‘avoid detection’

Published

on

Car used by missing California girl’s mom on road trip had license plates swapped to ‘avoid detection’

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The rental car that a missing 9-year-old California girl was last seen traveling in with her mother had its license plates swapped during a road trip “to avoid detection,” police revealed.

The whereabouts of Melodee Buzzard, of Lompoc, California, remained unknown Tuesday. She was “last seen along the return route via video surveillance on October 9, 2025, in the region between the Colorado–Utah border,” according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. It added that her 35-year-old mother, Ashlee Buzzard, “has remained uncooperative and has not confirmed Melodee’s location or welfare.”

“Through their investigation, detectives have confirmed that Ashlee left California with Melodee in a white 2024 Chevrolet Malibu, initially bearing California license plate 9MNG101, on October 7, 2025. Detectives believe that Ashlee and Melodee traveled as far as Nebraska, with a return trip that included Kansas,” according to the sheriff’s office.

“Beginning October 8, 2025, the Malibu was observed with a New York license plate HCG9677. It is unknown when the plate was installed or whether additional plates were used at other times during travel. The New York plate seen on the car does not belong to the vehicle or to Ashlee,” the sheriff’s office added. “Investigators believe it was used as a false or switched plate to avoid detection. When the vehicle was returned to the rental agency in Lompoc, California, the assigned California plate was on the vehicle.”

Advertisement

MELODEE BUZZARD DISAPPEARANCE: NEW SURVEILLANCE PHOTOS SHOW MISSING CALIFORNIA GIRL, 9, IN POSSIBLE DISGUISE

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office released a new surveillance image, left, of Ashlee and Melodee Buzzard captured at a rental car location in Lompoc, California, on Oct. 7, 2025. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office/FBI)

Investigators believe the rental vehicle traveled through Green River and Panguitch in Utah, northwest Arizona, Primm in Nevada and Rancho Cucamonga in California on or around Oct. 9.

“Detectives are seeking anyone who may have had contact with Ashlee or Melodee at any point from October 9-10, 2025, or any video footage from their route of travel,” the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said.

FBI, DETECTIVES EXECUTE SEARCH WARRANTS AS ‘AT-RISK’ 9-YEAR-OLD REMAINS MISSING

Advertisement

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office released an image of Melodee Buzzard “captured at a local car rental business” on Oct. 7, 2025. (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office )

The sheriff’s office said investigators are sharing additional surveillance images of Ashlee and Melodee that were captured at a rental car location in Lompoc at the start of their road trip on Oct. 7.

“Both Ashlee and Melodee appear to be wearing wigs with Melodee’s appearing darker and straighter than her natural hair,” the sheriff’s office said.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office previously said its investigation into the disappearance of Melodee Buzzard began on Oct. 14 after a school administrator reported her extended absence. Deputies then responded to her home in Lompoc and encountered her mother, Ashlee, but “Melodee was not at the home, and no verifiable explanation for her whereabouts was provided,” according to the office.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office said a surveillance image showed Melodee Buzzard “wearing a hooded sweatshirt with the hood pulled up and what appears to be a wig that is darker and straighter than her natural hair.” (Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office)

Advertisement

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Melodee Buzzard is described by police as being around 4 feet, 6 inches tall and weighing approximately 60 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. The FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office is assisting in the search.

Read the full article from Here

Advertisement

Los Angeles, Ca

Burglars ransack Sherman Oaks condo building during fumigation

Published

on

Burglars ransack Sherman Oaks condo building during fumigation

Burglars stole thousands of dollars worth of items after ransacking a Sherman Oaks condominium building that was being fumigated. In June, residents of the building on Moorpark Street near Fulton Avenue said they were forced to leave their homes for three days for a planned fumigation. Feeling nervous about leaving the building unattended, residents came […]

Continue Reading

Los Angeles, Ca

Knee irritation forces Shohei Ohtani out of Friday start, All‑Star game

Published

on

Knee irritation forces Shohei Ohtani out of Friday start, All‑Star game

Shohei Ohtani will not make his scheduled start Friday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks because of continued irritation in his left knee, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced Friday.

Ohtani left a June 11 game against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to irritation in his left knee, which underwent surgery in 2019 to correct a congenital condition called bipartite patella.

According to ESPN, he has been managing the issue since.

Due to the injury, Ohtani will also not travel to Philadelphia or participate in the 2026 All‑Star Game.

Advertisement

The two-way star will serve as the designated hitter through the weekend, and after the series, “he will have some interventions on his knee to put him in the best position for the second half of the season,” according to the Dodgers.

Continue Reading

Los Angeles, Ca

O.C. police prep for beach, theme park ‘takeovers’ promoted on social media

Published

on

O.C. police prep for beach, theme park ‘takeovers’ promoted on social media

A woman injured during the chaotic Fourth of July beach takeover in Newport Beach is speaking out as authorities prepare for a similar event that could target nearby Huntington Beach this weekend, as well as an Orange County theme park.

The July 4 gathering in Newport Beach devolved into violence, with fires set, businesses looted and law enforcement officers targeted with explosives.

More than 400 people were arrested in connection with the unrest. Authorities later said many of those taken into custody had traveled from Arizona and Nevada.

Among the dozens of people injured was Cassandra Torres, a longtime Orange County resident who said she never expected to become a victim while celebrating the holiday in a city she has visited for years.

Advertisement

“It’s horrible. It’s disgusting behavior, and now we’re paying for it,” Torres told KTLA.

Torres said she was riding her e-bike when a large crowd of young people suddenly rushed toward her.

“The next thing I know, I’m waking up with strangers around me, which I’m grateful for all of them, and all I hear is, ‘She got pushed off her bike,’” she recalled.

She was taken to a hospital, where she was treated for multiple injuries, including serious cuts, bruising and a concussion.

“I’ve never seen a hospital that busy in my life,” Torres said. “It was supposed to be a safe, fun day, and it turned into a nightmare.”

Advertisement

As victims continue to recover and investigators sort through the aftermath, law enforcement agencies are now focused on preventing another large-scale disturbance after social media posts promoted a so-called “Beach Bash” in Huntington Beach.

The Huntington Beach Police Department acknowledged the online flyer in a social media post Thursday, writing:

“Dear ‘Beach Bash’ organizers… Thanks for the flyer. We’ve seen it too. We have no intention of allowing that to happen here.”

In a statement to KTLA, the department said it has implemented a comprehensive public safety plan.

“Our comprehensive public safety plan includes increased staffing, proactive enforcement and the deployment of specialized resources throughout the city,” police said. “We are coordinating closely with our regional law enforcement partners and are prepared to respond quickly to any criminal activity.”

Advertisement

Officials also warned that anyone who organizes, promotes, encourages or participates in criminal acts associated with a takeover event could face arrest and prosecution.

Officials at Knott’s Berry Farm said they were also aware of a social media post promoting a teen takeover of the park over the weekend. Buena Park police officials said they plan to have an increased presence at the park.

As for Torres, a GoFundMe has been organized to cover her medical expenses as she continues to recover and follow up with specialists.

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending