Ashlee Buzzard appears in court as search for missing daughter Melodee continues

Ashlee Buzzard appeared before a judge Tuesday night as the multi-state search for her missing 9-year-old daughter, Melodee Buzzard, continues to intensify.

(NBC)- Ashlee Buzzard appeared before a judge Tuesday night as the multi-state search for her missing 9-year-old daughter, Melodee Buzzard, continues to intensify.

The 40-year-old pleaded not guilty to a single count of felony false imprisonment — a charge investigators say is unrelated to Melodee’s disappearance. A judge released her with a GPS monitor while the investigation continues.

According to the accuser, Tyler Brewer, he has known Buzzard for years and went to her home to help with the search for Melodee. Brewer says that when he attempted to leave, Buzzard threatened him with a box cutter and prevented him from exiting, locking multiple deadbolts. In a now-deleted social media post obtained by NBC affiliate KSBY, Brewer wrote that the situation “escalated” after Buzzard shared information she “appeared to regret disclosing,” and that he was not immediately allowed to leave. He later reported the incident to law enforcement.

Buzzard was arrested Friday. Her daughter has now been missing for more than a month.

Raquel Zick, Public Information Officer for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office, says investigators are still trying to get Buzzard to share Melodee’s whereabouts.
“We’re giving her every opportunity we can for her to let us know where Melodee is,” Zick said. “Our progress to that end has not changed.”
When asked whether Buzzard’s cooperation had improved after being taken into custody, Zick said it had not.

Surveillance video shows Buzzard and Melodee in disguise — both appearing to wear wigs — during a road trip earlier this fall. Authorities say Buzzard drove a white Chevy Malibu from California through several states, switching the rental car’s license plates from California to New York along the way. Melodee was last seen on October 9th near the Utah-Colorado border.

Investigators say they remain committed to bringing Melodee home as the nationwide search continues.