Melodee Buzzard Update: FBI Agent Explains Bizarre Search Details

Melodee Buzzard, 9, disappeared, and news arrived that a camera picked up a snapshot of her very far away from her California home. New developments since then seem to show that the police are taking serious steps to investigate her disappearance. They believe she was taken to Nebraska by her mom, Ashlee. Read on for more updates on this true crime case.

A Thorough Search

FBI agents and Santa Barbara County detectives executed a search warrant at her Ashlee’s home. On her true crime segment on NewsNation, Ashleigh Banfield reminded her followers that investigators escorted her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, from the property while they thoroughly searched the premises.

Fears rise for the child because Colby Ryan, the son of killer Lori Vallow, believes Melodee’s case and his own tragic story have some terrifying similarities. Banfield also has a gut feeling about it all, so she brought in an expert to discuss the case.

Mom Ashlee Taken But Returned

Banfield seemed perplexed because the cops took Ashlee away but then returned her back to her home, which seemed very odd. Additionally, she noted, “They took away pieces of her carpet and her drywall and pieces of the concrete out of her garage, according to the neighbors.”

“So, what does it mean?” Ashleigh asked. It seemed puzzling because, “if they found a bunch of stuff in that house, wouldn’t they have kept her?” She also mentioned big yellow plastic bags being taken.

Additionally, a bit of footage arrived showing that Ashlee seems determined to hinder the investigation. According to Ashleigh, Melodee’s mom was spotted removing missing child posters.

FBI Agent Weighs In 

Ashleigh introduced former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer, who was able to give some answers. For example, regarding the plastic bags, she said:

First of all, if they took those yellow bags, those are
typically our larger yellow plastic bags. That tells me there was nothing biodegradable in there. You would never put biodegradable items in plastic bags. We’re talking about electronics. Perhaps you replaced the electronics that they would have taken on the October 15th search warrant.

Meanwhile, they could have taken away “papers and photos.” As for the drywall and the concrete, the carpet: then they were potentially searching for “something that would have been reminiscent of biological items that would be in there, such as blood, DNA, [or] hair.”

New Information Sparked The Search

Jennifer believes that something from the investigation gave them new information that allowed them to go back in, go to that storage locker, go to that rental car. “The fact that they took her out in the first place, Ashley, I’m going to tell you, it’s unusual. Usually when we serve search warrants, we allow the people to be around in that area and watch.”

She added, “The fact that they actually took her and she agreed to go to me is very important. It showed that they believe she would be unsafe to be around while they were doing this work.”

However, it might be a good idea because, allegedly, Ashlee isn’t all that well with her mental health. So, she added, “you definitely don’t want somebody like that going off being in a police car for hours.”

Most likely, Ashlee was told that they won’t leave any stone unturned to find her daughter. And perhaps they were looking for mementos and trinkets to remind her of the child if she was involved in Melodee Buzzard’s disappearance.

True Crime Followers React

In the comments section, it became clear that people feel bad for Melodee. Meanwhile, others wish the mother would start cooperating. One person opined, “She’s such a beautiful little girl. Sweet little face. How could anyone hurt a child? They’re so inhumane. God will punish them.”

Here are a few other responses from the discussion:

• I think they wanted to shake her up, pick her up rattle her cage drop her back off sit back at a distance and see what she does.
• I hope that they knock on every hotel and motel door on the way to Nebraska to see if she stayed at any of those place
• I dont get it. I dont get why you would not report your child missing.. obviously this is shady.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below, and come back here often for all your true crime news and updates.