Crime
Ashlee Buzzard Arrested on Unrelated Charges as Search Continues for Her Missing 9-Year-Old Daughter Melodee Buzzard
Authorities in Santa Barbara County confirmed that Ashlee Buzzard, the mother of missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, was taken into custody on Friday amid the ongoing investigation into her daughter’s disappearance.
Witnesses observed Buzzard being handcuffed and escorted by Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office personnel from her Vandenberg Village residence into a waiting patrol vehicle.
According to officials, Buzzard’s arrest stems from an unrelated felony charge of false imprisonment.
Investigators allege that she had unlawfully restrained another individual, preventing them from leaving a location against their will.
The Sheriff’s Office has not released further details regarding that separate incident, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
While Buzzard remains in custody, law enforcement emphasized that their primary focus continues to be the search for Melodee, who has been missing since mid-October.
Detectives began investigating Melodee’s disappearance on October 14, after the Lompoc Unified School District reported her prolonged absence from classes.
Authorities have since narrowed the timeline of interest to October 9–10, when Ashlee and Melodee were reportedly traveling together on a multi-state road trip to Nebraska.
Surveillance footage from October 9 shows Melodee near the Colorado–Utah border. However, when Ashlee returned home to California the following day, Melodee was no longer with her.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office continues to treat the case as an active missing person investigation and urges anyone with information regarding Melodee’s whereabouts to come forward.
📞 Detectives Line: (805) 681-4150
📞 Anonymous Tip Line: (805) 681-4171
Authorities stress that any piece of information, no matter how small, could be crucial in helping bring Melodee home safely.
A 7-year-old girl was killed and her mother injured Tuesday night after gunfire was directed into their northwest Atlanta home in what police describe as a drive-by shooting.
The victim has been identified by the Fulton County Medical Examiner as Zoey Price, who had recently celebrated her seventh birthday in December.
Authorities confirmed she is the youngest homicide victim recorded in the City of Atlanta so far in 2026.
According to the Atlanta Police Department, officers responded shortly after 9:45 p.m. to reports of shots fired at a residence in the 2200 block of Tiger Flowers Drive NW, near the intersection of Joe Louis Drive NW.
During a late-night press conference, Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum stated that the shooting appears to have stemmed from an earlier dispute between two individuals. Investigators believe the disagreement occurred approximately 30 minutes before the gunfire erupted.
Chief Schierbaum said the suspect returned to the area and opened fire into the home, where the child and her 44-year-old mother were inside at the time.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found both victims suffering from gunshot wounds. In an effort to save the child’s life, officers transported Zoey Price in the back of a patrol vehicle to a nearby hospital. Despite those efforts, she was pronounced deceased shortly after arrival.
Her mother was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital for treatment. Authorities have not released details regarding her current condition.
Chief Schierbaum stated that homicide detectives are actively pursuing leads and expressed confidence that investigators have identified the individual responsible.
“We are going to arrest the individual who took a 7-year-old child from this city through senseless gun violence,” Schierbaum said. “You know who you are. If you’re watching this broadcast, turn yourself in. Because we are going to be coming to your home with an arrest warrant and we will take you into custody.”
He further emphasized the department’s commitment to securing justice for the victim and the community.
“We are coming for you. We are going to put you in jail and we are going to bring justice for this community,” the chief added.
The fatal shooting has shaken residents in the northwest Atlanta neighborhood, particularly given the young age of the victim. Investigators continue working to determine the full circumstances surrounding the earlier dispute and the events that led to the gunfire.
No arrests have been announced as of this time. Authorities are urging anyone with information to contact the Atlanta Police Department as the investigation remains ongoing.