Melodee Buzzard's mom switched license plates on trip: Officials

(NewsNation) — Authorities have released new details involving the search for missing 9-year-old California girl Melodee Buzzard, last seen with her mother Oct. 7.

In a statement released Monday, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office said Melodee left California with her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, on a cross-country trip that took them as far east as Nebraska and Kansas.

Notably, the sheriff's office stated that Oct. 8, one day after the trip commenced, the white 2024 Chevrolet Malibu, a hire car driven by Ashlee Buzzard, had a different license plate.

The car initially bore California license plate 9MNG101 and was then switched to a New York license plate HCG9677. It is unclear when this occurred, or if other plates were also used during the trip.

Authorities say that when it was returned to the car rental business in Lompoc, California, it had the original California plates back on.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives are sharing additional information, a route map, and photo that includes Ashlee Buzzard in their ongoing search for missing at-risk 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard.

In the release, they reiterated that Ashlee Buzzard has been uncooperative with the investigation and has not confirmed the well-being or whereabouts of her daughter.

Investigators are working with agencies across the country and confirmed Melodee was last seen Oct. 9 in surveillance video on the return route, in an area around the Colorado–Utah border.

They also determined she was with her mother while driving through Green River, Utah, Panguitch, Utah, Northwest Arizona, Primm, Nevada, and Rancho Cucamonga, California, on or around Oct. 9.

Melodee Buzzard is approximately 4 feet 6 inches tall, 60 pounds, with brown curly hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the sheriff's office via the detectives line: 805-681-4150, the anonymous tip line: 805-681-4171, or online tips via www.sbsheriff.org/home/anonymous-tip/.