A Mother's Secret Trip and a Heartbreaking Discovery

A young girl's life was cut short, and her mother is now in custody. Melodee Buzzard, just 9 years old, was found dead in Utah. Authorities think she died in October, but no one knew she was gone until later. Ashlee Buzzard, Melodee's mom, took her on a road trip. They left their home in Lompoc, California, on October 7. They drove to Nebraska and then to the Colorado-Utah border. Melodee was last seen alive on October 9. But Ashlee came back home alone on October 10.School officials noticed Melodee was missing on October 14. They told the police. Investigators found out Ashlee had been acting strangely. She wore wigs and changed license plates. She also didn't help look for Melodee. In early December, Melodee's body was found in Utah. DNA tests confirmed it was her. Ashlee Buzzard was then arrested. The police are still investigating. They will share more details soon. This is a sad story. It shows how important it is to pay attention to kids. And to always tell the truth, especially when someone is missing.