Melodee Buzzard’s relatives speak on mother’s not guilty plea – NBC Los Angeles

Relatives of the Lompoc girl whose mother was arrested on suspicion of her shooting death say they’re in disbelief after the 40-year-old woman pleaded not guilty to the murder charge she faces.

The body of Melodee Buzzard, 9, was found earlier this month in Utah after detectives began their investigation into her disappearance in October. According to Melodee’s uncle and grandmother on her father’s side, the young girl was vivacious and loving.

“She was a happy little girl,” said Marvin Meza, whose late younger brother was Melodee’s father. “She loved life. She liked to dance around and whatnot.”

In an interview with NBC affiliate KSBY outside court on Friday, Meza said he and his wife had custody of Melodee in 2020. He said he was unsure why Ashlee Buzzard, the girl’s mother, lost custody of her daughter. Eventually, she gained weekend custody of the child until she regained full custody of her.

Meza and his family hadn’t seen Melodee in five years, since Ashlee would prevent the family from seeing her daughter, he said. He added that he didn’t know Ashlee very well.

“I didn’t have much contact with her,” Meza said. “I saw her a couple of times, just a hello here and there. I never really talked to her, so I personally can’t say I know anything about that lady other than my brother dated her and she had a child with my brother.”

Lilly Denes, Melodee’s paternal grandmother, said she would sometimes financially support Ashlee. When asked if she ever felt as if Melodee was in danger, Denes responded: “No, I didn’t. But I did told my son that, ‘She’s different, mijo. What’s wrong?’ And he goes, ‘Mom, it’s OK. She’s just quiet.’ But my heart told me something was wrong.”

Officials said Ashlee Buzzard, 40, was taken into custody Tuesday.

On Friday, Ashlee Buzzard pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in connection with her daughter’s death. Melodee Buzzard’s body was found earlier this month with gunshot wounds to her head Utah.

The young girl and her mother went on a road trip as far as Nebraska in October and Melodee hadn’t been seen since. Ashlee was arrested shortly after the body was identified as Melodee.

Prosecutors said they would not seek the death penalty against Ashlee, leaving Denes and Meza disheartened.

“We’re just going to have to go day by day and see what happens,” Denes said.

“What she did is despicable and the prosecution stating that they’re not going to seek the death penalty, I don’t understand why,” Meza said. “I think they’re going to seek life in prison, but I think for what she did, it should be a lot worse.”

Ashlee Buzzard is scheduled to be back in court on Jan. 7.