Arraignment and Charges
Shlee Buzzard, 40, from Lompoc, California, appeared in court Friday on first-degree murder charges. Authorities charged her after discovering her 9-year-old daughter, Melodee, in a remote area of Utah more than two months after she went missing. Buzzard pleaded not guilty, and the court ordered her held without bail.
Discovery of the Body
On December 6, a couple taking photos in Wayne County, Utah, found Melodee’s body. Sheriff Bill Brown said that gunshot wounds to the head caused her death. FBI DNA tests confirmed her identity.
Investigation Details
Sheriff Brown described the case as shocking and said investigators uncovered strong evidence pointing to Buzzard. “Maternal filicide is rare and always difficult to comprehend,” he added. He called the crime “calculated, cold-blooded, and premeditated.”
Officers searched Buzzard’s home, a rental car, and a storage locker. They found a spent cartridge case and a live round of similar ammunition. However, investigators have not yet located the murder weapon.
Events Leading Up to the Murder
During the search for Melodee, Buzzard refused to cooperate with authorities. Security footage from October 7 shows Melodee wearing a wig at a car rental office, where Buzzard picked up a Chevrolet Malibu. Investigators believe Buzzard tried to disguise her daughter, who often wore wigs similar to her mother’s.
The pair went on a three-day road trip from Lompoc through Nebraska and Kansas. Investigators last saw Melodee on October 9 near the Utah-Colorado border. Buzzard returned home on October 10 without her daughter, raising concern among authorities.
