Courtroom gasps as Ashlee Buzzard pleads not guilty to murder of 9-year-old Melodee

[ad_1] Ashlee Buzzard, the California mom accused of killing her 9-year-old daughter, Melodee Buzzard, pleaded not responsible Friday morning throughout a quick however emotional arraignment in Santa Barbara County Superior Courtroom.

Buzzard, 40, appeared in custody for the listening to, the place a choose formally arraigned her on fees of first-degree homicide, “mendacity in wait” and associated firearm fees within the demise of her daughter, whose stays have been found Dec. 6 in a distant space of Utah.

The courtroom erupted as Buzzard entered the not responsible plea on all counts, as individuals seated within the gallery cried “oh my god,” video of the listening to reveals. A court docket officer briefly known as for order earlier than the continuing continued.

Buzzard will stay held with out bail pending additional proceedings, in accordance with the Santa Barbara County district legal professional’s workplace. Her preliminary listening to is scheduled for Jan. 7.

Authorities allege that Buzzard fatally shot Melodee throughout a multistate highway journey in October earlier than returning alone to Santa Barbara County.

Investigators imagine the killing occurred on or round Oct. 9, shortly after the pair have been final seen collectively on surveillance video close to the Utah-Colorado border.

Melodee had been reported lacking weeks earlier after failing to return residence from what investigators described as an “uncommon” cross-country journey along with her mom. In response to sheriff’s officers, Buzzard rented a car for the journey and took deliberate steps to keep away from detection, together with sporting wigs and clumsy disguises. Buzzard was additionally captured on surveillance swapping license plates and backing into gasoline stations so cameras wouldn't seize figuring out data, investigators allege.

On Dec. 6, a pair found Melodee’s decomposed physique alongside a distant stretch of State Route 24 close to Caineville, Utah.

Prosecutors alleged Buzzard carried out the homicide with a excessive diploma of “planning, sophistication, or professionalism.” A prison grievance described the homicide as totally deliberate and “skilled,” alleging Buzzard carried out the killing with a “excessive diploma of cruelty, viciousness, or callousness.”

“This stage of prison exercise is especially stunning given the calculated, cold-blooded and criminally subtle premeditation and heartlessness that went into planning it,” Santa Barbara County Sheriff Invoice Brown stated at a Tuesday information convention.

Ballistics proof performed a key position within the case, investigators stated. Cartridge casings recovered close to the Utah crime scene have been matched by a federal database to an expended casing beforehand discovered throughout a search of Buzzard’s residence in Vandenberg Village.

A stay spherical of comparable ammunition was additionally recovered from the rental automotive Buzzard used in the course of the journey, in accordance with regulation enforcement officers. DNA testing later confirmed a familial match between Buzzard and the stays present in Utah.

Buzzard was arrested at her Santa Barbara County residence Dec. 23.

Investigators relied on bodily, digital and forensic proof when cooperation from the suspect was not forthcoming. Authorities haven't recognized a motive and don't imagine anybody else was concerned.

Authorities have been made conscious of Melodee’s disappearance when her extended absence was first reported by a faculty administrator, triggering the preliminary welfare examine that launched the investigation.

Investigators stated Buzzard was “uncooperative” all through the investigation and declined to supply a verifiable rationalization for her daughter’s whereabouts when deputies first contacted her in October. Detectives later obtained search warrants for Buzzard’s residence, a storage unit and the rental car tied to the highway journey.

Melodee’s disappearance drew widespread consideration, with relations and group members organizing searches as authorities tracked the mom’s actions by California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska and Kansas.

“We have been all hoping to search out Melodee alive, as you undoubtedly have been as properly,” FBI Particular Agent in Cost Patrick Grandy stated on the Tuesday information convention. “Our collective hearts are damaged because of this mindless end result.”

Courtroom data present Buzzard has confronted monetary instability lately, together with a Chapter 7 chapter submitting and a number of civil collections circumstances.

Prosecutors allege Buzzard’s intent to kill was fashioned in Santa Barbara County, which is why the case might be tried regionally regardless of the killing occurring out of state, sheriff’s officers stated.

Buzzard’s subsequent court docket look is ready for Jan. 7, when a choose will decide whether or not there's ample proof for the case to proceed to trial.

[ad_2] Source link

Courtroom gasps as Ashlee Buzzard pleads not guilty to murder of 9-year-old Melodee

Will Bronny James Stay A Los Angeles Laker?

Oklahoma man doing target practice in his backyard accused of fatally shooting woman blocks away

Related Posts

Kuwait announces January 1 as public holiday for New Year 2026 | World News – The Times of India

12/18: CBS Evening News

Aaron Rodgers gives his Steelers linemen $20K vehicles for Christmas: ‘Gift of horsepower’

Two killed in attack in northern Israel

Oklahoma man doing target practice in his backyard accused of fatally shooting woman blocks away

Trump and Zelenskyy to hold conference call with European leaders

Oklahoma man doing target practice in his backyard accused of fatally shooting woman blocks away

I hated sleeping with my Apple Watch, but science just changed my mind in two ways

Security camera subscriptions: Which plans offer the best value?

ANAMA, UNDP organize joint event on mine action and eco-resilience at COP29 (PHOTO)

HOA Documents for Closing: What to Request, Review, and Deliver

Diddy's Reaction to Dawn Richard Lawsuit Days Before Arrest Seen In New Docuseries

Hello world!

Holiday Home – Julia Berolzheimer

Four Seasons Hotel NY reopens as city’s priciest stay

Everything You Need to Create a Paris Outfit: Fall Edition

Michael van Gerwen: Dutch player says 'I don't care' about Luke Littler and Luke Humphries yet at World Darts Championship

Kuwait announces January 1 as public holiday for New Year 2026 | World News – The Times of India

12/18: CBS Evening News

Aaron Rodgers gives his Steelers linemen $20K vehicles for Christmas: ‘Gift of horsepower’

CATEGORIES

LATEST UPDATES

Welcome Back!

Create New Account!

Retrieve your password

Are you sure want to unlock this post?

Are you sure want to cancel subscription?

Courtroom gasps as Ashlee Buzzard pleads not guilty to murder of 9-year-old Melodee

Support authors and subscribe to content

Subscribe

Will Bronny James Stay A Los Angeles Laker?

Oklahoma man doing target practice in his backyard accused of fatally shooting woman blocks away

Related Posts

CATEGORIES

LATEST UPDATES

Welcome Back!

Create New Account!

Retrieve your password

Are you sure want to unlock this post?

Are you sure want to cancel subscription?