Police in California are searching for a missing 9-year-old girl who they say hasn't been seen in at least a year.

Officials began looking for Melodee Buzzard on Oct. 14 after a school administrator alerted authorities about her "prolonged absence," the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office said in a statement .

Police said they have been unable to confirm any recent sightings of Buzzard, adding that "the last verified contact with her was approximately one year ago."

When authorities contacted Buzzard's mother, Ashlee Buzzard, at her home in Lompoc, her daughter was not there, and "no clear explanation was provided for her whereabouts," police said. Lompoc is on California's Central Coast, about 50 miles northwest of Santa Barbara.

USA TODAY has contacted the Santa Barbara County Sh

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