The mother of a 9-year-old girl who was reported missing earlier this month after she had not been seen in more than a year traveled with her daughter out of state days before the investigation was launched but returned home without her.

On Wednesday, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office released new details about the disappearance of 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, who was reported missing earlier this month after school administrators noticed they hadn't heard from her in over a year.

Melodee's mother, Ashlee Buzzard, has been uncooperative with the investigation, officials said, and has been unable to provide a satisfactory answer for her daughter's location or safety.

Now, after authorities were able to confirm a sighting as recent as August, detectives say they've since uncovered

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