Police are searching for 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard.
Missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard is seen on surveillance footage, which was released by police, on Oct. 7.
Officials said Ashlee Buzzard and her daughter, 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, were seen on surveillance video at a rental car business on Oct. 7.

The mother of missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard has been charged with a felony unrelated to her daughter's disappearance, authorities said on Nov. 10.

Ashlee Buzzard, 40, has been charged with one count of felony false imprisonment for an incident that occurred on Nov. 6 in Lompoc, California, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's office announced on Nov. 10.

Detectives arrested Ashlee Buzzard on Nov. 7 after an incident in which she allegedly "prevented a victim from leaving a location, against their will," the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office said.

While law enforcement officials confirmed the alleged crime is not connected to the search for Melodee Buzzard, they said they would not be releasing more information about the incident because it would "impede their ongoing investigation."

Ashlee Buzzard is being held on $100,000 bail, and her arraignment hearing is Wednesday, Nov. 12, according to the district attorney's office. As of Tuesday, Nov. 11, Santa Barbara County online court records do not list an attorney for Buzzard.

Meanwhile, officials are still searching for the girl. Here's what to know about the case.

What to know about the search for Melodee Buzzard

Officials are still searching for Melodee Buzzard, who was first reported missing by school administrators on Oct. 14. Ashlee and Melodee Buzzard live in Lompoc, California, approximately 50 miles northwest of Santa Barbara.

Ashlee Buzzard has not cooperated in the investigation and has not provided an explanation for her daughter's whereabouts, police previously said. Here's a full timeline of the case:

  • Oct. 14: Melodee Buzzard reported missing
    • A school administrator reported Melodee missing after her "prolonged absence," according to police.
  • Oct. 15: Investigators say Melodee Buzzard hasn't been seen in at least a year
    • The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office issued a statement asking for the public's help in searching for Melodee, who they initially believed may not have been seen in at least a year. They visited Ashlee and Melodee Buzzard's home, but the mother did not provide a clear explanation of her daughter's whereabouts.
  • Oct. 17: School confirms sighting of Melodee in August
    • The Lompoc Unified School District confirmed in a statement shared with USA TODAY that Melodee and her mother were seen registering at a school in the district in August.
    • The school district said that Melodee was enrolled in an independent study program, which requires students to pick up assignments. If they don't, school officials contact family members and then follow truancy procedures, which may include contacting law enforcement if necessary, to confirm the student's whereabouts.
    • Melodee's aunt, Lizabeth Meza, also told USA TODAY the girl was previously homeschooled before being enrolled in public school.
  • Oct. 18: FBI joins investigation
    • Law enforcement confirmed that the FBI joined the investigation and that searches were conducted at the Buzzard family residence and surrounding areas.

  • Oct. 20: Law enforcement says they believe Melodee was seen in early October
    • Officials said evidence indicated that Melodee was seen with her mother as recently as Oct. 7. The pair is believed to have taken a road trip out of California in a rental car on Oct. 7 and traveled as far as Nebraska.
  • Oct. 24: Officials update timeline of road trip, release new photos of Melodee
    • Law enforcement released surveillance images of Melodee at a rental car business on Oct. 7. In them, she is wearing a hooded sweatshirt over her head and what appears to be a wig, which investigators said may have been used to alter her appearance, noting that Ashlee Buzzard is also known to wear wigs.
    • Officials also updated the timeline of the pair's road trip. During the three-day trip, they drove from California to Nebraska, but when Ashlee Buzzard returned to California, she was without her daughter.
  • Oct. 30: More search warrants issued
    • Investigators served follow-up search warrants at the Buzzard family's home, as well as a storage locker and the rental car Melodee was last seen in.
  • Nov. 3: Officials say Ashlee Buzzard altered rental car's license plate, update timeline
    • After Ashlee and Melodee left California in a rental car bearing a California license plate, officials stated that the vehicle was spotted on Oct. 8 with a New York license plate that may have been used to avoid detection. The car was returned on Oct. 10 in California with the original tag.
    • Investigators said new surveillance images confirmed Melodee was last seen on Oct. 9 between the Colorado–Utah border. During the road trip, the car also traveled through the following areas:
      • Green River, Utah
      • Panguitch, Utah
      • Northwest Arizona
      • Primm, Nevada
      • Rancho Cucamonga, California
    • Officials also released additional surveillance footage of Ashlee and Melodee at the rental car business on Oct. 7. Ashlee, like her daughter, also appeared to be wearing a wig in the images.

  • Nov. 6: Investigators release more surveillance footage of Ashlee, Melodee Buzzard
    • Investigators released additional surveillance footage of the pair on Oct. 7. They also stated that they believe Ashlee swapped wigs throughout the trip, which may have been intentional to avoid recognition during travel.
  • Nov. 7: Ashlee Buzzard arrested on unrelated charges
    • Detectives arrested Ashlee Buzzard on a warrant for a felony charge of false imprisonment. The alleged crime was unrelated to Melodee's disappearance, law enforcement said.
  • Nov. 10: Ashlee Buzzard charged
    • Ashlee Buzzard was charged with one count of felony false imprisonment and is being held on $100,000 bail, according to the district attorney's office.

Anyone who may have seen Melodee or has information about her whereabouts can contact the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office at (805) 681-4150 or via the anonymous tip line at (805) 681-4171.

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Melodee Buzzard's mother charged with felony as search for 9-year-old continues

Reporting by Melina Khan, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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