Ashlee Buzzard is facing a murder charge with special allegations following the fatal shooting of her 9-year-old daughter, Melodee Buzzard, according to newly filed court records.
Details of the Murder Charges
Prosecutors allege that Ashlee Buzzard personally and intentionally fired a gun, resulting in her daughter’s death. The charging documents also include a special allegation of lying in wait, indicating investigators believe the crime involved deliberate planning and concealment before the shooting occurred.
Court Appearance and Plea
At her arraignment on Friday, Ashlee Buzzard entered a not guilty plea, as reported by Santa Barbara’s ABC affiliate KEYT. The case is now moving forward through the court system as prosecutors prepare for trial.
Sentencing Position by Prosecutors
Santa Barbara County District Attorney John Savrnoch has confirmed that the death penalty will not be sought. However, if convicted, prosecutors intend to pursue life in prison without the possibility of parole, reflecting the severity of the alleged crime.
Arrest and Investigation Timeline
Authorities arrested Ashlee Buzzard on Tuesday in connection with Melodee’s death. The child was discovered with a gunshot wound to the head in a remote area of Utah in early December, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Bill Brown described the case as involving “cold-blooded and criminally sophisticated premeditation”, adding that investigators believe both planning and execution showed extreme heartlessness.
Disappearance and Forensic Evidence
Melodee Buzzard had been reported missing more than two months before the arrest. Investigators believe she was killed shortly after she was last seen alive on October 9, during a road trip with her mother near the Colorado–Utah border.
Crucial forensic evidence strengthened the case. Officials stated that a spent shell casing found inside Ashlee Buzzard’s home matched the casing recovered at the Utah crime scene. Additionally, live ammunition of the same type was discovered inside her vehicle, further linking her to the shooting.
