Authorities in California say the mother of a missing 9-year-old girl has been uncooperative with investigators who continue a search launched after a school administrator reported the child\u2019s \u201cprolonged absence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ashlee Buzzard \u201cremains uncooperative and has not provided detectives with any information about Melodee\u2019s current location or condition,\u201d the Santa Barbara County Sheriff\u2019s Office said in a statement Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The search for the girl from the small community of Vandenberg Village, about 160 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, was launched Oct. 14 after the Lompoc Unified School District administrator\u2019s report, the sheriff\u2019s office said. Detectives tried to reach Buzzard and Melodee at their home that day, but the girl was not there, \u201cand no clear explanation was provided for her whereabouts,\u201d according to the sheriff\u2019s office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It said evidence indicates Melodee was with her mother as recently as Oct. 7. Buzzard and Melodee may have traveled as far as Nebraska in a rented white Chevrolet Malibu that was later returned, the sheriff\u2019s office said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a bulletin last week, the office said that the \u201clast verified contact\u201d with Melodee was about a year ago and that the most recent picture of her was taken two years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a statement Friday, the Lompoc school district said Melodee enrolled in August, but law enforcement was contacted for a welfare check as part of a process after absences and failure to accept class assignments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The FBI\u2019s Los Angeles field office said Monday that agents were helping the sheriff\u2019s office with its search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Sunday, residents of Vandenberg Village gathered at the girl\u2019s home and sought answers, NBC affiliate KSBY of San Luis Obispo reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Melodee\u2019s half-sister, Corinna Meza, told the station that their father died when Melodee was a baby. She said the girl is rarely seen, even among family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re all looking for answers,\u201d Meza told the station, adding that she hopes Buzzard \u201cwill come out and tell us where she\u2019s at.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sheriff\u2019s office is asking locals not to interfere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDetectives are aware of the strong community interest in Melodee\u2019s case and are asking the public not to attempt to conduct their own searches or investigations,\u201d it said Monday, adding that private searches could hinder its own probe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n