The body of 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, missing in Southern California since early October, has been found in another state.
However, the case took a surprising turn when his mother, Ashlee Buzzard, was arrested.
Melodee’s remains were discovered earlier this month, reportedly in Utah, as reported by NBC.
Based on the school’s extended absence records, officials believe he has been deceased since at least October.
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has scheduled a press conference for Tuesday afternoon, December 23, to announce “significant developments” in the case.
Before that announcement, officers were seen handcuffing his mother from her home in Vandenberg Village.
She was also arrested in November on suspicion of false imprisonment, although those charges were later dropped.
Authorities report that she has not cooperated during the search for her daughter, making them more suspicious.
The significant fact of the investigation is the road trip that mother and daughter took from October 7 to 10, traveling from California to Nebraska.
Security footage from a car rental agency showed Melodee wearing a wig that detectives believed she used to disguise herself.
Authorities also note that she exchanged several license plates during the trip and returned to Lompon alone without her daughter.
