This article was underwritten in part by the Mickey Flacks Journalism Fund for Social Justice, a proud, innovative supporter of local news. To make a contribution go to sbcan.org/journalism_fund.
A Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge rescheduled Ashlee Buzzard’s mental competency hearing in Santa Maria on Monday. Judge Teresa Estrada-Mullaney set the hearing, which will determine if the 41-year-old Vandenburg Village woman has the mental capacity to stand trial, to October 26 to allow for both court-appointed psychologists to submit their reports after Buzzard reportedly refused to be interviewed by one of the psychologists.
Buzzard was arrested on December 23, 2025, and later charged with the murder of her 9-year-old daughter, Melodee. The arrested followed a more than two-month search by law enforcement. During the search, law enforcement said in press releases that they believed Buzzard rented a car in Lompoc on October 7 and drove with Melodee to the Nebraska area before looping back toward California in a three-day road trip. As Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office told the public they believed Buzzard changed the license plate on the rental vehicle, and that both Buzzard and Melodee wore wigs…