In a development that has reignited hope and horror in equal measure, the aunt of missing 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard publicly declared that newly released surveillance photos of a girl in a dark wig and hooded sweatshirt bear an uncanny resemblance to her niece – a revelation that’s sent investigators into overdrive as the multi-state search intensifies across California and beyond.

Lizabeth Meza, Melodee’s aunt on her late father’s side, broke her silence in an emotional interview with NewsNation, her voice cracking as she scrutinized the grainy images released Friday by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. “She was just a little 4-year-old girl when we knew her, but that nose definitely reminds me of her dad’s,” Meza said, referencing the distinctive family feature visible even through the disguise. “So yeah, it does look like her.” The photos, captured on October 7 at a Lompoc car rental business, show a young girl – believed to be Melodee – shrouded in a gray hoodie pulled tight over her head, her natural brown curls concealed beneath a straight, dark wig that’s strikingly different from her usual shoulder-length hair. She’s dressed in vibrant patterned leggings and black sneakers, her small frame – about 4 feet 6 inches tall and 60 pounds – hunched slightly as if aware of the camera’s gaze.

The images mark the last confirmed sighting of Melodee before she vanished without a trace, just days before school officials reported her prolonged absence on October 14, sparking the frantic investigation. Detectives now believe the wig was deliberately used to alter her appearance, a detail that’s particularly alarming given that her 35-year-old mother, Ashlee Buzzard – the last person known to be with her – is “known to wear wigs” herself, according to the sheriff’s office. “Investigators also noted the wig may have been used to alter her appearance,” the office stated in an update that has family members pleading for answers.

A Desperate Road Trip and a Mother’s Silence

The photos tie directly into a baffling timeline that’s emerged over the past week: On October 7, Ashlee Buzzard rented a white Chevrolet Malibu (license plate 9MNG101) from the Lompoc business, with Melodee by her side. The pair then embarked on a grueling three-day road trip eastward, crossing from California through Nevada, into Kansas, and as far as Nebraska – a journey of over 2,500 miles round-trip. Surveillance and GPS data confirm Ashlee returned to their home on the 500 block of Mars Avenue in Vandenberg Village on October 10… alone. Melodee was nowhere in the vehicle, and no verifiable explanation has been provided for the girl’s whereabouts since.

When deputies first arrived at the Buzzard residence on October 14, Ashlee claimed Melodee had been “adopted out,” a statement that raised immediate red flags but hasn’t led to her arrest – yet. “Despite her lack of cooperation and inability to provide a satisfactory answer,” the sheriff’s office noted, Ashlee remains free but under intense scrutiny. Family members, speaking out for the first time, paint a picture of isolation and concern. Melodee’s father, Rubiell Meza, died in a tragic motorcycle accident shortly after her birth in 2016, leaving Ashlee as her sole guardian. But relatives on Meza’s side say they’ve been cut off for years, with Ashlee refusing visits and even blocking attempts to secure grandparent visitation rights.

“Ashlee is mentally unstable, and my mom tried to get custody or at least grandparent rights to visit Melodee because [Ashlee] wasn’t letting our side of the family see her,” Vicky Shade, another aunt, told the Los Angeles Times. Bridgett Truitt, yet another aunt, echoed the sentiment to KEYT-TV: “She hasn’t let us see her for a few years.” Meza, who last saw Melodee at age 4, added that the family has been “desperate” to reconnect, especially amid whispers of Ashlee’s untreated mental health struggles.

Investigators Race Against Time: “Every Lead Counts”

Sheriff Bill Brown, addressing the media Friday, emphasized the urgency: “Our detectives are following every lead in this case. We continue to seek information from the public that could help us find Melodee. We remain determined to bring her home safely.” The critical window has narrowed to October 7–10, with authorities poring over highway toll records, gas station CCTV, and witness tips from the Midwest route. “We’re focused on determining where Melodee was during those three days and where she may be now,” the sheriff’s office said.

Melodee is described as a Hispanic female with brown hair, brown eyes, and a gentle demeanor – a third-grader who loves drawing unicorns and dreams of becoming a veterinarian, according to distant relatives. She’s considered “at-risk” due to her age and the circumstances, prompting an AMBER Alert that has spread nationwide. The FBI has joined the effort, coordinating with Nebraska and Kansas law enforcement to canvas rest stops and motels along I-80.

As the search stretches into its second week, the Buzzard family – fractured by years of estrangement – clings to the photos as both a lifeline and a nightmare. “That could be my baby girl, hiding in plain sight,” Meza whispered in her interview, tears streaming. “Please, if anyone saw them… say something.”