Authorities are continuing to search for a missing 9-year-old girl, Melodee Buzzard, a month after she was reported missing in California. Buzzard's mother appeared in court on Wednesday to plead not guilty to a charge unrelated to the girl's disappearance.

California

Authorities in Santa Barbara County, California, are conducting an extensive search for nine-year-old Melody Buzzard, who has not been seen since early October. Her mother, Ashley Buzzard, was recently arrested on a felony charge of false imprisonment by violence, which officials state is not directly related to Melody's disappearance.

Security footage last captured Melody and her mother at a car rental business, both appearing to wear wigs, before embarking on a multi-state road trip. Ashley Buzzard has not cooperated with investigators or provided evidence of her daughter's well-being, and the FBI has joined local law enforcement in the search.

Search for missing 9-year-old girl continues as mother is arrested

This is also a wild story, Nate. It's very bizarre, actually, from Santa Barbara County, California. It's the story of a mother who will not tell police about her nine-year-old daughter, who hasn't been seen for weeks now. They were both seen on video more than a month ago. They appear to be wearing wigs, both of them, for some unknown reason. An all-out search is underway now for Melody Buzzard, while her mom faces a felony charge that's apparently unrelated to the disappearance. Like I said, very bizarre. Carter Evans looks at this very mysterious case. We're entering a not guilty plea. In the midst of a national search for her missing nine-year-old daughter, Ashley Buzzard was in a courtroom Wednesday pleading not guilty to a false imprisonment by violence charge. The case stems from a November 6 incident involving a man identified as Tyler Brewer. He told several media outlets that Buzzard was allegedly armed with a box cutter and didn't allow him to leave her house. The 40-year-old was arrested Friday outside her home. A judge released her yesterday with a GPS monitor. Prosecutors say the case is not directly related to Melody's disappearance. She was first reported missing on October 14 by an administrator at her school. Law enforcement officials say Melody was seen in this security video at a car rental business with her mother on October 7. Authorities say they appeared to be wearing wigs. They say it was the start of a road trip for the duo. Sheriff's officials believe the pair traveled as far as Nebraska and back through Utah, Arizona, and Nevada to California, where Buzzard appeared to have returned without her daughter. She should be playing outside with kids. She should be interacting with her cousins, not hiding somewhere in a wig. Detectives and the FBI have conducted searches of Buzzard's home. Ashley has not been cooperative with the investigation, has not been able to provide us evidence of Melody's well-being. I want to know where my granddaughter is. What's going on? We've reached out to Buzzard's attorney for comment, but have not heard back. For CBS Mornings, I'm Carter Evans.

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