Ashlee Buzzard has entered a not guilty plea regarding the murder of her daughter, Melodee Buzzard, during an arraignment in Santa Barbara County Superior Court. The incident took place in October, and the court proceedings were held before Judge John McGregor in Santa Maria. Family members of Melodee attended the hearing, with some expressing their emotions during the proceedings. The District Attorney's Office has announced that they will not pursue the death penalty against Buzzard, who is 40 years old, but will seek life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. During the arraignment, Buzzard waived her right to a preliminary hearing within the next 10 days and acknowledged that her preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 24, 2026. A temporary gag order was approved by the judge, which restricts the Santa Barbara County Sheriff and related personnel from discussing the case publicly. This request was made by Buzzard's defense attorney, Adrian Galvan, who previously represented her in a different case. Buzzard was taken into custody on December 23, and shortly thereafter, she was charged with first-degree murder related to her daughter's shooting death. The criminal complaint alleges that the crime involved significant violence and that Melodee was particularly vulnerable. Furthermore, it claims that Buzzard exploited a position of trust to commit the offense. The investigation into Melodee's disappearance began on October 14 when school officials alerted authorities about her prolonged absence. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office indicated that Buzzard was uncooperative during the investigation. Law enforcement believes that Melodee was killed on October 9, shortly after the last sighting of her with her mother during a road trip. Buzzard returned home alone from this trip on October 10. Melodee's body was discovered in Wayne County, Utah, on December 6, and positively identified as hers shortly before Christmas. Sheriff Bill Brown described the murder as ruthless and premeditated, having been carried out with a degree of sophistication. As of now, the weapon used in the crime has not been recovered, and investigators continue to seek answers regarding the motive behind the tragic event.