The grandmother of slain California girl Melodee Buzzard says she believes the child’s mother “planned” the attack, adding that an insanity plea shouldn’t apply to the case.
According to the Santa Barbara Independent, Melodee’s paternal grandmother, Lilly Denes, spoke with reporters January 7, following Ashlee Buzzard’s court appearance at the Lompoc County Court.
Ashlee Buzzard is accusing of murdering Melodee before leaving her body in Utah. Buzzard has pleaded not guilty.
When asked about her opinion on a possible insanity plea, Denes said, “I don’t think that’s right because she planned everything.”
Buzzard is accused of renting a car on October 7 before going on a multi-state road trip with Melodee.
At the car rental agency in Lompoc, security footage captured both Buzzard and Melodee wearing wigs. Buzzard later allegedly switched license plates on the rental vehicle to avoid detection.
“When I met her nine or 10 years ago, she was not like this. I don’t know what happened,” Denes said, recalling when Melodee’s father, Rubiell Meza, who died in a motorcycle crash years ago, introduced Buzzard to his family.
“When my son brought her to the house, she was really quiet and just looking at me from head to toe,” Denes said. “I told my son, ‘Mijo, is this lady, is this girl OK? … She’s just staring.’”
Denes told the Independent that her son attributed Buzzard’s behavior to shyness.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, investigators found an expended cartridge case inside Buzzard’s Vandenberg Village home during an October 30 search. They also found “a live round of similar ammunition” inside the vehicle she had rented.
Then, a couple taking photos in a rural area of Wayne County, Utah, found Melodee’s remains near East State Route 24, on December 6.
Last month, Santa Barbara Sheriff Bill Brown said during a press conference that the Melodee had “gunshot wounds to the head.”
Brown called the killing “cold-blooded” with “criminally sophisticated premeditation and heartlessness.”
Meanwhile, Denes added that although she expects that Buzzard will plead insanity, she’s hoping that Buzzard “gets charged the right way.”
Buzzard remains behind bars without bail on charges that include:
- First-degree murder
- Discharge of a firearm causing death
- Special circumstance of murder by lying in wait
The prosecution announced that they would not seek the death penalty but will push for life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Buzzard’s next court hearing is scheduled for January 21. A preliminary hearing will reportedly not take place until after April.
Check back for updates.
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[Feature Photo via Santa Barbara County police]