Authorities have revealed that 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, whose October disappearance sparked a weeks-long search spanning several states, died from gunshot wounds to the head. Melodee was last seen on Oct. 9 with her mother Ashlee Buzzard at the Colorado-Utah border, according to the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office .

The day before Christmas, a Lompoc Valley mother was formally charged Wednesday with first-degree murder in the death of her 9-year-old daughter, Melodee

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office will announce “major developments" in the case of missing child Melodee Buzzard on Tuesday afternoon.

The mother of missing Lompoc 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard faces murder charges after her remains were found in Utah

Santa Barbara County Sheriff-Coroner Bill Brown breaks down the series of events that led to the discovery of Melodee Buzzard’s remains. Melodee’s mother, Ashlee Buzzard has been taken into custody and his being held at Santa Barbara County’s Southern Branch Jail without bail,