Ashlee Buzzard pleads not guilty to murdering her daughter Melodee and will not face the death penalty.

A Santa Barbara mother, Ashlee Buzzard, entered a plea of not guilty on Friday in connection with the murder of her 9-year-old daughter, Melodee. During the court proceedings, the Santa Barbara County prosecutors announced that they would not pursue the death penalty against the 40-year-old suspect.

Buzzard is accused of fatally shooting her daughter, with Melodee’s remains being discovered in a remote area of southern Utah on December 6, following a protracted search that lasted nearly two months. Investigators allege that the mother and daughter embarked on a road trip across multiple states, culminating in the horrific crime where Melodee was reportedly shot multiple times in the head. Prior to the discovery of the remains, school officials had reported Melodee missing in mid-October, during which time Buzzard provided no satisfactory explanation for her child’s extended absence.

The identification of Melodee’s remains as belonging to her mother was confirmed on the preceding Monday. Further evidence collected from the crime scene in Utah included cartridge cases that investigators have linked to those found at Buzzard’s residence in Lompoc, California. Following her arrest on December 26, Buzzard was charged with first-degree murder the next day.

During her arraignment, Buzzard’s defense team disputed allegations of firearm discharge causing death and premeditated murder, stating that the accusations do not reflect the full truth. The prosecution indicated their intent to seek a life sentence without the possibility of parole, rather than capital punishment, as they prepare for the upcoming trial. A preliminary hearing is set for January 7.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown told reporters that Melodee is believed to have been killed on October 9, shortly after the mother-daughter pair crossed the border into Utah. It is further alleged that Buzzard returned to California alone the following day. Surveillance footage from a rental car location on October 7 showed both Ashlee and Melodee wearing wigs, and police reported that Buzzard altered the license plate on the rental vehicle to evade law enforcement detection.

The criminal charges against Buzzard detail the severity of the alleged offense, indicating that it involved “great violence” and a considerable degree of cruelty. Although investigators have highlighted the brutality of the act, a motive for Buzzard’s actions has not yet been disclosed. Family members have described Buzzard as having a history of mental health issues, which adds complexity to the already tragic case. As legal proceedings unfold, Buzzard remains incarcerated pending trial.