Ashlee Buzzard pleads not guilty to killing her infant daughter, Melodee, whose body was found in Utah and moved to California.

Ashlee Buzzard entered a not guilty plea to first-degree murder in connection with the death of Melodee Buzzard, her infant daughter, whose body was discovered in Utah before being relocated to California. In order to safeguard Buzzard's right to a fair trial, a temporary gag order was granted at the defense's request, preventing Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown from discussing evidence, motive, or case weight. The case has now been assigned to Lompoc Department 1. The final deadline is February 24; the preliminary hearing is set for January 7. Lilly Denes, Melodee's paternal grandmother, declined to confirm information regarding the body's location, expressed sorrow and confusion, and advised the public not to support fraudulent GoFundMe campaigns. Following the disruptions caused by the Christmas flood, Santa Barbara Airport has reopened.