The mother of 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, whose body was found in Utah after she had been missing for months, pleaded not guilty Friday to a charge that she murdered her.

The mother, Ashlee Buzzard, entered the plea in a California courtroom Friday morning, according to CBS News. 

The 40-year-old is charged with first-degree murder after bullet cartridges found near her daughter's body were linked to a used cartridge case found in her home, said Santa Barbara County's Sheriff-Coroner Bill Brown.

Her trial has been scheduled to begin on Jan. 7, 2026.

A school administrator reported the child's prolonged absence on Oct. 14, saying he had not seen the child since August, also according to the news outlet. Deputies said the mother was uncooperative when they went to the family's residence in the city of Lompoc and that she did not cooperate in the missing person investigation.

The child's body was reportedly found by authorities on Dec. 6 in a rural area of Utah after a man and woman taking photos off of State Route 24 reported they had discovered remains, the news outlet also reports.