October 24, 2025 • 6 mins
Pennsylvania authorities said on Thursday that missing Kada Scott, found dead on Saturday, was fatally shot in the head. The mother of missing California girl Melodee Buzzard returned home alone earlier this month after renting a car and taking a road trip with her daughter. Sydney Sumner reports.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Crime Alart hourly update, breaking crime news Now.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
I'm Sidney Sumner. Pennsylvania authorities have determined Kaita Scott was
murdered after recovering her remains fourteen days after she was
last seen at her nursing home job. On October eighteenth,
Scott's body was discovered behind an abandoned school near the
Arboretum in Germantown. Her body was located in a wooded
area in a shallow grave.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Well based on a tip that came in last night.
Through the night, the investigators began the process of following
up on that tip, and the tip was very specific
that led us back to this location here today.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Philadelphia Police's first Deputy Commissioner, John Stanford said the remains
appeared to be about a week old. Officers had already
searched the school on a previous tip locating some of
Scott's belongings, but returned on a second, more specific tip.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Week We received a tip to go to the Ada
Lewis Middle School. Investigators went did a thorough search. Essentially,
what the new tip was this weekend was go back.
It was go back, she's there, look again, and they
did give more specific details in terms of where to look,
and ultimately that is what led us to her.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Law enforcement has not commented on the identity of the tipster.
The Philadelphia Medical Examiner determined kDa Scott, twenty three died
of a gunshot wound to the head. On Wednesday, prosecutors
formally charged key On King, twenty one, with Scott's murder.
King was initially arrested on October fifteenth and charged with
kidnapping and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Monday, the District
(01:35):
Attorney's office added arson causing catastrophe, conspiracy, tampering with evidence,
reckless endangerment in receipt of stolen property. In addition to
Thursday's murder charge, King is also facing robbery and abuse
of a corpse. His bail was set at two and
a half million dollars. Investigators initially sought King's gold nineteen
(01:56):
ninety nine Toyota Camry, believing King transported Kada in that car,
but later determined King was driving a stolen black two
thousand and eight Hundai Accent. The car was found burning
blocks away from the abandoned school on October seventh, but
was not connected to the case until fire investigators had
already destroyed it. Surveillance footage places the accent at the
(02:17):
nursing home and middle school. King's cell phone data also
puts him at both scenes, but police say King did
not act alone.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
At this point.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
We do have reason to believe that other people may
have been involved after the fact. At the point where
the Hyundai accent is on scene on video at the
rec center leading up to all of the events, we're
talking about the other car, the Toyota is there as well,
and we believe the people and these vehicles are working.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Together, detectives say. The day after Scott's disappearance, surveillance video
shows two individuals exit the camera at Ada Lewis Middle
Hours later, two individuals are seen carrying an object out
of the stolen black Hyundai. The object was consistent with
that of above. Assistant District Attorney Ashley Telaski did not
comment on who may have been behind the wheel of
(03:06):
King's Camra, but expects further arrests in the case. Now
to California, where investigators have married the timeline of a
missing child's case from more than a year to two weeks.
The Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office initially believed Melody Buzzard, a
nine year old Mompop girl, was last seen in October
twenty twenty four, but they now say she was last
(03:27):
seen earlier this month. Buzzard's mother returned home alone after
renting a car and taking a road trip with her daughter.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
Ashley was with Melody as recently as October seventh, and
that they may have driven from the Lompoke area as
far as the state of Nebraska. We understand that she
had rented a vehicle, a white Chevy Malibu, and we
are providing that license played information to the public in
case anybody saw Melody or Ashley together in that vehicle.
(03:54):
We do also want to point out that it is
a rental car and that is no longer in Ashley's possession.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
The Santa Barbe Sheriff's Office public information officer rakel Zinc
Says the rental, identified as a white Chevrolet Malibu with
the license plate number nine m G one oh one,
has since been returned. On October fourteenth, Lompoc Unified School
District employees reported Melody, who was homeschooled, missing after she
failed to pick up assignments for an independent study program.
(04:22):
The Sheriff's office said that Lompoc Unified School District employees
last saw Melody in August when her mother registered her
for the program. Police subsequently served a search warran at
Ashley Buzzard's home, but did not find Melody. During follow
up visits, Buzzard reportedly became uncooperative with the search and
has not offered any valid explanations as to where her
(04:43):
daughter is.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
Detectives did already conduct a thorough search of the family's
residents as a result of that search. We are continuing
a search for a missing person. This is not a
homicide case. The hope and the goal is that we
find Melody alive and that we can ensure.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
During additional visits, officials knocked on Ashley Buzzard's door, but
she stopped answering. As the search continues, law enforcement is
asking the public for tips. The most recent photos of
Melody were taken around two years ago, and officials say
her appearance may have changed.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
Ashley is not cooperative at this time, which is why
we are reaching out to the public for any assistant
or information that they can provide, and detectives are continuing
to utilize investigative techniques as well.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Buzzard has reportedly tried to rent a car from at
least two different agencies in the last days and was
denied the rentals. Neighbors say she has been served with
a notice to produce her daughter or face arrest. Anyone
with information regarding Melody's whereabouts is asked to call Santa
Barbara County Investigators at eight O five six' eight one
forty one Fifty for the latest crime and justice breaking.
(05:52):
News be sure to follow The Crime alert hourly update
on your favorite podcast app with this Crime, Alert I'm Sidney.
Sumner
Crime Alart hourly update, breaking crime news Now.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
I'm Sidney Sumner. Pennsylvania authorities have determined Kaita Scott was
murdered after recovering her remains fourteen days after she was
last seen at her nursing home job. On October eighteenth,
Scott's body was discovered behind an abandoned school near the
Arboretum in Germantown. Her body was located in a wooded
area in a shallow grave.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
Well based on a tip that came in last night.
Through the night, the investigators began the process of following
up on that tip, and the tip was very specific
that led us back to this location here today.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Philadelphia Police's first Deputy Commissioner, John Stanford said the remains
appeared to be about a week old. Officers had already
searched the school on a previous tip locating some of
Scott's belongings, but returned on a second, more specific tip.
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Week We received a tip to go to the Ada
Lewis Middle School. Investigators went did a thorough search. Essentially,
what the new tip was this weekend was go back.
It was go back, she's there, look again, and they
did give more specific details in terms of where to look,
and ultimately that is what led us to her.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Law enforcement has not commented on the identity of the tipster.
The Philadelphia Medical Examiner determined kDa Scott, twenty three died
of a gunshot wound to the head. On Wednesday, prosecutors
formally charged key On King, twenty one, with Scott's murder.
King was initially arrested on October fifteenth and charged with
kidnapping and unauthorized use of a vehicle. Monday, the District
(01:35):
Attorney's office added arson causing catastrophe, conspiracy, tampering with evidence,
reckless endangerment in receipt of stolen property. In addition to
Thursday's murder charge, King is also facing robbery and abuse
of a corpse. His bail was set at two and
a half million dollars. Investigators initially sought King's gold nineteen
(01:56):
ninety nine Toyota Camry, believing King transported Kada in that car,
but later determined King was driving a stolen black two
thousand and eight Hundai Accent. The car was found burning
blocks away from the abandoned school on October seventh, but
was not connected to the case until fire investigators had
already destroyed it. Surveillance footage places the accent at the
(02:17):
nursing home and middle school. King's cell phone data also
puts him at both scenes, but police say King did
not act alone.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
At this point.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
We do have reason to believe that other people may
have been involved after the fact. At the point where
the Hyundai accent is on scene on video at the
rec center leading up to all of the events, we're
talking about the other car, the Toyota is there as well,
and we believe the people and these vehicles are working.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Together, detectives say. The day after Scott's disappearance, surveillance video
shows two individuals exit the camera at Ada Lewis Middle
Hours later, two individuals are seen carrying an object out
of the stolen black Hyundai. The object was consistent with
that of above. Assistant District Attorney Ashley Telaski did not
comment on who may have been behind the wheel of
(03:06):
King's Camra, but expects further arrests in the case. Now
to California, where investigators have married the timeline of a
missing child's case from more than a year to two weeks.
The Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office initially believed Melody Buzzard, a
nine year old Mompop girl, was last seen in October
twenty twenty four, but they now say she was last
(03:27):
seen earlier this month. Buzzard's mother returned home alone after
renting a car and taking a road trip with her daughter.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
Ashley was with Melody as recently as October seventh, and
that they may have driven from the Lompoke area as
far as the state of Nebraska. We understand that she
had rented a vehicle, a white Chevy Malibu, and we
are providing that license played information to the public in
case anybody saw Melody or Ashley together in that vehicle.
(03:54):
We do also want to point out that it is
a rental car and that is no longer in Ashley's possession.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
The Santa Barbe Sheriff's Office public information officer rakel Zinc
Says the rental, identified as a white Chevrolet Malibu with
the license plate number nine m G one oh one,
has since been returned. On October fourteenth, Lompoc Unified School
District employees reported Melody, who was homeschooled, missing after she
failed to pick up assignments for an independent study program.
(04:22):
The Sheriff's office said that Lompoc Unified School District employees
last saw Melody in August when her mother registered her
for the program. Police subsequently served a search warran at
Ashley Buzzard's home, but did not find Melody. During follow
up visits, Buzzard reportedly became uncooperative with the search and
has not offered any valid explanations as to where her
(04:43):
daughter is.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
Detectives did already conduct a thorough search of the family's
residents as a result of that search. We are continuing
a search for a missing person. This is not a
homicide case. The hope and the goal is that we
find Melody alive and that we can ensure.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
During additional visits, officials knocked on Ashley Buzzard's door, but
she stopped answering. As the search continues, law enforcement is
asking the public for tips. The most recent photos of
Melody were taken around two years ago, and officials say
her appearance may have changed.
Speaker 4 (05:17):
Ashley is not cooperative at this time, which is why
we are reaching out to the public for any assistant
or information that they can provide, and detectives are continuing
to utilize investigative techniques as well.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Buzzard has reportedly tried to rent a car from at
least two different agencies in the last days and was
denied the rentals. Neighbors say she has been served with
a notice to produce her daughter or face arrest. Anyone
with information regarding Melody's whereabouts is asked to call Santa
Barbara County Investigators at eight O five six' eight one
forty one Fifty for the latest crime and justice breaking.
(05:52):
News be sure to follow The Crime alert hourly update
on your favorite podcast app with this Crime, Alert I'm Sidney.
Sumner
Host
Nancy Grace
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!