Death of Mitrice Richardson: Difference between revisions
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| ethnicity = [[Black people|Black]] |
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| occupation = [[Administrative Assistant]] |
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| alma_mater= [[Cal State Fullerton]] |
| alma_mater= [[Cal State Fullerton]] |
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| known_for = Missing person from [[South Los Angeles]]<Br> Went missing after being released from a [[Malibu]] jail |
| known_for = Missing person from [[South Los Angeles]]<Br> Went missing after being released from a [[Malibu]] jail |
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Revision as of 03:13, 31 March 2015
Mitrice L. Richardson | |
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| File:Mitrice Richardson.jpg Mitrice Richardson | |
| Born | Mitrice Lavon Richardson April 30, 1985 |
| Died | Unknown, remains found in August 2010 Remains found in Monte Nido, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Cal State Fullerton |
| Occupation | Administrative Assistant |
| Known for | Missing person from South Los Angeles Went missing after being released from a Malibu jail |
Mitrice Lavon Richardson (born April 30, 1985 - remains found August 2010) was a 24-year-old African American woman who went missing after being released from a Malibu, California jail and was subsequently found deceased 11 months later in August 2010. She was a dancer in a nightclub in Long Beach, lived in South Los Angeles, and was an out lesbian at the time of her disappearance and death.[1]
Early life and education
Richardson was a graduate of South Hills High School in West Covina, California. She graduated from California State University, Fullerton with a B.A. degree in psychology in 2008. She had been a beauty pageant contestant.[2]
She was the daughter of Latice Sutton and Michael Richardson, who were never married or in a relationship. She was raised by her mother and stepfather Larry Sutton in the suburbs east of Los Angeles.[3][4]
Disappearance
On the evening of September 16, 2009, Richardson entered the parking lot of Geoffrey's restaurant in Malibu, California. Due to what staff and patrons at the restaurant described as "bizarre" behavior and the fact that she was unable to pay for her bill, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department from the Malibu/Lost Hills Station were called to assess her condition. The officers on the scene purportedly administered a field sobriety test and determined that she was not intoxicated and not under the influence of any substance. In an email to command staff, the arresting officer stated that he arrested Mitrice Richardson due to the fact that she was, "acting ditzy"; however, he failed to take her for a psychiatric evaluation and instead detained her.
Upon her arrest, her phone, purse and money were secured in her car and her car was towed to a tow yard on Pacific Coast Highway. Mitrice was detained and booked at the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff station approximately 10 miles up Malibu Canyon at a sheriff station in Agoura, CA.
Despite the fact that Richardson's mother informed the station of concern for her daughters mental health and promises from the station personnel that she would not be released until later in the morning, Richardson was released on September 17, 2009 at 12:28am in a mental health crisis, with no belongings and no means of calling for assistance.
Several hours later she was seen in the backyard of former news anchor Bill Smith (KTLA) who stated she was in his backyard "resting". Neighbors stated that they heard a woman's voice in the tennis courts of Bill Smith's home. Others stated that they heard and saw Mitrice either leaving or attempting to enter the home of Bill Smith and that she had been in the presence of a man who frequented the home for a few days after her disappearance. Neighbors also stated that they heard loud screams in a vacant home around the time that Mitrice went missing. They stated that the police were called.
Richardson's father Michael Richardson publicly claimed to have seen Mitrice Richardson working as a prostitute in Las Vegas, Nevada in January 2010.[5][6]
Search
Only after much pressure was there a search for Mitrice by law enforcement two days after she went missing. The search was supposed to last for two days; however, despite the fact that the scent dogs still had her scent, the search was abruptly called off on the first day with no explanation for why it ended or why it would not continue for the second day. The neighbors of Bill Smith were shocked to learn that the search for Mitrice did not include a search of the creek bed in the area as it would have been a very likely place for someone to take her. Her remains were found in Monte Nido, California, in the very creek bed that the residents of the Monte Nido community thought she may have been.
The creekbed where Mitrice's naked skeletal remains were eventually discovered, is adjacent to a 21 acre ranch that is known for producing pornography. It is very secluded and has direct access to the creek bed. When her body was discovered, the detectives on the case removed her body against the order of the coroner. Her death was deemed to not be a homicide. There was no foul play.[7][8]
Media coverage
Richardson's disappearance was covered on an episode of Disappeared on Investigation Discovery entitled "Lost in the Dark". It first aired on November 19, 2012.
Lawsuits
Richardson's family has filed several lawsuits against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for releasing her from jail even though, they claim, she was experiencing severe bipolar disorder at the time.[9][10]
References
- ^ "Where's Mitrice? The Search for a Young Lesbian Missing Since September". SheWired. November 17, 2009. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
- ^ Andrew Blankstein and Carla Hall (August 12, 2010). "No signs of foul play in Mitrice Richardson's death, authorities say [Updated]". latimesblogs.latimes.com. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
- ^ Carla Hall and Joel Rubin (July 29, 2010). "Mitrice Richardson may have been spotted in Las Vegas". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
Her parents, who have never been a couple, are divided on whether the new sightings are real.
- ^ Mike Kessler (September 1, 2011). "What Happened To Mitrice Richardson?". Los Angeles Magazine. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
She knew Covina and the suburbs east of L.A., where she grew up with her mother and stepfather. She knew Fullerton, where she graduated with honors from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in psychology the year before, in 2008. She knew Long Beach, where she worked Friday nights as a go-go dancer. She knew South L.A., where her father lived and where she resided with her great-grandmother at 118th and Central. Malibu was not Mitrice's turf.
- ^ Carla Hall and Joel Rubin (July 29, 2010). "Mitrice Richardson may have been spotted in Las Vegas". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
Her parents, who have never been a couple, are divided on whether the new sightings are real. "I strongly believe," said her father, Michael Richardson, 43. "But I don't believe she's in her right state of mind." His belief, he said, is bolstered by his own personal sighting — on a trip to Las Vegas in the middle of January. He was with friends from his motorcycle club in a truck pulling onto a downtown street when he saw a young woman in jeans and a baseball cap talking on a cellphone. " 'God, this girl looks like my daughter,' " he said he thought to himself. So he jumped out of the truck, which was stuck in traffic. "I'm running over to get to where she is. I'm almost getting hit by cars. She was standing in the middle of two palm trees in a restaurant parking lot. And then she's gone. I'm like 'Where was that girl?' "….Michael Richardson said Rosson discussed with him the possibility that she was working as a prostitute. He said he believes that it is possible someone is keeping her from contacting family and friends.
{{cite news}}: line feed character in|quote=at position 94 (help) - ^ Associated Press (July 28, 2010). "Missing since September, Mitrice Richardson may be alive — and in Vegas". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
- ^ Carla Hall and Andrew Blankstein (August 13, 2010). "Long search for Mitrice Richardson comes to tragic end". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
- ^ Alan Duke (August 13, 2010). "Remains found in Malibu Canyon identified as Mitrice Richardson". CNN. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
- ^ Robert Faturechi (August 23, 2011). "Mitrice Richardson: $900000 settlement tentatively reached". latimesblogs.latimes.com. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
- ^ Denisse Salazar (May 25, 2011). "Mother of dead CSUF grad files another lawsuit". Orange County Register. Retrieved March 29, 2015.