Search for Mitrice Richardson draws 300 volunteers to Malibu Canyon

More than 300 volunteers on foot, horseback and all-terrain vehicles joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department today to scour the Malibu Canyon area for traces of Mitrice Richardson, who has been missing for nearly four months.

Sheriff's officials described the search as among the largest ever conducted by the department, taking in an 18-square-mile area of ridges, canyons and trails. A team of divers even searched a dam pool in the area. The volunteers are trained in search and rescue operations and were combing mountain areas east and west of Malibu Canyon and north to Mulholland Highway.

This is the fourth search for Richardson, who was arrested for not paying an $89 dinner bill at Geoffrey's restaurant in Malibu. She was released from custody at 12:30 a.m. without her car at the sheriff's Malibu-Lost Hills Station.   After Los Angeles police detectives learned that Richardson was probably suffering from a severe mental disorder at the time of her Sept. 17 disappearance, they requested Saturday's renewed search effort.

"The assumption right now is that we are searching for evidence, clues, anything that can help solve this mystery," said Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore. "It's not a question of whether she's alive; it's about looking for clues."

Both of Richardson's parents publicly thanked searchers while they waited for news at the search command post in Malibu Creek State Park. In a clearing, a giant Sikorsky helicopter picked up searchers to ferry them to remote areas.

"My thoughts as to where Mitrice is right now? My thoughts are many," said her mother, Latice Sutton. "Pretty much anything you can think of, I've already thought of.... I'm going to always hope and believe Mitrice is out there."

--Carla Hall, reporting from Malibu Canyon

Comments

[Janeyre]

This is one of those very sad articles. I have nothing but empathy for the family of Mitrice Richardson. Why did they
release her at such an hour? Why didn't they call someone
to pick her up? These people are really accountable for
their conduct. She didn't kill anyone. I will keep her
in my thoughts and prayers.

[8movies5plays]

I'm praying she's still with us. In the absence of any clues or other evidence.

The best place to look might be Santa Monica or Thousand Oaks.

If I was lost and alone with no money, I would hitchike. Those appear to be the closest cities.

If she wasn't on her medication then she might have went further north. Mt. Shasta etc.

[Nikki W]

Such a tragedy. I have been following this case since it first aired a few months ago and I was dumbfounded how the police could have made such a horrible blunder. I understand that she was over the age of 18 and they released her of her own accord, but would it not have been safer to call any family or friends to come and get her? It was obvious that she was not in her right mind and it would have been better for all parties to call someone she knew. If they could not get a name of phone number out of her, I am sure they could have gone through her cell phone. When you are held at a jail, even in a holding cell, they take your personal effects. I am sure she had a cell phone with friends and/or family's phone numbers in it. I pray that she is still alive, but if she has not contacted anyone by now, it is very disheartening. Another theory would be to check into human trafficking. I know it seems far fetched but, She is a very pretty girl and in that area, people disappear. No bodies are found and it seems that they vanish into thin air. I would leave no rock unturned. I pray for the family and hope that they might discover clues to find her whereabouts.

[coffeequeen]

This is one of those very sad articles. I have nothing but empathy for the family of Mitrice Richardson. Why did they
release her at such an hour? Why didn't they call someone
to pick her up? These people are really accountable for
their conduct. She didn't kill anyone. I will keep her
in my thoughts and prayers.

Posted by: Janeyre | January 09, 2010 at 02:41 PM

This is in response to the above post:

Unless the arrested subject is a minor or a ward of the court, once the booking procedures are completed and the subject is due to be released .. that is exactly what happens .. they are released no matter what time of day or night. It is upon that individual to care for themselves. I am sure that when the authorities were informed about the mental status of Ms. Richardson, alot of people ( including you .. ) have re-assessed and done the " would-could-should have".
Until you have:
a) done the job
b) know all the facts involved
c) understand that public safety individuals are not the babysitters of the world
d) educate yourself on policy and procedure .. you might find it under SOP, DAM, DOM, etc of any agency of your choice ......

Until you have completed the above suggestions, maybe you can do something useful like assist the family and law enforcement with the search of Ms. Richardson.

[Uncle Bernie]

Latice, Mitrice, Police.

[April]

I remember when this happened. I feel compassionate for her family not knowing where their loved one is for so long now. I hope she will be found, safe.

It wasn't the police dept. fault. For anyone whose been arrested knows, you're released, let out the door to go wherever they want. For a woman, alone when it's dark outside, God only knows where she is right now.

[April]

God bless the family in finding her. You're in my thoughts and prayers.

[Lysette]

You said it all Janeyre. This story is so upsetting. The Sheriff Department is out there now, after being so negligent four months ago. Prayers to Mitrice and her family. I hope that she comes home soon.

[natalie]

my nephew and i went this morning to volunteer for the search and we were told that there was no "set up" for volunteers...it was "too dangerous"...who were the volunteers then? the sheriff said we were the only civilians that showed up.there was a large law enforcement presence.my nephew and i ended up handing out flyers.our prayers go out to the family.

[allen d. wilson]

Prayers for Matrice and more prayers for those looking for her. May the treatment and release of inmates nationwide be treated more sensitively after this.

[Sar]

The sheriff station didn't kick her out after she was released. She was told to stay in the station till some one can pick her up, she refused to stay there.

[Tony S.]

Thank you and Blessings to everyone searching for Mitrice. May the Lord God help us all to have a happy ending with Mitrice, to this heart sickening chain of events. Amen & Amen.

[April]

I am so sorry she disappeared. It's not the fault of the police dept. Once someone is released, they're free to go out the door to wherever they desire, even if they're impaired, doesn't matter, this is our freedom.

[Q. Macphail]

What kind of law enforcement employees release a mentally ill woman in the middle of the night, alone, in a rural area with no transportation?

What in God's name were they thinking?

[Mongoose_King]

It is obvious she was not treated as a local in distress would have been, that Resturant would not be in business long if it treated the locals like that who forget their wallets.Have they released the videotape of her leaving custody.

[Jodie]

Thanks to all those good citizens who showed up today to try and find this lady. That is rugged country. Malibu Canyon/Las Virgenes is no city street to walk down, day or night, no matter what kind of shape you might be in. I so hope that Ms. Richardson didn't try to find her way on foot back to her car at Escondido Beach. Wishing her family and friends all the best during this bad time.

[mike b]

law enforcement is not technically to blame, however, there's a lot of nobody to blame going around. Cut from the same cloth are the TSA agents that make my daughter squirm to take her bracelet off her wrist yet let a muslim with explosives get on the airplane. I mean let's face it, not the best and the brightest.

[Damn shame]

I dont understand what the police did wrong. They arrest thousands mental ill/homeless people every year, many dont have familys what do they do hold them forever? Why did'nt she use her free phone call? Where would the police get a phone # to the family from?
I'm not a cold hearted person my heart do go to the family but it's not the police fault

[Management Mom]

Ms. Coffeequeen said it best. The system is designed to determine whether a detained person is a danger to themselves or others in such a situation. Mitrice was found to be capable of functioning on her own by its standards. The system did what was required of it. As an adult, the choices made by her upon release were her own. Hopefully, she made the right ones.

We do not live in a communist society, and this allows people to make certain choices for themselves and certain situations to be handled in a less restrictive way. Anyone claiming that the "police" should have kept her against her will and against policy, should re-examine why we live in a democracy and stop blaming the "system" for this situation.

May god bless her family through this troubled time, that she can be returned home to them soon.

[Shag]

I might let a grown man go, but there ain't no way I'm any woman or child to be released in such a desolate area. If you've ever been to Malibu, you know street lights are nonexistent, except on the highway. This is miscarriage of justice, and they should be ashamed. The culprit could even be amongst them, if something happened to her.

[Lorie]

I am happy to see positive support for the mentally ill... those who suffer are in very difficult situations as are their families. Many hands are tied when dealing with adult, mentally ill. They often do not acknowledge or realize they are ill and do not make good decisions. It is difficult to force their hand unless they are an obvious threat to others or themselves. God bless this woman, her family and all those who suffer the painful fallout of this type of illness.

[Kenarmy]

Where did they think she was going to go? In a rural area, in the middle of the night. Who knows what really happened in the police station during the time of her reelease. We only have their side of the story. How would you like it if the police detained you, then let you go, but dropped you off in the Cleveland National Forest, at night.

[Jim]

Why do people always blame others? Why blame the Sherriff Department?

She could have avoided all this by paying for her meal. Typical family who says they love this mentally ill person so much and only come out after they are missing or dead. They only come out because they are trying to sue the city, county, or anything that has money.

[JWalk]

Great job Sheriff Department....4 months is long enough to began an intensive search. Are you kidding me? I guess the motto "to protect and serve" isn't used by the Sheriff Department especially if you're a young African-American female in Malibu who seem to be in distress. Shame on you Chief Baca.

[Kris]

This is nothing new. The Sheriff's dept treats everybody like garbage. Maybe it's because they have to spend two years in the County jail system before they can work their regular job. LASD think's EVERYONE is a criminal.
I hope Mitrice is found.