Family and friends of missing woman Mitrice Richardson plan fundraiser to hire a private investigator

Family and friends of a young woman missing since she was released from a Los Angeles County sheriff’s station almost 10 months ago plan to host a fundraising event Sunday to collect money to hire a private investigator to help search for the woman.

Mitrice Richardson, who turned 25 in April, has not been seen since she was released from the Malibu/Lost Hills sheriff’s station in the early morning of Sept. 17, after having been arrested for failing to pay a restaurant dinner bill. She was without her cellphone, purse or car, which had been impounded, relatives said.

Richardson’s family want to hire renowned private investigator Lawrence Olmstead, according to a statement released by Richardson’s family. Olmstead has helped in cases such as last year’s rape and murder of Southern California teen Amber Dubois by convicted sex offender John Gardner and the 1997 killing of actor Bill Cosby’s son.

Richardson’s father, Michael Richardson said in the statement that the fundraiser was necessary because “I have exhausted my savings and reduced my method of living severely” since his daughter’s disappearance.

Private donors and corporations have contributed several items to be raffled off during Sunday’s event at Leimert Park, including a 22-inch flat-screen television, a digital camera and a personally autographed jersey from New York Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce.

Last month, Richardson’s mother, Latice Sutton, filed a negligence and wrongful death lawsuit against Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department officials. The suit alleges that authorities neglected to provide Richardson with a medical or psychiatric evaluation after she was seen to be behaving in an infantile manner in video footage taken of her in a holding cell.

The Sheriff’s Department has always maintained that Richardson seemed lucid and normal during the several hours she was held at the station.

“Some people want to believe Mitrice is dead because they want her to be, but right about now I am thinking very differently,” Michael Richardson said in the statement.

The fundraiser is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the park on Crenshaw Boulevard, between 43rd Street and Vernon Avenue.

Anyone with information regarding Richardson's disappearance is asked to call the Los Angeles Police Department Robbery-Homicide Division at (213) 486-6900.

-- Ann M. Simmons

 

Comments

[jwa]

Has anyone checked to see if she's at home on the planet that she claimed to be from? She might have went straight there after her release from jail.

So sad...that the family is still trying to put blame on someone else for the actions of their loony daughter. And then they want other people to pay for the investigation too! I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree when it comes to not having money to pay for things with this family.

[J Boyd]

This case is so compelling you'd think renowned private investigator Lawrence Olmstead would take the case pro bono.

[Tee]

That's a good idea . . .

[jwa]

Did anyone check the planet where she claimed to be from when she was talking to the employees at the restaurant before she got arrested. She may have went straight there after her release from jail.

[OTIEOTIE]

May have WENT? You paid NO attention in school, did you? You're out of your league here. Get lost!

[TheBigPicture]

Unfortunately, I think a cadaver dog will find her before any PI..the sad probability...

[Joseph Williams Walden Jr.]

@jwa: What planet did you come from?
You are obviously not a member of the human race, mental illness is not a crime in any of The United States however..
If callous stupidity was a crime you'd be incarcerated by now, almost sounds like you work for the LASD..

[jvm fan]

Has anyone seen this covered on the show "Issues?" Thy have some experts on that have a very interesting perspective. They are covering it all more tonight. Issues has been doing a very good job bringing up new angles.