Mitrice Richardson's father asks county supervisors to investigate her death

The father of Mitrice Richardson, the woman whose remains were discovered nearly a year after she disappeared, pleaded with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to help him find out what happened.

"I've never relied on this community to give me nothing," Michael Richardson said. "All I'm saying is for 19 years, I've paid in the system. I want the system's help."

The saga began Sept. 16, 2009, when Mitrice Richardson was arrested at Geoffrey's restaurant in Malibu after she behaved bizarrely and could not pay her dinner bill. Deputies took her into custody at the Lost Hills/Malibu Sheriff's Station, releasing her after nightfall without her car -- it had been impounded -- or her cellphone and purse, which were in the car.

Months later, investigators found evidence that she had probably been suffering from a severe form of bipolar disorder.

Despite false sightings, including several in Las Vegas, and numerous searches, Richardson's skeletal remains were found in Malibu Canyon in August. Sheriff's officials said there was no sign of foul play. They also don't believe she fell to her death. A spokesman for the Los Angeles County coroner's office estimated that her remains had been there at least six months, or possibly the entire time she had been missing.

Michael Richardson, who has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the county, has criticized authorities for releasing her at night with no transportation, money or phone. The site where her body was found was also not made a crime scene, Richardson said.

Stanley W. Prince, a representative of the National Assn. for Equal Justice in America, also spoke in favor of looking into the circumstances surrounding Richardson's death.

"We're here in support to make sure that there is a full and fair investigation of what took place in Malibu," Prince said.

-- Kimi Yoshino

Photo: Mitrice Richardson

Comments

[Judy]

This man should not have to beg for anything! He should be accorded a full investigation. There are clues. I wonder if the Sheriff's department nows more than they let on. Give this family some peace.

[Ret SFC]

What? You expect the police/sheriff department to investigate their own? Why the nerve! We know they all deserve their bloated salaries, riduculous overtime, and obcene retirements because, afterall, they protect us when the bad guys start rioting. Oh wait that was the National Guard, because the LAPD and Sheriffs were running like cowardly curs.
Now they are directly responsible for an innocent ill woman's death. Who here thinks they will provide an investigation that will be fair and through....please raise your hands.....anyone?

[All Hallows Eve]

They deserve an investigation.
What parent wouldn't want that???

[ACitizen]

Judy is right, this case should be investigated thoroughly by an agency that is not involved in Ms Richardson's incarceration by the Sheriff's Department.

[BIG MAMA CORNBREAD]

This Hush Hush Murder Swept Underneath the Rug with the Weed and the Mural High Profile Killer kept secret this is a big case if justice were to prevail. Down the road the true killer will get the dime drop ...but keep sweeping the dirt will be gathering in the corner. Suspects of course so obvious...not for Beautiful Colored Girls...Keep Sweeping Dust Will Clear...A GORGEOUS black female a beauty queen contestant ,college graduate,exceptionally gifted and admired.

[BIG MAMA CORNBREAD]

Very sad story.

[Paul]

The Sheriffs are protecting their own and not the citizens they were sworn to protect and serve. This case makes me sick on a number of levels.....let me count them for you:
1. The restaurant. I remember one time I lost my wallet at a club and didn't find out until I got to a restaurant afterwards. The owner let me get some food and said I could come back the next day and pay. I did so with a hefty tip. A similar thing happend in SF 3 years ago when I left my wallet in my hotel room.
1a. The tab. A customer offered to pay the tab and the manager refused. I wish I could find the guy/girl so I could punch the crap out of them.
2. The police. You arrest a woman, take her into custody and observe her...and she in obviously disturbed. You then release her with no car, phone or money in the canyons at night. If I was her father I would be in prison for assault at the minimum. As a father, I am angry for him.

[Ruby Jackson]

He deserves some answers.

[stewart]

this? the man who said he saw his daughter on the sidewalk in Las Vegas? But could not catch up with her that day? hmmmm.

[what justice]

Very sad situation for a good family. Too bad that Baca is not capable of telling the truth. I tell you now that no one will ever know what truly happen. The crime scene has been tainted and there goes any real chance of finding out what happened. Perhaps electing a honest person as the next sheriff may help? May God help the Richardson family in their time of grief.

[Astonished]

And why, exactly would the sheriffs Department do anything to Ms. Richardson? What would be their motive? Hummmm?

[Ben]

What a tragic story. I have to wonder though, if the color of her skin was different would the authorities have begun the search for her as quickly, and with as many resources, as was the case with the two separate instances of missing hikers last week?

My condolences to her family.

[RastuzX]

Be at peace. The will be no comfort for you and your family through truth and justice.

You and your family are obviously Black and in America and the fact is you can never expect fairness, decency or humanity from the toubob.

Please do not expect the spawn of the horned ones to use attributes they do not and can never possess.

Look forward and prepare to correct the mistake of forgiveness at Appomattox.

[robert]

Clearly the sheriffs made a mistake letting her go. Admit it, make sure it doesn't happen again, and yes, give the family some peace. Easy enough. They continue to show trust in a system that failed them, and their trust should be at least acknowledged.

[Sammy]

This needs a thorough, objective investigation ASAP. So many unanswered questions. So much pain for Mitrice's family.

[lola]

the area where she was last seen is not as disolate as they make it out to be. There is bed in breakfast, wilderness camp, Camp David Gonzales juvenile camp. To not look into these places or at least ask people is outrageous

[Joseph walden]

Let's try to remember we live in a civilized nation where the local law enforcement protects the populace,,, like a 3rd world country.
The LASD has no interest in investigating the public execution of Mitrice Richardson thier officer's arranged.
They did everything possible to place this young woman in harms way and are unconcerned about her demise, they've destroyed almost every shred of evidence linking them to her death.

[Randall]

So what was the cause of death????

[child]

I think that when you know where something is and you act like you don't know, then asking around seems pretty absurd even to try to lie to your self when you know the truth. I think this is just as suspicious as the Laura Bradbury case. Someone knows something and someone's covering up something.

[u know]

Stop wasting time and taxpayer money. We already know what happened, Mitrice tried to rip off the restaurant and was arrested, rightfully so. When she was processed and released from custody the jailer (a female black civilian employee) stated that Mitrice was about her wits and seemed fine. Mitrice then turned down the offer from the deputies to stay at the station til it got light out or to wait for a ride, they could not hold her further than that she is an adult and that would be FALSE IMPRISONMENT. Had they kept her against her will then that would have been a crime. The so called family never showed up to pick up Mitrice, and they never notified the sheriff department that Mitrice was suffering from mental illness. Mitrice's own actions led to her own death. Time to take personal responsibility and stop trying to blame everyone else.

Michael Richardson should put his energies to more useful causes, such as teaching others where he had failed. He could start off with the lesson on DONT STEAL and you wont go to jail.

[Sammy]

My question is the same as Randall's. What was the cause of Mitrice's death? We need an answer. Her family deserves at least that.

[Anniejay Randall]

This is a travesty! Missing since September 2009. Mitrice is now dead. We don't know the cause of her death. The crime scene is contaminated. Where is justice for Mitrice. Where is justice for her grieving family. Not knowing what happened to their daughter and the prospects of finding her killer is slim and none. I am calling for an independent investigation of the Police Department, immediately! If Mitrice was caucasion there would have already been an all out investigation, with her face plastered nationally on television daily. Is there a coverup by the police department? Why? Could it be a police officer? What better reason for the police department to cover this up? Lots of unanswered questions with no answers for her family forthcoming!

Anniejay