Week 11: Still No Word on Whereabouts of Mitrice Richardson

• Family Seeks Federal Investigation into 24-Year-Old’s Disappearance

BY ANNE SOBLE

The days are solemnly noted by her family as another page on the calendar has turned since Mitrice Richardson disappeared following her pre-dawn release from the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station on Sept. 17, the day after the 24-year-old was booked on two misdemeanor counts—an unpaid dinner tab of $89.51 and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.
Richardson was not dressed for cold nighttime temperatures. She had no money; the sheriff’s department kept her cell phone; and her car had been impounded. She reportedly was traveling on foot in the dark and desolate industrial area bordering on wilderness parklands.
That an honors college graduate from a close-knit family has not been heard from in 77 days, has not accessed her substantial bank account funds or used her credit cards, does not presume foul play, according to both the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles Police Department, the lead agency in the search because Richardson resided in Los Angeles with her great-grandmother.
The family wants the FBI called in, but the LAPD says there is insufficient cause for federal involvement. The online activist group—www. change.org—is gathering signatures on a petition urging state and federal officials to initiate a federal investigation.
The mounting cost of the family conducting its own field searches and private information dissemination campaign has prompted the setup of the Mitrice L. Richardson fund at the family’s original website (www.findmitrice.info).
The website says “contributions will be used to cover various costs such as printing and production of materials, search initiatives and advertisements associated in the search for Mitrice.”
Donations can be made to the Mitrice L. Richardson Fund (253455337191) at any U.S. bank, or checks sent to: Mitrice L. Richardson Fund; 23441 Golden Springs Dr. #115; Diamond Bar, Ca 917666. Credit card instructions are on the website.
Information related to the case should be relayed to www.findmitrice.info, Ronda Hampton at 951-660-8031, or LAPD Detectives Steve Eguchi or Chuck Knolls at 213-485-2531.