Mitrice Richardson’s Family Steps Up Efforts to Involve the FBI

• Congressmember Maxine Waters Cites Missing Woman’s Case in Call for New Legislation

BY ANNE SOBLE

The family of Mitrice Richardson, the 24-year-old woman who has now been missing for 19 weeks, is stepping up its call for federal involvement in her mysterious disappearance.
Michael Richardson and Latice Sutton are the parents of the Cal State Fullerton honors graduate who medical experts now think was experiencing a mental breakdown when she began acting bizarrely and said she could not pay a Malibu dinner tab on Sept. 16.
The mother and father may have different opinions about the direction and timing of legal action over the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s treatment of the young woman, but they are united in their criticism of the agency that they hold responsible for their daughter’s well-being after she was transported to the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station.
The parents and a growing chorus of voices in government and the media question the Lost Hills release of the slight young woman at 12:30 a.m. on Sept. 17. Mitrice Richardson was alone, on foot, poorly clad for the cold temperature, and without money or her cell phone, in a dark and isolated area.
Both parents have repeatedly stated that they think that deputies at the station know more than has been disclosed and station officials are suppressing information and evidence that would shed light on what happened to their daughter.
Michael Richardson stated this week that he is preparing to go to Washington, DC, to personally request that the FBI investigate the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station.
He said, “For some reason, people think that we are requesting for the FBI only to get involved in the search [now being directed by the Los Angeles Police Department]. That is not true. There is a cover-up throughout the Lost Hills Station, and I want it unfolded. People [who know things] are scared and don’t want to come forward.”
Richardson stressed, “I’m trying to be patient because we are so close to finding out without [Lost Hills’] tapes and cooperation. With the 5300 signatures we have on a petition, I will go to the steps of the FBI offices and ask for the following if the officers involved do not step forward: the entire station should be dismantled, pending a major federal investigation.”
The missing woman’s father added, “Those who know something are just as guilty. I also will be seeking a new law; Law enforcement [officials] of any kind who break the law should receive double the penalty. I will look at law enforcement personnel abuse cases. I will provide stats on rape and assault cases that have happened in Malibu this year alone.”
Richardson said, “I was trying to wait, but I have to go with what I have because so many people have been turned off by the filing of the negligence claim.”
RICHARDSON PUT ON FBI LIST
On another front, noted Los Angeles civic activist Earl Ofari Hutchinson recently announced that the FBI has officially listed Mitrice Richardson in its National Crime Information Center Missing Persons file. Pending analysis of DNA provided by her mother, Mitrice Richardson is eligible to be listed in its Violent Criminal Apprehension Program and its National Missing Person DNA Database.
Hutchinson has appealed to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to become involved in the case.
WATERS CALLS FOR NEW LAW
In other Washington news, Congressmember Maxine Waters, who represents Watts, Mitrice Richardson’s district, has co-sponsored the Help Find the Missing Act (H.R. 3695), which would assist in identifying missing people and solving cases involving those who are missing. The legislation directs the U.S. Attorney General to share information on missing persons and unidentified human remains in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Missing and Unidentified Person File database with the NamUs database. It also establishes funding for this effort.
In her statement Tuesday at the hearing that the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security held on the bill, Waters said, “Last September, a young woman from my district named Mitrice Richardson went missing under questionable circumstances...I believe the local authorities could have done more, earlier in the process, to assist [her] family...Only after months of television appearances, mass mailings, and petitions organized by [her] family and friends did [agencies] begin to devote the necessary resources to find her...Our constituents believe local law enforcement should have the necessary training and resources to investigate and find their missing relatives.”
Waters added, “The legislation would require the Department of Justice to issue a report to law enforcement agencies, coroners, and medical examiners concerning best practices for collecting and reporting information about missing and unidentified persons. While the FBI does not typically investigate all cases involving missing adults, it can certainly do more to provide our local and state authorities with vital tools and information so that they can be more helpful and effective in their investigations.”
Meanwhile, Michael Richardson said he has asked “my attorney to withdraw my claim filing against the county. I have enough on my plate now...trying to recruit people to help me find my child.”

Mitrice Richardson’s Father Challenges Attorney’s Negligence Claims Filed against Los Angeles County

• Charges and Countercharges Could Have Impact on Case of Woman Missing for Over Four Months

BY ANNE SOBLE

What is already acknowledged as a terrible tragedy, in that a young woman was arrested on two otherwise citable misdemeanor counts, transported to the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station on Sept. 16, ostensibly released at 12:30 a.m. the next day, and now has been missing for over four months, has taken on a new dimension as her separated parents and the attorney who seemingly represented them pro bono are engaged in a heated public dispute.
Latice Sutton and Michael Richardson are the parents of 24-year-old Mitrice Richardson, the Cal State Fullerton honors graduate who medical experts think may have been experiencing a bout of severe mental illness when she engaged in what was described as totally unusual behavior for her, which included acting bizarrely and not paying an $89.51 dinner tab at Geoffrey’s restaurant in Malibu.
The parents, who never married, have for the most part presented a united front when claiming that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department acted negligently in allowing the young woman to leave the Lost Hills Station alone, on foot (her vehicle was impounded in Malibu), poorly attired for cold weather and without money or her cell phone, which was kept by the LASD for as yet undisclosed reasons.
This front appeared to have broken down when civil rights attorney Leo Terrell, who has repeatedly appeared with both parents at rallies and press conferences, indicated that he filed separate claim papers for the mother and father on Jan. 6, the first step in a possible lawsuit against Los Angeles County for negligence. The form names nine sheriff’s deputies, as well as “all persons” who had contact with Mitrice Richardson during any stage of her arrest, booking or release process. No sum for damages is indicated in the paperwork.
When the filing became public in the media and was described as a family claim, Michael Richardson sent out emails and put a post on his blog saying that this information is incorrect.
Michael Richardson’s post states that he “has not filed a claim” and adds, “Leo Terrell has not been retained by Michael Richardson, does not represent Michael Richardson and never has represented Michael Richardson.”
In a subsequent email to the Malibu Surfside News, Michael Richardson said, “Add that the father is appalled that an attorney would do something like this in this day and age. I can’t believe that people are still doing [Mitrice Richardson] wrong even with her being missing. This was ugly and tacky, and it has turned a lot of people off from wanting to continue with the search and [following up on] what the sheriff’s [deputies] did to her that night.”
The father said filing the claim encourages those people who “believe I am just another black person they can throw some money at to buy some gold and a Cadillac and I will be happy. This time I want justice and to find my daughter at this time. I still need those who believe as I do, that Mitrice Richardson still can be found.”
Leo Terrell on Tuesday responded that if Richardson does not remove these comments from his blog and “if he doesn’t retract his statements, I will take legal action.” Terrell said he served as the father’s attorney until Jan. 14 and is so described on the man’s website, in numerous broadcast interviews, including Terrell’s own radio program, in communications with the county, and countless other contexts. He noted that after that date, Richardson retained separate counsel, Schonbrun DeSimone Seplow Harris and Hoffman, with whom Terrell is in contact and has told, “I will sue him for slander if he continues this.”
Terrell said he filed the paperwork for separate claims for each parent. He said Michael Richardson has been asking him to file for months. “Even now, when I asked Richardson if he wants his claim withdrawn, he said no.”
Terrell said Michael Richardson was largely out of his daughter’s life for about 10 years until she was 13. The father counters that the pair are now close, he is the one who emphasizes that she is alive and he has overseen the effort to get federal involvement in the search for her. The father said he prefers to act on his own rather than work with other family members. which he added may have ruffled feathers.
Terrell stressed that no one should interpret the filing to be an indication that anyone believes that Mitrice Richardson is dead. He said the timing of the filing was necessary to protect family members’ legal rights to seek redress.
Both the LASD and the Los Angeles Police Department—the lead agency in what is still a missing person case—previously stated that peripheral family issues do not impact the agencies’ determination to find the missing woman.
Terrell expressed concern that the public dispute over the claim filing could impact public interest in the missing woman’s case. If any consensus remains, it is that everyone wants Mitrice Richardson to be found soon, so she can take whatever legal action she wants to take on her own behalf.

Family Is Told FBI Will Not Join Mitrice Richardson Investigation: Major Field Search Yields No Clues to Missing Woman’s Whereabouts

• Family Expresses Appreciation for Saturday’s Effort But Still Holds LASD’s Feet to the Fire

BY ANNE SOBLE

Over 300 members of highly trained and well-equipped search and rescue crews from Los Angeles County and other Southland communities combed an 18-square-mile area of rugged terrain in Malibu Canyon last Saturday and found no new clues to the whereabouts of 24-year-old Mitrice Richardson, who has been missing since Sept. 17.
The 10-hour search, coordinated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles Police Department, included teams on foot, horseback. mountain bikes and all-terrain vehicles. The LASD Rescue 5 helicopter transported crew members into what would otherwise be inaccessible terrain.
Family members gathered at the search command post, including Richardson’s parents, Latice Sutton and Michael Richardson. They thanked the agencies and volunteers for their efforts, even as they continue to hold the LASD responsible for their daughter’s disappearance.
Mitrice Richardson, a Cal State Fullerton honors graduate preparing to begin substitute teaching and start graduate work in clinical psychology, mysteriously vanished after reportedly walking out of the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station at 12:25 a.m. on Sept. 17, 40 miles from her home. She was alone, inadequately attired for cold weather, and without money, cell phone or means of transportation.
Richardson had been booked at Lost Hills on two misdemeanor counts after being placed under citizen’s arrest the evening of Sept. 16 by personnel at Geoffrey’s restaurant for one of the counts—not paying an $89.51 dinner tab.
Richardson’s father says he “was told by Lost Hills that the restaurant’s manager insisted that she be taken in for booking.”
The young woman’s speech and behavior were described by people at the restaurant as “crazy,” but at Lost Hills, LASD personnel said she was lucid and they had no cause to detain her.
The second count was for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana that was reportedly found when deputies searched the woman’s car, which was then impounded, even though both of the charged allegations are usually field citations.
Journal entries found in that vehicle during a subsequent search have been interpreted by mental health professionals to show Richardson may have experienced days of sleep deprivation and was exhibiting signs of mental illness, possibly bipolar disorder.
Michael Richardson is also asserting that he has since determined that his daughter’s vehicle was experiencing mechanical problems, which might explain her being in Malibu when she was.
He told the Malibu Surfside News that the mechanical issue “makes those sheriff’s deputies and the Geoffrey’s manager liars.” He indicated that he will soon make “more information about the car and what it might mean public.”
FBI DENIES REQUEST
Richardson’s father also told The News this week that Sheriff Lee Baca informed him on Tuesday that the FBI has denied a request to become involved in the investigation.
Family members have been adamant that the FBI must be brought into the investigation—currently under the direction of the LAPD because Richardson is a Los Angeles resident—as it has not addressed numerous inconsistencies in official statements.
Michael Richardson said, “The FBI is the only agency that can investigate all 20 of the inconsistencies and suspicions “[connected with LASD spokesperson] Steve Whitmore, [Lost Hills Sheriff’s] Captain Tom Martin and the officers on duty the night of Mitrice’s disappearance.”
Congressmember Maxine Waters, in whose district the woman resides, had asked the FBI to look into the circumstances of her arrest, as well as the handling of her booking and release from LASD custody.
The father said he now wants “a federal grand jury, where individuals can go to jail for perjury and possibly lose their pensions and careers. Only then, will people start talking.”
LASD CRITICISM
Michael Richardson paraphrased the LASD stance as one of, “Just keep your mouth shut, they don’t have anything. The father is just shooting off at the mouth. We can fix this as long as no one breaks under pressure.”
The missing woman’s father maintains, “People are just hoping I go away, but Sheriff Baca is not going to save these people. They’re going to jail. It’s taking longer because Sheriff Baca would rather put on the show he did Saturday, than have it hit the air waves that his precious deputies did something wrong to Mitrice Richardson.”
The missing woman’s official LAPD description is “African-American with brown hair and hazel eyes. Five-feet-five to five-feet-six inches tall and weighs about 135 pounds.” She was last seen wearing a Bob Marley dark T-shirt and blue jeans.
For more information, see Latice Sutton’s website at www.findmitrice.info, Michael Richardson’s site at www. bringmitricehome.org, or contact Dr. Ronda Hampton at 951-660-8031, or LAPD Homicide Lieut. Charles Knolls or Detective Steven Eguchi at 213-486-6900.

LAPD and LASD Plan Major Field Search This Saturday for Mitrice Richardson

• Joint Forces to Comb Large Expanse in Area Where Woman Went MIssing

BY ANNE SOBLE

The County of Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and the City of Los Angeles Police Department will join forces for a major field search of the greater Lost Hills/Malibu Canyon area on the morning of Saturday, Jan. 9, for the Watts woman who disappeared after being released from the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station on Sept. 17.
LAPD Detective Steven Eguchi told the Malibu Surfside News on Tuesday that representatives of the two agencies met last week to set the date and specifics for the search, which will include county search and rescue crews who took part in the massive effort undertaken two weeks after Mitrice Richardson went missing.
Richardson, who was preparing to begin substitute teaching and doctoral work in clinical psychology, mysteriously vanished after reportedly walking out of the Lost Hills station at 12:25 a.m. on Sept. 17, 40 miles from her home. She was alone, inadequately attired for cold weather, and without money, cell phone or means of transportation.
The 24-year-old had been booked on two misdemeanor counts after being placed under citizen’s arrest the evening of Sept. 16 by personnel at Geoffrey’s restaurant for not paying an $89.51 dinner tab. Her speech and behavior were described as “crazy” by people in the restaurant, but when she was taken to Lost Hills, sheriff’s personnel said she was lucid and they had no cause to detain her.
In November, writings found in the woman’s car, which was impounded at the time of her arrest, were interpreted by health professionals as documentation of up to a week of sleep deprivation and possible signs of serious mental illness.
Representative Maxine Waters, who is the Congress member for Richardson’s district, has asked the FBI to initiate an investigation into her disappearance and the circumstances of her arrest and subsequent handlingof her booking and release from LASD custody.
FBI Director Robert Mueller has not yet replied to Water’s request, so bureau personnel are currently not expected to take part in the upcoming search.
An online justice activist group—Change.org located at www.change.org—has collected 4439 signatures toward a goal of 5000 signatures on a petition urging federal investigation of Richardson’s disappearance.
Richardson is described on the LAPD blog as an “African-American with brown hair and hazel eyes. Five-feet-five to five-feet-six inches tall and weighs about 135 pounds. She was last seen wearing a dark shirt and blue jeans.”
For more information, see www.findmitrice.info or contact Dr. Ronda Hampton at 951-660-8031, or LAPD Detectives Charles Knolls or Steven Eguchi at 213-486-6900.