CA CA - Mitrice Richardson, 24, Malibu, 17 Sep 2009

[hollyblue]

Again, I bring up the question did they offer her phone and purse when they released her, as they offered her a place to stay for the night? If so, she could have called her mother herself. It's entirely possible she requested that LE not call her parents. I certainly would not want my parents called if I had been arrested and released.

Try calling any jail in the US and asking if they will call you when some one is released. It just isn't going to happen, well, maybe, if you call Sherriff Taylor in Mayberry.

Also, if the mother was so worried why wouldn't she have immeadiately headed there? She knew her daughter would be released in a timely manner.

I agree. Didn't the mother know what had happened at the restaurant? Her 24 yr old daughter was there, by herself, acting totally weirded out, and says she can't pay the bill....and as far as we know, she had no history of being in any kind of trouble before. Now we are told she was bi-polar (I'd like to know if she WAS diagnosed) Sorry, but big red flag was waving in this mother's face. The woman was 24, not a minor and LE had no reason (apparently) to hold her. If the mother knew she had mental problems and was acting strangely, why, WHY didn't she go to her daughter...it was only about a 2 hr drive. Granted I think LE should have given her phone and monies back to her before she was released..definitely, but they are not there to babysit an adult. Didn't the officer who took the call say that Mitrice would be able to call her mother? Did she or was she too scared too? Did she ask to call? I'm not saying LE couldn't have done more in this case, but with the way things are today, you are smart to look out for yourself and family. Curious as to her whereabouts and actions the week prior.
Rest in peace Mitrice, your story DOES need be investigated and told...and I don't think we have the whole story....from both sides. JMO

Side note....but did she have money or a credit card in her car to pay the bill? And how much pot was found in her car?

 

[KR2tonenow]

i can relate to having a family full of le too - but in this case i respectfully disagree. i have always thought that le went WAY overboard in dealing with mitrice. there was no reason imo to impound her car and then let her leave on foot when they knew that the mother was coming in the early a.m. they knew that she was not from around there. they had her belongings like her cell phone and purse... it is not responsible to just turn someone out into the elements and hope for the best. i know that at the county jail where i live they have certain procedures in releasing inmates. if they didnt there would be released criminals crawling all over a rural area that is quite a ways out of the metro area where they were prolly arrested from and live.... just like mitrice was said to be seen sleeping in someones backyard... mitrice was not a dangerous criminal so there wasnt any worry to the public but it is still scary to find strange people sleeping in your back yard... its the responsibility of the pd to make sure that this isnt happening... im still curious as to what happened at the pd with mitrice and if there is any possibility that it has any other links to what happened to mitrice. and also let me say that i am very PRO LE...my whole family is le and they even think that this was mishandled for many different reasons. this was all over an $86 unpaid meal ticket. the whole thing stinks and if it was my family member i can say that i would definitely want to get to the bottom of what happened...:twocents:

Right (BBM). Number 1- Why would LE release MR without her belongings? It doesn't make sense. When MR was spotted in the neighbors backyard, and the man called LE, why didn't LE look for MR? Why was LE looking for MR in Malibu Canyon, and not Monte Nido? Why was everybody looking at Vegas when most murders happen within a 3 mile radius from the 's "home". And...over an $86.00 meal ticket? This is not only outrageous but speaks -wrongful death lawsuit.



A wrongful death lawsuit claims that the victim was killed as a result of negligence (or other type of unjust action) on the part of the person or entity being sued, and that the victim’s survivors are entitled to monetary damages as a result of the improper conduct.

My first theory is that MR was raped...and let loose...and dropped off near Monte Nido. My second is -MR went wandering and came upon a mountain lion.

 

[KR2tonenow]

The sheriff has a habit of releasing female arrestees without regard to their personal safety. Several people called into KFI-AM yesterday and recounted their experiences with the sheriff.

I am glad the community is speaking up. Thanks for your input

 

[rossva]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lan...rdson-offered-chance-to-stay-but-refused.html

But the civilian jailer who processed Richardson at the Malibu-Lost Hills station on the night she was released told The Times on Wednesday that Richardson was offered the opportunity to stay but ultimately refused, saying she planned to "hook up with friends."

"I told her maybe she should wait until morning and have breakfast," Cummings said. "She thought about it and said ‘Maybe I’ll stay.’ "

The jailer left to get some keys. When Cummings returned, Richardson had changed her mind and said she didn't want stay, according to the jailer.

My thoughts - - - > who's to say she wasn't offered her belongings, and left with out them?

And as far as the 'charge"; what should LE have done? Not arrest her? Keep her in jail till she had a court date, or bail hearing and not release her? Give her a ride back to the restaurant? She broke the law, and LE did what they were supposed to do. People get arrested, processed, and released, the time they are released is based on the time they were arrested, and time it takes to be processed. Can you imagine the cilvil liberty outcries if LE started only releasing people at a certain time, say 9 am?

Right (BBM). Number 1- Why would LE release MR without her belongings? It doesn't make sense.

And...over an $86.00 meal ticket? This is not only outrageous but speaks -wrongful death lawsuit.

 

[rossva]

Spend 24 hours outside your local county jail or sheriff's office - you will see people of both sexes get released at all hours of the day and night. It all depends on what time they were arrested, how long processing takes, what time their bail gets paid, etc. I used to work a late night job and had to pass a road that the sheriff's/jail was on, and at least 4 out of 7 nights as I was driving home at 2 am or later, I would pass some one who had just been released hitch-hiking one way or another. The sheriff/jail was in the middle of two towns, the boonies, nothing else around it.

The sex of a person has nothing to do with the timing of their release.

The sheriff has a habit of releasing female arrestees without regard to their personal safety. Several people called into KFI-AM yesterday and recounted their experiences with the sheriff.

 

[OneLove]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lan...rdson-offered-chance-to-stay-but-refused.html

But the civilian jailer who processed Richardson at the Malibu-Lost Hills station on the night she was released told The Times on Wednesday that Richardson was offered the opportunity to stay but ultimately refused, saying she planned to "hook up with friends."

"I told her maybe she should wait until morning and have breakfast," Cummings said. "She thought about it and said ‘Maybe I’ll stay.’ "

The jailer left to get some keys. When Cummings returned, Richardson had changed her mind and said she didn't want stay, according to the jailer.

My thoughts - - - > who's to say she wasn't offered her belongings, and left with out them?

And as far as the 'charge"; what should LE have done? Not arrest her? Keep her in jail till she had a court date, or bail hearing and not release her? Give her a ride back to the restaurant? She broke the law, and LE did what they were supposed to do. People get arrested, processed, and released, the time they are released is based on the time they were arrested, and time it takes to be processed. Can you imagine the cilvil liberty outcries if LE started only releasing people at a certain time, say 9 am?

BBM

Generally speaking, I think this would not even be a matter of discussion had it not been brought up that she was bipolar.

Speaking from experience of a close female family member who IS bipolar, being bipolar does not strip a person of their legal rights. Even when they are not in their "right mind", they have the right to make their own decisions.

We went through this recently when my loved one finally ended up being committed. Right up until checked into the hospital, she was LEGALLY able to do some radically crazy things and NO ONE, not even her psychiatrists, psychologists, other physicians, and her own parents, could persuade or convince her otherwise, and NO ONE had the legal right to infringe on her freedom.

Once hospitalized, medical providers were not even legally allowed to force her to take her medication.

Bipolar, which often is accompanied by Borderline Personality Disorder, is a very very difficult condition for everyone involved.

 

[OneLove]

I would also venture to say that most people in jail have some sort of personality disorder, addiction issue, and/or mental illness.

If we want police officers to also function as psychiatrists and social workers, its gonna cost us ALL a whole lotta money. I don't see that happening.

Its too bad Matrice's bipolar disorder was not under control at the time of this incident. I'd be curious as to whether she was current on her medications, was in regular counseling, accepted her diagnosis, and how involved were her parents in seeing that she was being adequately treated and monitored for her condition.

 

[Kenon]

I know for a fact if my boys were in a town that they didn't frequent 80 miles away. I would have been on my way. No questions asked. Not to mention if they were acting weird and that wasn't like them. She should have known something was wrong when she was told Mitrice was acting weird and ran out on her bill. That should have been the first clue. Jails let everyone out at whatever time they want and that's how it has always been. The impound yard was closed. There is no way she was going to get her car out of impound. They don't make exceptions, and especially for someone who defrauded an inn keeper. Apparently the parents didn't know she had a mental disabilty until this happened and their friend Ronda Hampton brought it up that she knew something was up. She didn't tell the parents until all the s#@$ went down. Weird to me.

 

[OneLove]

Unfortunately, blaming other people when things go wrong is the American way.

Keep in mind that, even without her purse, id, and money, Mitrice could have made a collect phone call to her mother in the immediate vicinity of the station if she had WANTED to. The fella that called 911 could have called her mother, if Mitrice had wanted that. I think she had opportunities to contact someone if she had wanted to.

Mitrice, unfortunately, made her own choices. She may have been impaired by her bipolarness, and it is very very tragic, yes. But she was within her legal rights to make those choices for herself.

I hope we never have to face anything like his with our family member who is bipolar. We have worked very very hard to get her help and keep her in treatment. It is very important with this disorder.

 

[Gozgals]

I am so sad they found her, I was hoping there was a chance the sightings would prove to be her. I know it was a long shot but still was praying.


Rest in Peace Mitrice


Goz

 

[Gypsy Road]

Again, I bring up the question did they offer her phone and purse when they released her, as they offered her a place to stay for the night? If so, she could have called her mother herself. It's entirely possible she requested that LE not call her parents. I certainly would not want my parents called if I had been arrested and released.

Try calling any jail in the US and asking if they will call you when some one is released. It just isn't going to happen, well, maybe, if you call Sherriff Taylor in Mayberry.

Also, if the mother was so worried why wouldn't she have immeadiately headed there? She knew her daughter would be released in a timely manner.

Mitrice's mother lived 80 miles away and also had a young child living at home with her who was already in bed. She was willing to get the child up out of bed and drive the 80 miles to pick Mitrice up from the jail that evening from what I understand. The jail assured her that Mitrice wouldn't be released that evening. Her mother asked several times (you can listen to the call yourself), and each time the person at the jail told her she had nothing to worry about - Mitrice would not be released that evening. Her mother said over and over that she was worried about that - and even said something to the effect to the jailer that Mitrice didn't have her car and that she (the mother) didn't want find out come morning that Mitrice had been released during the night and then found somewhere with her head chopped off. Her mother called first thing in the morning to see what time Mitrice would be released - only to find out that Mitrice had been released into the night without the jail bothering to phone her mother.

I can't speak for why Mitrice left without her belongings, but I'm sure even if the police are at fault for that - they will never admit it. They will blame it on Mitrice herself. No one will probably ever know what the whole truth is about that.

 

[nervous_nellie]

I believe the reason that this happened was due to the fact that when LE searched her car at the restaurant they found marijuana. She could have easily paid the bill. IIRC she had money in her car. So I don't think the reason they impounded her vehicle and took her into custody was the unpaid bill. IMO. That said, I do not know LE procedure regarding the release of prisoners. I think LE, could have...should have done more to protect MR from herself. It seems as though she was a troubled young lady. As another poster has stated this is very similar to Sarah Roger's story. In the middle of a manic episode she began wondering the roads/woods in a snow storm. I feel MR did the same thing in her confused mental state.

RIP Mitrice!

yeah, im aware of them finding a partially smoked joint - or this is what was reported initially.... but WHY were they searching her car, i think they searched and impounded the car simply because they could, not because it was a necessity ? her g-ma offered to pay the bill and the restaurant refused to take the cc# over the phone.
its my opinion that the restaurant and the officers went out of their way to throw the "BOOK" at mitrice. the entire situation (the bill, etc.) was going to be resolved without impounding her car and if they really actually released her then WHY did they not give her her purse and phone? that cannot be standard operating procedure. it just cant be.... in the first days of this case the pd claimed that they had problems with their security cameras and that there would be no video of mitrice being brought in or leaving or anything in between. and also they said that they would not be able to know who she called from the jail because of problems with their phone system.... i find in rather interesting that where mitrice was found is not accessible by road or trail...but le was aware of the location because they were back there looking for pot farms.... and again, im very pro le! my entire family is le from dispatch to detective... and unfortunately because of that i have learned that not all le officers are good le officers... the pd is covering up something. i dont know what , but they couldnt act any more suspicious than they have with mitrice's case. maybe all they are covering for is over-zealous arresting officers.... something is up with the situation surrounding her being released...sending someone out the door at all hours may happen, but if she was truly released then they would have returned her belongings etc.....

 

[Natal]

It may not be their responsibility to call every parent of an adult person they release, BUT the mother had CALLED the jail to inquire if Mitrice would be released. She was very worried. Did you listen to the mother's call to the jail? I think the jailers should have, and had the duty of calling Mitrice's mother after her concerned phone call early in the evening when Mitrice was picked up by LE.

Actually, no. Mitrice is an adult, so the only guidance they would have followed would have been hers. Even if her mother requested that they call her, they would have no right to do that.

 

[nervous_nellie]

Right (BBM). Number 1- Why would LE release MR without her belongings? It doesn't make sense. When MR was spotted in the neighbors backyard, and the man called LE, why didn't LE look for MR? Why was LE looking for MR in Malibu Canyon, and not Monte Nido? Why was everybody looking at Vegas when most murders happen within a 3 mile radius from the 's "home". And...over an $86.00 meal ticket? This is not only outrageous but speaks -wrongful death lawsuit.



A wrongful death lawsuit claims that the victim was killed as a result of negligence (or other type of unjust action) on the part of the person or entity being sued, and that the victim’s survivors are entitled to monetary damages as a result of the improper conduct.

My first theory is that MR was raped...and let loose...and dropped off near Monte Nido. My second is -MR went wandering and came upon a mountain lion.

im thinking along the same lines...something happened at the pd, or shortly after being released by an officer... everything is wrong with this case and the pd's behavior imo proves it....

 

[nervous_nellie]

Actually, no. Mitrice is an adult, so the only guidance they would have followed would have been hers. Even if her mother requested that they call her, they would have no right to do that.

i agree about her being an adult... but if they were decent and actually trying to help this woman they would have. and she was supposed to get a phone call too. but one of my bigger questions is about her being released. i understand that her car was impounded and it costs $$ to get it out. but the pd cant keep her purse and phone. and if they left her valuables in her car in the impound lot then, well im thinking that isnt standard operating procedure either. im sorry to keep repeating myself, something isnt right here....

 

[MandiJayne]

i agree about her being an adult... but if they were decent and actually trying to help this woman they would have. and she was supposed to get a phone call too. but one of my bigger questions is about her being released. i understand that her car was impounded and it costs $$ to get it out. but the pd cant keep her purse and phone. and if they left her valuables in her car in the impound lot then, well im thinking that isnt standard operating procedure either. im sorry to keep repeating myself, something isnt right here....

Above BBM

I don't think it even has to do with being decent, I think it has to do with an obligation that they did not fulfill. They knew she was not intoxicated by alcohol AND had collateral information from her mother that her actions were not typical of her normal affect. Once you realize that this person has an altered state of consciousness it is not just their option, but rather their responsibility, to have her professionally evaluated before they turn her loose in the middle of nowhere with a questionable ability to care for herself. She should have been sent somewhere on a 24-hour hold for mandatory evaluation OR been released to the care of a responsible adult.

There is evidence that there was something mentally wrong with her that night. If there hadn't been, she would not have been in jail to begin with. If there is any question, you err on the safe side.

There was no common courtesy or common sense used in their actions. It was all very callous, cold, and they could have given 2 flips about what happened to her after she walked out that door in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere. Her judgment was severely questionable based on the fact that she would even choose to leave on foot. Poor judgment alone does not make you mentally ill, but taken together with her other actions of the evening, it should have raised even more red flags for them.

I'm VERY pro LE, but I don't think that means that you back them 100% of the time no matter what actions they take. In this case somebody needs to use this as an example to ensure it doesn't happen again, AND somebody needs to be accountable for their actions or lack thereof. It's not okay to say, "I'm not my brother's keeper, so not my problem." LE is paid to be their brother's keeper.

Then just thinking that if she had been Mel Gibson (who IMO is a disgusting, vile excuse for a human who verbally assaulted officers) she would have gotten curb service back to her house makes me sick. :banghead:

Sorry this is so rambling, the whole thing just makes me sick. Defending LE actions in this case to me is like defending the Army in covering up Pat Tillman's death. Just because I support the Army doesn't mean that I believe that all servicemembers are incapable of being crooked.

 

[Gypsy Road]

Actually, no. Mitrice is an adult, so the only guidance they would have followed would have been hers. Even if her mother requested that they call her, they would have no right to do that.

You're correct, they had "no right", but it would have been the decent thing to do.

This is a tough one, and I am not a jailer so I don't know the procedures, but it just seems to me letting a young, attractive woman who was acting strangely out of jail in the middle of the night is a no brainer- especially if she refused her own belongings (if that's what really happened). Who does that? Only someone intoxicated, sick, or out of their mind - someone who doesn't need to be wandering the streets alone. I just wish someone at the jail would have been looking out for Mitrice's well being that night. I know they have their hands full with all types of criminals however.


The whole thing is just unfortunate.

 

[Gypsy Road]

From the L.A. Times...

What went wrong in Mitrice Richardson case?

The Malibu sheriff's station that released the young woman needs a change in culture, a respect for humanity, not just procedures.

read entire article at link:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-banks-20100814,0,7069567.column?page=1

 

[Truthful Lies]

For those that believe police officers have no duty to care for adults...IMO, they certainly DO when that adult is incapacitated - and it was clear from multiple sources that she was. It is akin to seeing an elderly patient suffering from dementia and turning them loose into the world. We, as a society, wouldn't like that, would we?

"Her father wants more than a policy review by the county. Richardson called for a state law named after his daughter to prevent it happening again to someone else.
"I guarantee you the Mitrice Richardson law will say no one -- man, woman or child -- will be released in Malibu for some predator that wears a five-star badge to attack or do whatever they want." he said. Richardson said he was suggesting it might have been the work of "someone in law enforcement."


http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/08/12/california.remains.found/index.html

Just a thought, and this is MOO. Isn't it possible that a cop did this? It wouldn't be the first time, that's for sure. I'm not accusing anyone, but what if? Mitrice is beautiful, it's around shift change, and found not far away. Wow, my imagination may be getting the best of me.

My thoughts and prayers to her family.

RIP Mitrice

The day that Mitrice was found, and when her mother was on JVM, she asked repeatedly WHO the police officer was that left immediately after Mitrice. She asked several times. No one will answer her. That tells me something.

 

[rossva]

Please show where she was been officially diagnosed as "bipolar". Did she or her mother mention this to LE when she was in custody?

BBM

Generally speaking, I think this would not even be a matter of discussion had it not been brought up that she was bipolar.