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

[Salem]

Rest in Peace, Matrice. Prayers for your family.

I am saddened, but greatly angered by Matrice's death. This did not have to happen and should not have happened. She was a beautiful young woman, obviously very bright with a whole future ahead of her. She needed a little help until her family came for her, that's all. Just a little help

Salem

 

[Melanie]

I'm so sad -- I too had hoped for a better outcome. Is it just me, or does anyone else feel there wasn't a proper search. It's been so long, I could be wrong. To think she was just 2 miles from the station truly breaks my heart.

RIP Mitrice. Your death was uncalled for.

MOO

Mel

 

[Recovering-Lurker]

Mitrice's mom called into the Frosty, Heidi and Frank radio show as I was listening online. She said that many people are reporting the story with incorrect facts. She also said that there is no way Mitrice walked to the place she was found. I think if Mitrice was having a psychotic break, she could've easily wandered anywhere, but I hope everything is investigated. I am hoping to get a link to the recorded program.

 

[Solstice Canyon]

Just wanted to say I also had hoped for a different outcome in this case. I didn't actually follow Mitrice's case here at WS, but have followed it in the news and hoped there was validity to the LV sightings. I am sorry the outcome we'd hoped for wasn't to be. I hope that in time, her family will rest a little easier not having that uncertainty hanging over them anymore, although right now, I am sure what stands out is the elimination of further hope to cling onto. My thoughts are with them!

 

[Kat]

Mitrice's mom called into the Frosty, Heidi and Frank radio show as I was listening online. She said that many people are reporting the story with incorrect facts. She also said that there is no way Mitrice walked to the place she was found. I think if Mitrice was having a psychotic break, she could've easily wandered anywhere, but I hope everything is investigated. I am hoping to get a link to the recorded program.

I have the deepest sympathy for Matrice's parents. I think at this time it's quite possible that their grief is coloring their perception of events that have occured over the last two days.

I do not say that in any way other than a loving and understanding way.

JMHO.

 

[Truthful Lies]

Condolences to her family. I'm very sorry to hear this =( It INFURIATES me that they released her without taking her to a hospital to be checked out...they should have treated this as a mental health issue from the BEGINNING. Sorry, just venting.

She shouldn't have been taken to booking until she had been evaluated...she clearly was having a problem. Did they release her just because she passed a sobriety test? I deeply believe the police were grossly negligent and SHOULD be sued so that new guidelines will be passed and this never happens again.

Lawsuits are sometimes the only way to get the offending parties to change their guidelines/rules. When they're hit where it hurts ($), companies/organizations will usually make drastic changes to make sure they're never sued again...and in this case, it will also protect others and probably save lives. So sorry Mitrice is gone...I really hope that it yields big changes in the way the public is treated, though....especially our most vulnerable populations. I think she would have wanted that, from what I've read about her as I've followed this case over the year.

ETA: I hope her parents win and use some of that money to help mentally ill people, or something like that. Perhaps an organization that trains officers what to look for...although I think any reasonable person would have been tipped off that something was wrong with Mitrice if the restaurant reported she was speaking in a "different language". Hello!? Earth to the police officers?!?!?! Sorry. Just...can't believe that every person that came into contact with her didn't raise heck that she was ill and needed medical attention. How do they sleep at night? Shame on them! SHAME!

 

[UCLAEigenguy]

I'm so sad -- I too had hoped for a better outcome. Is it just me, or does anyone else feel there wasn't a proper search. It's been so long, I could be wrong. To think she was just 2 miles from the station truly breaks my heart.

RIP Mitrice. Your death was uncalled for.

MOO

Mel

I agree. She was found 2.5 miles from her last "sighting" which was in the neighborhood. That is how I interpreted that since her encounter with the police was not a mere "sighting" but a "last known whereabouts".

 

[dreamweaver]

I just came online and the news of Mitrice being id'd was the first thing I read and then I came here to WS.

I am sorry it is Mitrice, but yet I am glad it is Mitrice.
I hope her family can be brought some measure of peace.

She seems as if she was a highly intelligent, good person, who
happened to have a mental health issue.

I think we all believe she should never have been let go from the police station, that LE should have been more aware of how she was behaving.

Mitrice, you are gone too soon.
RIP.

 

[summer_breeze]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20013483-504083.html

August 12, 2010 2:02 PM

LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) The skull and bones found near an abandoned marijuana grove in the Santa Monica Mountains near Malibu are the remains of 25-year-old Mitrice Richardson, according to officials.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Rest in Peace Mitrice.

 

[Amster]

How far away were mom or dad that night/early morning?

 

[Recovering-Lurker]

How far away were mom or dad that night/early morning?

Mom did say when she called into the radio show I discussed up thread, but I can't remember exactly how far. It was a ways away. She wanted to fax her debit card info to the restaurant, but they wanted her to drive there IIRC.

 

[fuego]

Rest in peace, Mitrice. I'm glad your family has some answers, as sad as those answers are.

There's something that bothers me here, though (and it's JMO like always). The CNN article (http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/08/12/california.remains.found/index.html) states that Mitrice's body was found while looking for marijuana groves. Apparently, to LE, the war on drugs is more important than finding a missing person, a HUMAN BEING in danger. That upsets me.

 

[LinasK]

I still don't understand the rush to have her declared dead. It is still not even 11 months since she went missing. I hope it was not just done in order to be able to file the lawsuit.

Now the family has every right to file suit, it's no longer premature/done just for money...

 

[KaylynnCouture]

Rest in peace Mitrice. :rose:

My thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends.

 

[branwynbreeze]

Condolences to her family. I'm very sorry to hear this =( It INFURIATES me that they released her without taking her to a hospital to be checked out...they should have treated this as a mental health issue from the BEGINNING. Sorry, just venting.

She shouldn't have been taken to booking until she had been evaluated...she clearly was having a problem. Did they release her just because she passed a sobriety test? I deeply believe the police were grossly negligent and SHOULD be sued so that new guidelines will be passed and this never happens again.

Lawsuits are sometimes the only way to get the offending parties to change their guidelines/rules. When they're hit where it hurts ($), companies/organizations will usually make drastic changes to make sure they're never sued again...and in this case, it will also protect others and probably save lives. So sorry Mitrice is gone...I really hope that it yields big changes in the way the public is treated, though....especially our most vulnerable populations. I think she would have wanted that, from what I've read about her as I've followed this case over the year.

ETA: I hope her parents win and use some of that money to help mentally ill people, or something like that. Perhaps an organization that trains officers what to look for...although I think any reasonable person would have been tipped off that something was wrong with Mitrice if the restaurant reported she was speaking in a "different language". Hello!? Earth to the police officers?!?!?! Sorry. Just...can't believe that every person that came into contact with her didn't raise heck that she was ill and needed medical attention. How do they sleep at night? Shame on them! SHAME!

My cousin was arrested in Malibu about a month ago by their gang/drug unit-long story...... Overall, they were decent to her, held her from about 8pm til 4am before releasing her on OR. Once they said she was going to jail she got wide eyed and asked if she was being taken to same place where that lady disappeared from. When they said yes, she asked if she could have a cigarette before they go-this was also her first arrest-she was kinda scared. They allowed her to have her smoke.

Maybe they were on thier best behavior or maybe they were just being nice to her. She can be very polite when she wants/has to be.

Edit to add RIP Mitrice, I was so hoping you were alive and well in Las Vegas.

Adding one more thing. When they released my cousin she waited for her mom to pick her up and drive her back to her car.

 

[laytonian]

This is such a sad and terrible case. I am so sad for Mitrice's family. What a horrible ending to a nightmare.

I wonder if Malibu PD usually releases people from jail who may be acting oddly. A lot of what happens next will probably be based on their usual policy. But at least on the surface, if appears that they might have some liability here.

That said, I don't think it should come down to a matter of sex, meaning that just because she was a woman she should have been treated differently. Just sounds like the whole policy needs to be overhauled, yet there is never enough space in any sort of hospital or facility where she or others in her situation might be sent. Still-sounds like Malibu screwed up in this case and it resulted in tragedy.

I totally agree.

When Malibu PD released Mel Gibson and Charlie Sheen from custody, THEY DROVE THEM HOME!

 

[UCLAEigenguy]

What is going on with that post? Part is crossed out and then it says 5 miles from Lost Post. But when I try to copy the 5 miles part... it gives me the 20 miles part! Weird.


Okay, so these remains were found 5 miles from the station. Wonderful. Just freaking wonderful. 5 miles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Typed by me: The Times reported the body was discovered more than 20 miles from the station, but a map indicates the area is within about five miles of the Lost Hills outpost.
http://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/spot-news/malibu-body-mitrice/

Jade: Where did you get the approximate location of the body from? It sounded like it was in a more desolate area from the pic of the dirt road.

 

[Jade2010]

Hi UCLA,
The story I linked (above from laweeekly) says "but a map indicates the area is within about five miles of the Lost Hills outpost."

Sorry, the "typed by me" meant that I had to physically type it because for some reason that night it wouldn't let me copy it from that page.

 

[CrymeARiver]

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

 

[Jade2010]

I can't find the link but remember the article where it stated that the man assigned to the investigation said he didn't believe it was Mitrice,,, or something to that effect? Remember? Even though it was just 5 miles from the station she was released from?

I would like to go on record and say how pleased I am that such an intelligent, investigative official was assigned to finding Mitrice. BRILLIANT! With such an intelligent officer assigned to her case I'm surprised she wasn't found earlier!