Mitrice Richardson Found Dead: Missing Woman's Remains I.D.'d Near Malibu, Say Police

By: Edecio Martinez
Topics: Daily Blotter

Mitrice Richardson (Personal Photo)

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.

PICTURES: Desperate Search for Missing Teacher

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca says there is no indication the California woman who went missing nearly a year ago was slain.

The confirmation ends a nearly yearlong search for the Los Angeles area woman that spanned from the Malibu mountains to Las Vegas, where authorities recently said people reported spotting Richardson.

She vanished after she was released early Sept. 17 at a sheriff's substation in Calabasas after failing to pay a restaurant bill in Malibu.

Baca said at a news conference Thursday that detectives will continue investigating Richardson's death but her remains may not offer many clues.

Complete Coverage of Mitrice Richardson on Crimesider

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by acecreations January 26, 2011 5:24 PM EST: WHO MURDERED MITRICE RICHARDSON.... Well here's a few clues... i can assure you, he was an Officer in a supervisory position. This situation was not planned, but this was his opportunity to exploit his authority and to sexually experience a woman of color. This Officer is between the ages of 27 to 35.

The area where this woman was found was an area familiar to this officer because he had been involved in investigations of growing marijuana at this site. Furthermore, you'd have to understand that where she was discovered, is definitely not a place that this woman would have gone on her own.

This woman, being her first time arrested, was told she would be transfered to Central Booking, and she complied with the Supervising officer who was to transport her there. Instead, he raped and then killed her and left her body where it was found.

I can guarantee you without a doubt that someone saw this Supervising officer leave with this young lady but out of fear and loyalty, are afraid to come forward. The Supervising Officer that killed this girl Is not too smart, but is relying on his authority to keep other deputies quiet. Please note: The other deputies did not witness this murder but without a doubt they know that the story given to them by their superior officer didn't add up. THIS OF COURSE IS A COVER UP{{; Reply to this comment


by acecreations January 26, 2011 4:50 PM EST: My deepest sympathy to the family... Another example of "Just is" instead of Justice. I agree with one of the commenters that this NEED to stay in the media. The FBI should not be let off without the answers. Every person that was involved with the booking process of this woman should be intensely interrogated.

Please bare in mind concerned citizens, you don't have to be a genius to know the plight of this young lady. She was definitely killed by law enforcement and had her body not been in a skeletal condition, we may have discovered evidence that she had also been sexually assaulted.

This definitely is a case that can be solved. I know this without a doubt. This is a matter of concerned citizens contacting the FBI and inquiring about this case. Why..... Because if the police can just murder you.... I mean how safe are we really? This wasn't a Mac Donalds, or the 'hood' or Iraq, THIS IS a perverted representation of LAW ENFORCEMENT... And guess what? this could easily happen to someone you love.

I sincerely don't believe that the whole Sheriffs department is guilty of murdering this young lady but they are DEFINITELY guilty of a cover up. Which makes this perverted justice. They of all people should be supplying the answers. And I can guarantee you the know the answers... Another example of the 'Blue Code" at its finest.; Reply to this comment


by moonflower2010 August 16, 2010 2:29 PM EDT: RIP Mitrice.

I listened to the phone calls between Mrs. Richardson and the police. Every time she called it was like pulling teeth to get an answer from the idiots on the phone. Very sad. I hope justice prevails for Mitrice.
How dare they let her go in the middle of the night KNOWING that her mother would gladly come to get her had she known.; Reply to this comment


by Zakaniye August 16, 2010 7:22 AM EDT: This is awful to hear. I was hoping that the family would not get this terrible news but knowing at the same time that anyone of this age that comes up missing in the way that the events took place that it would not be long before the family knew what they probably felt from day one. I hope now that once this investigation is over they can finally get some peace. My heart tells me that someone from the police department had something to do with this. The fact she was not allowed her car, her cell phone or even one phone call to place to her family to come and get her makes this story even more sickening. It goes to show again that half of the men and women that are officers are worse than the so-called criminals that they try to lock away...There is no honor amongst them; Reply to this comment


by Patrony August 15, 2010 11:22 PM EDT: Many in law enforcement tell lies to cover up the wrongs of fellow officers. 38 year old son Craig Prescott was married and had six daughters. He suffered from mental illness and was murdered by eight deputies in the Stanislaus County Jail. The sheriff told lies from the time the incident occurred in order to cover ...up the evil deeds done by the deputies. Although Craig had been a deputy for nearly ten years until he was forced by fellow deputies to resign, he was treated like garbage. He had been beaten severely with batons, held down and prevented from breathing which resulted in severe brain injury and brain death. He was on life support until the hospital and/or sheriff made the decision to remove him. His deliberate death was independent of his family's knowledge. My heart goes out to the families of Mitrice Richardson and Craig Prescott. I pray God will grant both families justice as they renounce all the vicious lies as they continue their search for truth.; Reply to this comment


by debrajenkins444 August 15, 2010 8:36 PM EDT: Law enforcement officers in my county are aware that when someone behaves like this they should be escorted to a psychiatric ward of the local hospital with such a facility for a 36 hour hold. There is a piece missing from this story and it is ripe with negligence and shoddy practices.

Lawsuit.; Reply to this comment


by debrajenkins444 August 15, 2010 8:33 PM EDT: Law enforcement officers in my county are aware that when someone behaves like this they should be escorted to a psychiatric ward of the local hospital with such a facility for a 36 hour hold. There is a piece missing from this story and it is ripe with negligence and shoddy practices.

Lawsuit.; Reply to this comment


by DSTND August 14, 2010 11:28 PM EDT: Like everyone - prayers & prayers out to the family!! (and an extra God bless you dad as you've been seen on the tv shows regarding this horrible situation and I do believe you will see justice.)

However, THE POLICE ARE GUILTY!!!

In some way, shape, form, etc. - There is SOOOO little focus on the cops who brought her in, let her go, and so on. And way too often are there guilty as sin cops who 'get away with murder' (in this case, the cliche is exactly the truth).; Reply to this comment

by LibbyB1963 August 13, 2010 4:12 PM EDT

The family needs to push and keep in contact with the media. Sadly, they may need media pressure on the authorities or it will be swept under a rug.

Something isn't right. They arrest her because she can't pay for her meal...and at the same time impound her car? Since when do you impound a car when someone can't pay for their meal? Then, they release her and keep her car? Why? Also, it was stated she was very emotional. Why would you release her without her car or at the very least, offer to take her to a hospital if she is in an emotional state. Lastly, doesn't seem odd that right after there are claims being made that she might be alive they find her....a year later...in a remote untraveled spot? Something happened to that girl and it is being covered up...very well I might add.

My prayers go to the family for justice.

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by annioh August 14, 2010 10:37 AM EDT: I agree completely.... Nothing about this story squares up. I think the local police are doing a coverup.


by venicementor August 13, 2010 4:10 PM EDT: I have been aware of this tragic situation since day one. I figured they would find her, as the area where she was released is fairly populated. Now that they have found here remains and seeing where they found them, I think there was foul play. Someone was aware of the area, where they found her remains and knew it was remote enough that her remains would not be found for a long time. I challenge anyone to look at the map and terrain and tell me she got to this area on her own. I have been in the canyons late at night and it is pitch black. I used to live in Carbon Canyon and there were nights when up on the trail, no moon, and you could not see you hand in front of your face. Someone picked her up and took advantage of her situation and killed her. There is just no was she could have gotten there by herself, no way!; Reply to this comment