Mitrice Richardson
Latice Sutton, her mother (Photo by Derek Haskell)
Michael Richardson, her father (Photo by Derek Haskell)
Skeletal remains found in the Malibu area are believed to be those of Ms. Richardson who has been missing since last September
By Yussuf J. Simmonds
Managing Editor
Jasmyne Cannick,
Contributing Writer
Despite numerous sightings of Mitrice Richardson and look-alikes, nothing definitive has been verified until now… maybe. Sources have told the Sentinel–and other media have reported–that the skeletal remains found in an area, about 2 1/2 miles from the last credible sighting of Richardson, may very well be those of the missing young Black woman.
Latice Sutton, mother of 25 year-old Richardson held a press conference on Tues. evening in front of the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office to plead for authorities to contact Mitrice’s family directly regarding the skeletal remains of a woman found Monday afternoon in Malibu Canyon.
This came after unconfirmed reports started surfacing in the media and on blogs that the women’s clothing also found near the scene, matched the clothing Richardson was last seen wearing before she disappeared.
“I shouldn’t have to hear about my daughter’s case in the news and from the media,” she said filled with emotion and grief over the thought that her daughter could have possibly been identified as the remains found by authorities on Monday.
Michael Richardson, Mitrice’s father, told the media that he believes that his daughter is in Las Vegas and as far he is concerned that’s where all efforts should be focused.
“My daughter is not in there,” said Mr. Richardson speaking in front of the Los Angeles County Coroner’s office. “I saw my daughter in January in Las Vegas along with 80 other people who recently saw her there. That’s where Mitrice is. She’s not the person found in the Malibu Canyon.”
As of Sentinel press time, neither the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department nor the Coroner’s office has made any announcements regarding a positive identification of the skeletal remains.
According to a law enforcement source, the skeletal remains found Monday afternoon in Malibu Canyon are believed to be that of a woman. In addition, women’s clothing was also found near the scene. Nothing further has been confirmed and the source spoke on the condition of anonymity since the investigation is ongoing.
L.A. County sheriff’s officials and the L.A. coroner’s office are trying to determine whether the remains belong to Richardson, who has been missing since September, or one of several people who were reported missing in the area.
It was shortly after midnight last September that she was released from the Malibu/Lost Hills sheriff’s station in Calabasas without her car, which had been impounded, or her cell-phone and her purse, which were in the car. Several months later, police investigators discovered evidence in her diaries that she was probably suffering from severe bipolar disorder.
The coroner promises to do a full forensic autopsy to ascertain the identification of the skeletal remains that were found in Malibu Canyon.
