On the 76th day into the disappearance of 24-year-old Cal State Fullerton graduate Mitrice Richardson, please join her family and friends in asking Mitrice’s Congressional Representative California Democrat Congresswoman Maxine Waters to help spearhead the launch of a Federal Investigation in her disappearance.

Why A Federal Investigation?

History has shown that the suspect is usually the last known person to be with the victim. Because the last known people with Mitrice are the law enforcement officers, it is imperative that an outside agency get involved in helping to find Mitrice.

On September 16, 2009, the Malibu Lost Hills Sheriff’s Department detained, arrested, and booked Mitrice for (1) Defrauding an innkeeper 537(a) PC and (2) Possession of marijuana 11357(b) HS. In California, both are citable offenses that usually doesn’t result in an arrest.

According to the police report, the report was taken at 9:50 p.m. or 2150 hours. But on the same report, it shows that the initial call into dispatch was at 9:55 p.m. or 2155 hours. How can the police report be taken before the call to 911 and the dispatch of the officers to the scene? See police report here.

The Malibu Lost Hills Sheriff’s Department claimed they released Mitrice on September 17 at 12:38 a.m.

Initial inquires about why Mitrice Richardson was let go included that the Malibu-Lost Hills jail was overcrowded, but it was later proven that it was nowhere near capacity. Then the story changed to “we let her go because we had no reason to keep her” and in the words of the jailer, “we are not a babysitting service.”

One deputy suggested that she caught the bus. The closest bus line is the Metro 161 servicing Agoura Hills, Malibu, Woodland Hills, and Thousands Oaks. It unfortunately stops running eastbound after 8:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, and westbound at 7:34 p.m. Mitrice was allegedly released at 12:38 a.m.

Mitrice was released without her car, cell phone, or any money.

The last confirmed sighting of Mitrice Richardson is at the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department.

It took 2 weeks for the family ro receive a copy of Mitrice’s arrest report, a report that according the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department is usually available in 24 hours but now has been changed to reflect one week.

When the family did receive the report, it was visible altered and whited out.

The report also had discrepancies. For example, it stated that Mitrice Richardson didn’t have any tattoos. Mitrice has two tattoos, one on her neck and one on her lower abdomen.

The family was told by the sheriff’s department that Mitrice made two calls while in their custody. The family requested those phone records. The family to date hasn’t received those phone records but managed to catch a telephone repairman entering the sheriff’s department shortly after the request was made.

November 11, 2009, Detective Chuck Knolls, one of the lead LAPD detectives assigned to the Mitrice Richardson disappearance calls Mr. Richardson. Why is this significant? It was the first time he ever called Mr. Richardson in the 8 weeks the LAPD has had the case.

For eight weeks, the family repeatedly requested for video showing Mitrice either entering or leaving the sheriff’s department. On November 12, 2009 the sheriff’s department was quoted in the Malibu Surfside news as not having any video of Mitrice.

Sheriff Lee Baca has not met with the family.

The sheriff’s department says that they did the Los Angeles Police Department a favor by even filing the missing persons report and that now the case is the LAPD’s and the sheriff’s department has nothing to do with it because she lives in Watts even though she disappeared from Malibu.

Currently the LAPD’s Robbery and Homicide is the lead investigating agency on the case because Mitrice lived in Watts even though she disappeared in Malibu.

Michael Richardson, father of Mitrice, is repeatedly asked for his DNA by the LAPD “just in case,” to which he continues to respond “haven’t we learned anything from Mark Fuhrman?”

Contacting Representative Maxine Waters

Los Angeles
Congresswoman Maxine Waters
10124 S. Broadway, Suite 1
Los Angeles, CA 90003
Phone: (323) 757-8900
Fax: (323) 757-9506

Washington, DC
Congresswoman Maxine Waters
2344 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2201
Fax: (202) 225-7854

Send Congresswoman Maxine Waters an email

Sample Letter (Email/Fax)

Dear Congresswoman Waters,

Mitrice Richardson, a 24-year-old Cal State Fullerton graduate, has been missing for over 75 days after being arrested and released by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department’s Malibu Lost Hills station on September 16, 2009.

You have always been willing to speak up for the underserved and mistreated. Please help get a Federal Investigation launched into Mitrice’s disappearance.

Mitrice deserves better.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Your Name
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Phone Number

Sample Phone Script

Hi, my name is ____________________and I am calling from__________________. I am calling to ask that Congresswoman Maxine Waters help get a Federal Investigation launched into the disappearance of Mitrice Richardson.

Mitrice is a constituent of Congreswoman Waters who has been missing for over 75 days after being arrested and released by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department’s Malibu Lost Hills station on September 16, 2009.

Congresswoman Waters has always been willing to speak up for the underserved and mistreated and Mitrice deserves better.

Thank you.

*Remember to get the name and title of the person you spoke with.