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Police: Missing California woman spotted in Nevada
Wednesday, July 28, 2010 | 3:55 p.m.
A woman who disappeared last year after being released from a sheriff's substation in Malibu may be living in Nevada, authorities said Wednesday.
Investigators who interviewed witnesses reported "credible sightings" of Mitrice Richardson in the Las Vegas area, according to Los Angeles County sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore.
"You're not in trouble, you're not subject to arrest. We just want to know you're OK," Whitmore said, making law enforcement's plea to Richardson. "Please contact police or a family member."
The 25-year-old woman, who suffers from bipolar disorder, went missing Sept. 16 after being detained briefly when she didn't pay an $89 bill at Geoffrey's restaurant in Malibu. She walked away from the Calabasas substation because her car had been impounded.
Authorities searched the Malibu Canyon area four times without turning up any clues.
Richardson's father, Michael Richardson, said Wednesday that a Sheriff's Department official told him recently that investigators had gathered information on 80 possible sightings of his daughter in Las Vegas. Whitmore would not confirm that number but said, "They wouldn't be going to Las Vegas if they didn't believe the information was credible."
In May, U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters asked the Justice Department to investigate the Sheriff's Department's handling of Richardson, a Cal State Fullerton graduate. Waters said she believed Richardson's civil rights were violated when she was released without a car, cell phone or purse. The Sheriff's Department has said Richardson appeared rational and it believed it had a legal obligation to release her in a timely manner.
Her parents have each brought negligence lawsuits against the sheriff, including a wrongful death suit filed last month by her mother.
Metro Police spokesman Bill Cassell said authorities in Nevada planned a joint news conference with Los Angeles sheriff's investigators at 11 a.m. today in Las Vegas to seek the public's help in locating Richardson.
Michael Richardson told the Los Angeles Times that a sheriff's investigator discussed with him the possibility that his daughter was working as a prostitute in Las Vegas. Richardson said it was possible she is purposely avoiding friends and family or was under the influence of someone keeping her isolated.
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Um, where exactly in the Bill of Rights does it say you're entitled to a car, cellphone, or purse? This is the first time I've ever heard of the police *violating* a person's civil rights by NOT doing anything to them...
The police let her go in the middle of the night, without her car cell phone or purse. They just left her on the street. Her parents should sue!
Um, there is a thing called duty of care.
Why? does everyone want to keep up with her......
Sounds like she's suffering from everyone wanting to run her life for her she may not even have bi-polar problems this just might have been a way to control her life and she got fed up with it and left..
If they are so concerned about her safety then pay the restaurant you owe that to her and why would you keep her car for revenue or to keep tabs on her she is a product of your making.
The authorities claim she maybe in prostitution like she needs to be saved you created this and now you want to appear as her savior.
My bet says that they didn't come here just to see if she is alright they want her to speak up so they can take her back.
Maybe she will mail a letter from New York next week.
I may be wrong, but wouldn't a picture of this person help in locating her?
Was her car impounded because of the restaurant situation or for other reasons?
Please post a photo to go with this missing persons article.
She is apparently rebuffing any of there so called help.
Who knows why she has left but she left for a reason, She may have been sexually abused as a child and it affected her mentally when no one would believe her so they said she is bi-polar to cover up there shame and if she is in prostitution its probably because she was taught these sex acts with a family member, just saying it could happen.
Have you ever seen someone become overbearing to help you with a problem that you may not even have, by just saying we just want to help you!
Most Doctors will tell you that you can't help someone until they hit bottom so just wait.
There may be no bottom, there may be no problem.
They the California police said she is in no trouble or no subject to arrest so why would they spend the tax payers money to come here just to see if she is alright why can't they take Metro's word for it if she calls them and says she is good now go home what then?
Easy, she's either at one of the many strip bars, or working the massage tables.
"She walked away from the Calabasas substation because her car had been impounded."
What proof is there that she left police custody other then the police saying so? She is very good looking, I suggest they take a closer look at the Calabasas police department.
Sue the police because your 25 year old daughter does not want to contact you.
The American way of life.
Hit the jack pot.
Now that she is not dead I guess the payday will have to wait.
Hah, A 25 year old woman commits a crime and goes to jail. Upon release, disappears and racist Maxine Waters want an investigation of racist cops. Parents sue the sheriff. She's spotted by an ex-boyfriend while partying in Vegas, he calls out her name and she runs? Runs from whom? hmmm
To "gotjobs"....
hmmm....is right... figure out who her "financial advisor" is,and then one is on the way to solving whatever crime exists here,..and she looks extremely familiar, I've driven commercially in Las Vegas for 14 years....
Not a good idea to "dine and dash".
Explains why she was detained "briefly".
She is 25, an adult, a college graduate. It is not necessary for the police to call Mommy and Daddy to come and get her. If she was at all afraid for her safety or needed a ride, why sidn't she ask someone at the P.D. I'm sure they would have allowed her a call. Not sure why the car was impounded? Parking violation, overdue registration, unpaid tickets, restaurant had it towed, who knows? Maybe her purse and cell were in the car? It's sad that she's missing and possibly a victim of foul play, but if she hadn't run out on the tab at a (very expensive) restaurant, she wouldn't have found herself in custody.
Maybe Maxine Waters can pay the tab at the restaurant. Waters is one of the most incompetant people ever to serve in congress (the Senate had Al Franken who gives her serious competition).
Remember folks, dine and dash is not an option, It's theft and you may find yourself in custody if you get caught.
Well of course she ran off to Vegas....why not ?
The woman's picture was in an article the Sun posted yesterday but isn't in this article.