Mitrice Richardson's Mother Wants Daughter's Remains Further Examined

The mother of Mitrice Richardson, whose remains were found in a Malibu Canyon ravine in August after she went missing 11 months earlier, wants her daughters' remains exhumed and further investigated.

Latice Sutton made the announcement at a Monday morning press conference, where she was joined by forensic anthropologist Clea Koff from the nonprofit Missing Person's Identification Resource Center (www.mpid.org).

"I can tell you right now that Mitrice Richardson has more to say," Koff said. "I can't tell you everything she is going to say, but I can say that further examination will lead us to a place where we have ruled out more scenarios."

Koff said the Los Angeles County Coroner's office missed several things in its examination of the remains. She said Richardson's hair should be compared with hair found near the remote site where the remains were discovered. Also, Koff said her teeth and maggots found on the remains should be examined more thoroughly. 

During a visit to the site where the remains were discovered, Sutton found what Koff believes was Richardson's finger bone. Koff said Richardson's neck has never been found, further indicating that the sheriff's investigation may have been compromised.

Lt. Fred Corral of the coroner's office declined to comment on whether further examination was needed. He said no request is needed to exhume the remains, which the family can do if it so desires.

An official from the coroner's office recently told the Los Angeles Times that the sheriff's department removed the remains before being granted permission, and that this might have compromised the investigation. The sheriff's department later publicly admitted that it had moved the remains prior to receiving permission, but it said this was done because it was getting dark and deputies wanted to prevent animals from destroying the evidence.

At the press conference held at the New Testament Church in Los Angeles, Sutton asked that the FBI get involved in the investigation of her daughter's death.

When contacted by Malibu Patch, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimuller said the bureau has not been presented with any information that would indicate the matter falls within its federal jurisdiction.

Last May, Congresswoman Maxine Waters asked the FBI to investigate whether sheriff's deputies violated Richardson's civil rights by releasing her from the Malibu / Lost Hills station in the early morning hours of Sept. 17, 2009.

Eimuller said that the bureau did consider that request but, based on the information it had at that time, no investigation was opened.

Richardson went missing after leaving the sheriff's station shortly after midnight without a car, wallet or cell phone. She had been arrested when she was unable to pay an $89 bill at Geoffrey's Malibu restaurant. Since that time, Richardson's family members and friends have accused the sheriff's department of mishandling the case.

The sheriff's department is continuing the investigation, spokesman Steve Whitmore said. No cause of death has been determined, although Sheriff Lee Baca said in August that it appears she was not murdered.

Sutton disagrees with that view.

"I am not a scientist, but I am a mother who knew the very essence of her daughter," Sutton said. "And I believe my daughter was murdered. I believe she was sexually assaulted. And my issue—based on what I know, what has just been shared with you—is that there has been no criminal analysis to either prove or disprove my concerns. And it concerns me even more that there appears not to be a motivation to find out what happened to my daughter."

The county's Office of Independent Review released a report prior to discovery of Richardson's remains that the sheriff's department had "acted legally and reasonably" when it took Richardson into custody and later released her. Whitmore said the Office of Independent Review is monitoring the investigation of the death.

He added that the department is supportive of the family, and is willing to do anything that it would like done to determine what happened to Richardson.

Whitmore said, "Until we discover the cause of death, which we may not ever be able to do, this will remain an open investigation.