Remains of Mitrice Richardson Found Near Malibu
Skeletal remains of Mitrice Richardson have been found in Malibu Canyon. Richardson, a California women, disappeared last year. As we reported in June, Latice Sutton, mother of Richardson, filed a wrongful death suit against Los Angeles County and officials at the Sheriff's Department. The lawsuit alleged negligence in the way Richardson was handled by the police following her arrest after she exhibited signs of mental illness. She was allegedly released without a car, phone or purse. She had been arrested for failing to pay her bill at a Malibu restaurant. Staff said she had been acting "crazy."
Mitrice Richardson was arrested on September 16, 2009, for failing to pay her dinner bill at Geoffrey's restaurant in Malibu. The staff said at the time Richardson was acting "crazy." The Sheriff's department disputed that Richardson was acting crazy.
The case was not ruled a homicide, but Sutton sued for wrongful death, stating that she brought the case in her search for answers as to what happened to Mitrice Richardson. Wrongful death is a civil claim for the taking of the life of a person resulting from a willful or negligent act by another person.
Despite finding the body, police maintain that the case is not a murder. "We have no indication of a homicide at this point," Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said Thursday, the Associated Press reports. "I don't believe that the remains are capable of telling us a story."
Michael Richardson, the father, was livid after the police made their announcement. He said that he holds the police responsible for her death. "Why can't I speculate? Maybe the sheriff had something to do with it," Richardson said.
Related Resources:
- Wrongful Death - Overview (FindLaw)
- Wrongful Death FAQ (FindLaw)
- No signs of foul play in Mitrice Richardson's death, authorities say [Updated] (LA Times)
- Monetary Damages in Wrongful Death Cases (provided by Rosen Law Firm, LLC)
- When Personal Injuries Result in Death: Wrongful Death Cases (provided by Clancy Law)