Michael Richardson Not Informed

This Has Got to Stop: More @#$% Ups Courtesy of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department Regarding Mitrice Richardson

by Jasmyne Cannick



So once more Michael Richardson, the father of one Mitrice Richardson was the last to know that coroner’s investigators decided to back out to the Malibu ravine where Mitrice’s body—or shall I say, most of her body was found last year, 11 months after she first went missing. Found was three bone fragments, believed to be from two fingers and a wrist. Nice.

So when I called Michael to see how he was doing, and him not knowing, and me not knowing that he didn’t know, let’s just that was an awkward conversation.

But what I love about Michael is his ride or die attitude, which is very similar to mine.

In no time we were standing in the parking lot of the same sheriff’s station that Mitrice was allegedly last scene leaving from—and it was on.

To say Michael was pissed is an under statement. The man was mad. And let’s face it, he has every right to be. He’s continually disrespected by the sheriff’s department who I suspect just isn’t used to dealing with a Black father who isn’t banging, on drugs, in prison, or just MIA.

I mean who could forget the scene at the sheriff’s headquarters when Mitrice was first found and head sheriff Lee Baca lost his cool with reporters when questioned why Michael hadn’t been notified prior to the press conference. I’m just saying.

More recently he found out secondhand that the federal bureau of investigation decided to pass on his daughter’s case. Nice.

And now this. You have a search and you tell everyone but her father. That’s some bullshit and Black fathers need to unite around this because it’s Michael today and you tomorrow—and that’s real.

It doesn’t matter what the relationship status is between the mother and the father, together, separated, divorced, not speaking, whatever—it doesn’t matter. If the father steps to the plate, as Michael has from day one, he has the right to be kept on the loop. I mean the sheriff’s department does a better job of keeping the media informed than Mitrice’s own father. Now what part of the game is that?

We had a few rough moments today when I thought we might need that bail money stashed away—but Michael pulled through it and said what he needed to say as her father and made it clear, he’s not going anywhere.

Michael Richardson thanks community for help in getting FBI involved in daughter’s death investigation

Photo and Article Found In Inglewood Today - Link Below


http://www.inglewoodtodaynews.com/?p=2440




Michael Richardson thanks community for help in getting FBI involved in daughter’s death investigation
January 10, 2011 9:37 pm


By Staff Report

Michael Richardson and family friend Jasmyne Cannick arrive for a press conference with Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca where Baca declared that the remains found in Malibu Canyon belong to Mitrice Richardson. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca has announced that he supports the further examination of the remains of Mitrice Richardson, the 25-year-old Cal State Fullerton graduate who disappeared in September 2009 after being released from the Lost Hills/Malibu sheriff’s station and was found dead nearly a year later.

Richardson will be exhumed for further examination by the FBI, according to Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca. In addition, clothing found near her skeletal remains and a hair discovered nearby will be examined.

This is welcome news to Michael Richardson, her father, who has been calling for FBI involvement in his daughter’s disappearance since a December 2009 meeting with Baca.

“It’s because of the community that we are finally getting the FBI involved,” Richardson says. “The community, Black newspapers, and KJLH family are responsible for keeping my daughter’s story alive and demanding justice and we are very grateful for their support. Every letter of support and bone sent to Baca during our ‘Bone to Pick’ campaign made a difference.”

“I am responding to the family’s wishes,” Baca said in a phone interview. “But I also think it doesn’t hurt having the FBI say, ‘We’ve examined this and find the following.’ I think the needs of the family should be my first priority.”

Baca said he called Steven Martinez, head of the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, in late December to request the agency’s involvement.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Laura Eimiller, spokeswoman for the FBI in Los Angeles, confirmed that Baca had had discussions with Martinez and had submitted a written request for the agency’s assistance.

The L.A. County coroner has agreed to the exhumation, according to Ed Winter, assistant chief of the coroner’s office, Baca said. The coroner’s report on Richardson’s remains left the cause of death as undetermined.

No date has been set for the exhumation. “We have to coordinate with the FBI about when this is going to happen,” Winter said.

The Sheriff’s Department has been dogged by criticism ever since Richardson disappeared after walking out of the Lost Hills station in Calabasas shortly after midnight Sept. 17, 2009. She had been arrested for not paying a dinner bill at Geoffrey’s restaurant in Malibu. Her car was impounded and in it were her cellphone and purse.

The department, which faces two negligence lawsuits in the matter, was found to have correctly followed policy that early morning.

There will be a fundraiser for the Mitrice Richardson Foundation on Friday, January 14 at 8:30 p.m. at Lucy Florence Coffeehouse hosted by comedian Derrick Ellis (BET’s Comic View, Def Comedy Jam). For more information, please call (323) 867-3347 or log onto bringmitricejustice.org.