Body of Mitrice Richardson Exhumed

MALIBU, Calif. — The L.A. County coroner’s office has exhumed the remains of Mitrice Richardson at the Inglewood cemetery where she is buried.

Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter says the remains were exhumed Wednesday at her family’s request and would be reburied later in the day.

The 24-year-old Richardson disappeared in September 2009 after being released in the middle of the night from the Lost Hills-Malibu sheriff’s substation.

Eleven months later, partial remains were found in a rugged area of Malibu Creek State Park.

After she was buried, additional remains were found and tested and Winter promised the family all the remains would eventually be buried together.

He says a pathologist hired by the family was allowed to examine the remains.

Richardson’s family is hoping further testing will help determine how the 24-year-old died.

The mystery began on September 16 when the Cal State Fullerton graduate went to Geoffrey’s restaurant in Malibu.

She ordered a drink and a steak dinner.

When the $89 bill came, she said she had no money.

She told restaurant employees that she was from Mars and spoke to them in a made-up language.

Her odd behavior and failure to pay for a steak and a drink prompted restaurant staff to call deputies.

Sheriff’s officials say they also found a small amount of marijuana in her car, and Richardson, who passed a sobriety test, was booked at the sheriff’s station for failing to pay her bill.

She was released about 1:25 a.m. the next morning without her car, purse or cellphone, according to the sheriff’s department.

Both of Richardson’s parents have filed civil negligence lawsuits against authorities.

Her father, Michael Richardson, said his daughter suffered from bipolar disorder and was released far from home with no money, no purse, no cell phone and no car.

Her vehicle had been impounded with the items inside.

Richardson’s mother said she believes her daughter was in a “manic state of mind” because she was sending “erratic” text messages to family and friends the afternoon of Sept. 16.

Source: KTLA