On this day in 2010, the remains of Mitrice Richardson were discovered in Malibu Canyon—nearly a year after she mysteriously vanished.
To her family, friends, and community, she was more than a case file; she was a vibrant 24-year-old daughter, cousin, classmate, and friend whose life ended far too soon, under circumstances that remain unanswered to this day.
Mitrice’s disappearance began on September 16, 2009, when she failed to pay an $89 bill at Geoffrey’s, a Malibu restaurant.
Arrested and taken to the Lost Hills/Malibu Sheriff’s Station, she was released in the early hours of Sept. 17 without her car, purse, or cellphone — miles from home and in the midst of what her loved ones later described as a severe mental health crisis.
She was never seen alive again.
Nearly a year later, in August 2010, hikers came across her skeletal remains.
Though her death was never officially ruled a homicide, her family has long believed she was the victim of foul play and continues to seek justice.
They have criticized the decision to release her in the middle of the night without support, despite her visibly erratic behavior and a likely episode of bipolar disorder.
Today, 15 years later, Los Angeles County has reinstated a $20,000 reward for information about her disappearance. The hope is that someone—anyone—who remembers something will finally step forward, offering the closure that has eluded her loved ones for so long.
For those who knew her, the loss is deeply personal. For those who have heard her story, it remains a haunting reminder of the dangers faced by those navigating mental health crises in the gaps of the justice system.
And for everyone who remembers, the demand for truth and accountability remains steadfast.
