1 00:00:15,066 --> 00:00:15,506 Speaker 1: Pushkin. 2 00:00:23,036 --> 00:00:28,556 Speaker 2: When Mitrice Richardson disappeared in September 2009, investigators searched her car, 3 00:00:28,956 --> 00:00:31,296 Speaker 2: the one that had been impounded by the sheriff's department 4 00:00:31,596 --> 00:00:35,076 Speaker 2: after she couldn't pay her bill at Joffrey's restaurant. They 5 00:00:35,116 --> 00:00:38,816 Speaker 2: discovered several journals belonging to Mitrice. They were full of 6 00:00:38,866 --> 00:00:42,426 Speaker 2: information about Mitrice's life, and they would ultimately shape the 7 00:00:42,466 --> 00:00:49,186 Speaker 2: investigation into her death. Mitrice's dad, Michael Richardson, shared four 8 00:00:49,206 --> 00:00:52,196 Speaker 2: of the journals with us. He encouraged us to use 9 00:00:52,256 --> 00:00:56,756 Speaker 2: them so his daughter's voice could be heard. My producer 10 00:00:56,796 --> 00:00:59,516 Speaker 2: Haley Fox and I are reporting this season of Lost 11 00:00:59,536 --> 00:01:02,816 Speaker 2: Hills together. We laid the journals out on a table 12 00:01:02,876 --> 00:01:05,556 Speaker 2: in the office and started to scour them for clues 13 00:01:06,126 --> 00:01:09,566 Speaker 2: about who Mitrice was and what became of her. This 14 00:01:09,706 --> 00:01:13,866 Speaker 2: bright young woman, full of promise, whose life went wildly 15 00:01:13,986 --> 00:01:17,986 Speaker 2: off course. The entries have been lightly edited for clarity, 16 00:01:18,186 --> 00:01:19,446 Speaker 2: and they're being read by an actor. 17 00:01:23,206 --> 00:01:29,646 Speaker 3: February 25, 2009. My very first journal. Well, not diary 18 00:01:29,706 --> 00:01:32,776 Speaker 3: or composition book, but my own journal with the intent 19 00:01:32,796 --> 00:01:34,536 Speaker 3: of reflection and bettering myself. 20 00:01:35,556 --> 00:01:40,176 Speaker 2: Mitrice's handwriting is neat and emphatic, full of OMGs and 21 00:01:40,256 --> 00:01:44,276 Speaker 2: smiley faces and exclamation points, which she punctuates with hearts. 22 00:01:45,276 --> 00:01:48,316 Speaker 3: First things first, I want to own my own home. 23 00:01:48,806 --> 00:01:51,406 Speaker 3: I want to do this because it is an awesome 24 00:01:51,446 --> 00:01:54,306 Speaker 3: investment and gives me something to do while I'm preparing 25 00:01:54,366 --> 00:01:58,046 Speaker 3: to go back to school. Because, let's face it, I'm 26 00:01:58,086 --> 00:02:01,066 Speaker 3: the type of girl who enjoys accomplishing everything I set 27 00:02:01,136 --> 00:02:01,676 Speaker 3: out to do. 28 00:02:02,376 --> 00:02:06,056 Speaker 2: Her journal, she writes, is her best friend. She signs 29 00:02:06,096 --> 00:02:08,296 Speaker 2: her entries, Mitrice Richardson. 30 00:02:09,326 --> 00:02:17,236 Speaker 3: I like talking, dancing, telling jokes, debating, eating, analyzing, sunshine, music, 31 00:02:17,816 --> 00:02:27,726 Speaker 3: sports cars, security, people. Don't like when people are wronged, discrimination, divas, racist, laziness, 32 00:02:27,926 --> 00:02:34,566 Speaker 3: cramped space, being monitored, neediness, unmotivated people. 33 00:02:34,586 --> 00:02:37,356 Speaker 2: At 24, Mitrice is brimming with excitement about the world 34 00:02:37,576 --> 00:02:40,716 Speaker 2: and her place in it. She's a recent graduate of 35 00:02:40,776 --> 00:02:44,576 Speaker 2: Cal State Fullerton, where she majored in psychology and discovered 36 00:02:44,616 --> 00:02:48,016 Speaker 2: an important part of her identity. After going out with 37 00:02:48,096 --> 00:02:50,936 Speaker 2: boys in high school, she came out as gay in college, 38 00:02:51,456 --> 00:02:56,056 Speaker 2: dating two women, Desiree Black and Tessa Moon. Like a 39 00:02:56,096 --> 00:02:58,556 Speaker 2: lot of people in their early 20s, she's still figuring 40 00:02:58,606 --> 00:03:01,346 Speaker 2: things out, especially when it comes to her love life. 41 00:03:02,146 --> 00:03:06,846 Speaker 3: Between Des and Tessa, I get one perfect person, but 42 00:03:06,906 --> 00:03:10,076 Speaker 3: I know this will never work. But right now, it's 43 00:03:10,336 --> 00:03:11,616 Speaker 3: too good to let go of. 44 00:03:12,976 --> 00:03:15,936 Speaker 2: She's an executive assistant at a freight company owned by 45 00:03:15,996 --> 00:03:20,116 Speaker 2: Tessa's family. And she's also dabbling in other fields. She's 46 00:03:20,236 --> 00:03:23,806 Speaker 2: trying to get into modeling and substitute teaching. She's taking 47 00:03:23,846 --> 00:03:26,726 Speaker 2: motorcycle lessons and go-go dancing at gay bars. 48 00:03:28,086 --> 00:03:31,326 Speaker 3: Man, have I been busy, busy, busy. Okay, so first 49 00:03:31,346 --> 00:03:33,926 Speaker 3: things first. I don't think I mentioned it, but I 50 00:03:33,966 --> 00:03:36,716 Speaker 3: had an audition for a go-go position, and yay, I 51 00:03:37,036 --> 00:03:40,366 Speaker 3: got it. I even saw a few cuties, which made 52 00:03:40,426 --> 00:03:41,366 Speaker 3: me want to dance. 53 00:03:41,546 --> 00:03:42,386 Speaker 1: Woohoo! 54 00:03:42,566 --> 00:03:48,306 Speaker 3: So I go back again tonight. Okay, new topic. I've 55 00:03:48,346 --> 00:03:54,156 Speaker 3: been taking motorcycle classes. It's actually really hard, LMAO. Yeah, 56 00:03:54,216 --> 00:04:01,086 Speaker 3: so I'm still pretty dangerous. Go-go wardrobe ideas. Small feathers 57 00:04:01,266 --> 00:04:03,026 Speaker 3: outline under boob wiring. 58 00:04:03,546 --> 00:04:04,046 Speaker 2: Use red. 59 00:04:04,886 --> 00:04:10,206 Speaker 3: Strings for sides, many colors. Tie rag around boot. Furry 60 00:04:10,246 --> 00:04:12,646 Speaker 3: red sock slash strappy heels. 61 00:04:16,706 --> 00:04:19,986 Speaker 2: But she's getting ready to realize an ambitious dream. 62 00:04:21,006 --> 00:04:23,906 Speaker 3: Today I'll just be reading and doing research on both 63 00:04:23,986 --> 00:04:26,686 Speaker 3: finding a home plan to start saving for and to 64 00:04:26,746 --> 00:04:28,166 Speaker 3: start preparing for grad school. 65 00:04:28,806 --> 00:04:30,176 Speaker 2: She wants to be a therapist. 66 00:04:30,936 --> 00:04:35,026 Speaker 3: I want to be the gay and lesbian guru. 67 00:04:35,026 --> 00:04:38,326 Speaker 2: 2009, she writes, is going to be a transformative year 68 00:04:38,366 --> 00:04:38,686 Speaker 2: for her. 69 00:04:39,126 --> 00:04:42,366 Speaker 3: So here's to me and my progression forward. I refuse 70 00:04:42,386 --> 00:04:44,326 Speaker 3: to let this year go to waste. And the new 71 00:04:44,366 --> 00:04:46,766 Speaker 3: motto is, 09 is mine. 72 00:04:47,586 --> 00:04:50,586 Speaker 2: She's shedding an old identity, one that served her for 73 00:04:50,666 --> 00:04:56,046 Speaker 2: many years. The identity of the beautiful, perfectly composed, perfectly 74 00:04:56,086 --> 00:05:02,606 Speaker 2: presentable young lady. The beauty pageant contestant. The pleaser. That's 75 00:05:02,706 --> 00:05:08,246 Speaker 2: falling away. And in its place, someone new is being born. 76 00:05:09,786 --> 00:05:11,706 Speaker 3: I think the Lord has blessed me with a good 77 00:05:11,746 --> 00:05:14,506 Speaker 3: head on my shoulders and a love for friendly debates. 78 00:05:14,826 --> 00:05:18,636 Speaker 3: I've always loved a challenge. Well, if I'm going to 79 00:05:18,676 --> 00:05:21,996 Speaker 3: start my career as a great gay therapist, I better 80 00:05:22,036 --> 00:05:26,786 Speaker 3: get used to people being disgusted by me. So watch out, people. 81 00:05:27,286 --> 00:05:30,666 Speaker 3: I'm about to make a name for myself. Let's go. 82 00:05:31,746 --> 00:05:36,516 Speaker 2: The real Maitrese is emerging. She's done being a beauty queen. 83 00:05:37,196 --> 00:05:46,096 Speaker 2: She's ready to be a voice. I'm Dana Goodyear, and 84 00:05:46,156 --> 00:05:47,656 Speaker 2: this is Lost Hills. 85 00:05:47,676 --> 00:05:52,306 Speaker 4: Lost Hills. 86 00:06:13,796 --> 00:06:24,536 Speaker 2: Episode 2, My Light. Picture Mitrice. She's vivacious and charismatic, 87 00:06:24,936 --> 00:06:28,696 Speaker 2: with almond-shaped eyes and a dazzling smile. A person you 88 00:06:28,716 --> 00:06:31,416 Speaker 2: can't help but notice. She makes sure of it. 89 00:06:32,496 --> 00:06:34,876 Speaker 5: Well, she was a bit of a show-off. It started 90 00:06:35,846 --> 00:06:38,966 Speaker 5: early on. Like, I remember she was in this private 91 00:06:39,106 --> 00:06:42,756 Speaker 5: daycare when she was three. And, you know, she just 92 00:06:42,796 --> 00:06:46,756 Speaker 5: did her part. And Mitrice is just like, this is me. 93 00:06:46,816 --> 00:06:49,916 Speaker 5: This is the light. Even at three years old. 94 00:06:51,076 --> 00:06:52,396 Speaker 2: This is Mitrice's dad. 95 00:06:53,056 --> 00:06:57,196 Speaker 5: My name is Michael L. Richardson. I'm the proud father 96 00:06:57,296 --> 00:07:02,156 Speaker 5: of Mitrice Richardson. One of my favorite pictures of her 97 00:07:02,556 --> 00:07:07,376 Speaker 5: is a picture of her in her cheerleading uniform. It's 98 00:07:07,476 --> 00:07:12,046 Speaker 5: called a Roman kick that she taught me. And it's 99 00:07:12,146 --> 00:07:15,126 Speaker 5: when you're standing straight up like this, and you just 100 00:07:15,286 --> 00:07:17,996 Speaker 5: jump straight up and kick both legs out, and your 101 00:07:18,056 --> 00:07:21,616 Speaker 5: fingers touch your toes. And, you know, her mom caught 102 00:07:21,636 --> 00:07:23,996 Speaker 5: that picture, and it looked like her legs was just 103 00:07:24,036 --> 00:07:26,256 Speaker 5: straight out like this. My favorite picture. 104 00:07:27,556 --> 00:07:30,896 Speaker 2: Michael is tall and heavyset, with sparkling eyes and a 105 00:07:30,936 --> 00:07:34,656 Speaker 2: boisterous laugh. He works in private security and owns a 106 00:07:34,676 --> 00:07:38,866 Speaker 2: pair of poodles named Delta and Bentley. On sunny days, 107 00:07:38,926 --> 00:07:41,766 Speaker 2: he likes to drive around L.A. in a 66 Chevy. 108 00:07:42,926 --> 00:07:45,386 Speaker 5: It looks like what they refer to as a lowrider. 109 00:07:45,826 --> 00:07:49,166 Speaker 5: It's pearl white. When the sun hits it, it sparkles. 110 00:07:50,226 --> 00:07:53,246 Speaker 5: It has a mega sound system in it because she 111 00:07:53,386 --> 00:07:53,556 Speaker 5: and I. 112 00:07:53,806 --> 00:07:56,566 Speaker 2: On the trunk, there's a portrait of Mitrice in a 113 00:07:56,626 --> 00:07:59,026 Speaker 2: white gown and tiara with angel wings. 114 00:08:00,286 --> 00:08:04,686 Speaker 5: She was in a pageant once and she had this 115 00:08:04,786 --> 00:08:08,836 Speaker 5: tiara on and We took that and put it on 116 00:08:08,856 --> 00:08:12,396 Speaker 5: the back of the car, and above it, it has 117 00:08:12,436 --> 00:08:17,056 Speaker 5: the words, Still Riding With My Daddy. It's pretty crazy 118 00:08:17,136 --> 00:08:20,996 Speaker 5: because every time I drive it, you will look over 119 00:08:21,106 --> 00:08:23,646 Speaker 5: at me and just see me with tears in my eyes, 120 00:08:23,726 --> 00:08:29,826 Speaker 5: just bawling, you know. But I'm just steady cruising, you know. So, yeah, 121 00:08:30,726 --> 00:08:32,446 Speaker 5: it's very sentimental to me. 122 00:08:33,486 --> 00:08:37,676 Speaker 2: Michael and Mitrice's mother, Latisse Sutton, were high school sweethearts. 123 00:08:38,416 --> 00:08:42,366 Speaker 5: We had Mitrice very young. I think we were 17 124 00:08:42,366 --> 00:08:46,226 Speaker 5: when her mother became pregnant, and we finished high school. 125 00:08:46,246 --> 00:08:50,466 Speaker 5: Mitrice was born in our senior year, and just always 126 00:08:50,526 --> 00:08:51,266 Speaker 5: a good kid. 127 00:08:53,626 --> 00:08:57,216 Speaker 2: At the time, Latice lived with her grandmother, Mildred Harris, 128 00:08:57,476 --> 00:08:59,856 Speaker 2: in Willowbrook, a neighborhood in South L.A. 129 00:09:00,876 --> 00:09:08,186 Speaker 5: Her mother, Latice, was in debutante things in sophistication, and Ms. 130 00:09:08,246 --> 00:09:11,266 Speaker 5: Harris was just very regal, just very regal. 131 00:09:12,226 --> 00:09:14,946 Speaker 2: When Matrice was about four years old, Michael went to 132 00:09:14,986 --> 00:09:18,486 Speaker 2: prison for five years. He and Latice split up, and 133 00:09:18,526 --> 00:09:20,666 Speaker 2: she married a man named Larry Sutton. 134 00:09:21,486 --> 00:09:26,226 Speaker 5: Matrice's stepfather, Larry, came into the life, and he was 135 00:09:26,266 --> 00:09:28,866 Speaker 5: an executive for Southern California Edison. 136 00:09:29,666 --> 00:09:32,996 Speaker 2: Latice and Larry moved Matrice out of the city to 137 00:09:33,016 --> 00:09:35,476 Speaker 2: the more affluent community of West Covina. 138 00:09:36,646 --> 00:09:38,966 Speaker 5: And I remember when I came to visit them, I 139 00:09:39,006 --> 00:09:42,426 Speaker 5: looked like, wow, man, talk about the real-life Jeffersons here. 140 00:09:42,826 --> 00:09:44,126 Speaker 5: You know, they moved on up. 141 00:09:46,356 --> 00:09:49,476 Speaker 2: And it was there, in the comfortable suburbs, that Mitrice 142 00:09:49,536 --> 00:09:49,876 Speaker 2: grew up. 143 00:09:51,116 --> 00:09:53,016 Speaker 4: I remember the very first day of school, there was 144 00:09:53,036 --> 00:09:55,796 Speaker 4: this loud, beautiful Black girl that was like, hey, you're 145 00:09:55,816 --> 00:09:57,756 Speaker 4: the new Black girl in school, let's be friends. And 146 00:09:57,796 --> 00:09:58,536 Speaker 4: that was Mitrice. 147 00:09:59,416 --> 00:10:03,476 Speaker 2: This is Jewel Moore. She was one of Mitrice's closest friends, 148 00:10:03,936 --> 00:10:05,296 Speaker 2: starting in the eighth grade. 149 00:10:06,096 --> 00:10:08,176 Speaker 4: And from that day forward, we kind of bonded and 150 00:10:08,216 --> 00:10:12,996 Speaker 4: clicked and maintained a friendship. She enjoyed dance. I enjoyed dance. 151 00:10:13,036 --> 00:10:15,366 Speaker 4: That was a passion that we shared together. We auditioned 152 00:10:15,386 --> 00:10:18,346 Speaker 4: to be cheerleaders in high school together and then even 153 00:10:18,386 --> 00:10:20,326 Speaker 4: took dance classes together in college. 154 00:10:20,966 --> 00:10:23,506 Speaker 2: Mitrice was popular with good reason. 155 00:10:24,356 --> 00:10:28,196 Speaker 4: In junior high school and high school, Matrice is a firecracker. 156 00:10:28,236 --> 00:10:31,916 Speaker 4: She was always, like, very vivacious. When she walked into 157 00:10:31,976 --> 00:10:34,486 Speaker 4: a room, she lit it up. I mean, she would 158 00:10:34,516 --> 00:10:37,786 Speaker 4: walk in and not knowing everybody and then leave knowing everybody. 159 00:10:38,526 --> 00:10:41,366 Speaker 2: But there were high expectations riding on her, too. 160 00:10:42,406 --> 00:10:47,446 Speaker 4: Her mom was very, very, very, very stickler about, like, education. 161 00:10:47,466 --> 00:10:50,566 Speaker 4: Matrice pushed, like, If you're going to do this, like, 162 00:10:50,586 --> 00:10:52,806 Speaker 4: you got to be the best. So she always wanted 163 00:10:52,886 --> 00:10:56,086 Speaker 4: to be the best in everything that she did. So 164 00:10:56,266 --> 00:11:00,226 Speaker 4: even in the relationship with her mom, it's being the 165 00:11:00,326 --> 00:11:04,616 Speaker 4: best child I can be with also being Mitrice, which was, 166 00:11:04,656 --> 00:11:06,836 Speaker 4: you know, her own person. 167 00:11:08,076 --> 00:11:10,976 Speaker 2: Once in a while, Mitrice would slip up and get 168 00:11:11,016 --> 00:11:11,396 Speaker 2: in trouble. 169 00:11:12,656 --> 00:11:15,016 Speaker 4: So here's, like, a fun Mitrice story. She would get 170 00:11:15,056 --> 00:11:16,776 Speaker 4: in trouble, and so her mom would make her wear 171 00:11:16,796 --> 00:11:19,426 Speaker 4: a uniform to school, although our school wasn't uniformed. 172 00:11:19,786 --> 00:11:21,726 Speaker 1: So she would be like the. 173 00:11:21,766 --> 00:11:25,146 Speaker 4: Only girl at school in a uniform. I mean, this 174 00:11:25,386 --> 00:11:28,836 Speaker 4: is back in like the 2000s, like late 90s, where 175 00:11:29,016 --> 00:11:32,316 Speaker 4: fashion was important. So she's wearing these long plaid skirts 176 00:11:32,336 --> 00:11:35,916 Speaker 4: with like high socks and ugly sweatshirts and like collared 177 00:11:35,956 --> 00:11:39,186 Speaker 4: shirts in a school where, you know, everybody is trying 178 00:11:39,206 --> 00:11:39,806 Speaker 4: to figure. 179 00:11:39,586 --> 00:11:40,386 Speaker 1: Out the next like. 180 00:11:41,426 --> 00:11:44,146 Speaker 4: Track suit or, you know, like, so that was her. 181 00:11:44,226 --> 00:11:49,406 Speaker 4: She did what she wanted to do and suffered the consequences. 182 00:11:51,846 --> 00:11:53,686 Speaker 2: Growing up, Matrice was sheltered. 183 00:11:54,226 --> 00:11:58,046 Speaker 4: She wasn't the street savvy kid. I mean, she was 184 00:11:58,126 --> 00:12:01,216 Speaker 4: afraid of the dark, even as an adult. Latice was like, 185 00:12:01,286 --> 00:12:03,236 Speaker 4: I drive you everywhere. I need to know where you go. 186 00:12:03,936 --> 00:12:07,116 Speaker 4: They were very strict about where she drove when she 187 00:12:07,156 --> 00:12:11,476 Speaker 4: got her license. Like, Matrice did not take public transportation, 188 00:12:11,556 --> 00:12:14,096 Speaker 4: wouldn't know how to if her life depended on it. 189 00:12:14,776 --> 00:12:18,056 Speaker 2: Michael was protective, too, in his own way. At one 190 00:12:18,096 --> 00:12:21,196 Speaker 2: of the many proms Mitrice went to, he did something 191 00:12:21,236 --> 00:12:23,676 Speaker 2: that became legendary among her friends. 192 00:12:24,396 --> 00:12:27,426 Speaker 4: My favorite prom story, which I tell Michael all the time, 193 00:12:27,526 --> 00:12:31,646 Speaker 4: is Michael drove us to our prom. and threatened our 194 00:12:31,686 --> 00:12:34,146 Speaker 4: principal and told us, like, none of us better come 195 00:12:34,186 --> 00:12:37,746 Speaker 4: back pregnant. And our principal was terrified because if you've 196 00:12:37,786 --> 00:12:40,696 Speaker 4: seen Michael, you do not want him coming to you 197 00:12:40,756 --> 00:12:47,456 Speaker 4: threatening him about your daughter. So that's, like, my favorite 198 00:12:47,496 --> 00:12:48,836 Speaker 4: prom story. 199 00:12:50,076 --> 00:12:53,676 Speaker 2: Jewel says, from the time they were kids, Mitrice's favorite 200 00:12:53,736 --> 00:12:55,216 Speaker 2: flower was the sunflower. 201 00:12:56,516 --> 00:12:59,456 Speaker 4: She just really loved them because they're just beautiful and, 202 00:12:59,476 --> 00:13:01,836 Speaker 4: you know, like they're different from all the other flowers 203 00:13:01,876 --> 00:13:05,296 Speaker 4: and where they grow and their representation of, you know, 204 00:13:05,336 --> 00:13:08,986 Speaker 4: growing towards the light and how tall they can grow 205 00:13:09,046 --> 00:13:10,206 Speaker 4: and what they can grow into. 206 00:13:11,386 --> 00:13:16,506 Speaker 2: That was my trees. Beautiful, original, and growing towards the light. 207 00:13:18,026 --> 00:13:39,316 Speaker 2: Until suddenly, she changed. On June 26, 2009, Mitrice wrote 208 00:13:39,336 --> 00:13:42,956 Speaker 2: a heartbroken journal entry about the death of Michael Jackson. 209 00:13:45,756 --> 00:13:49,046 Speaker 3: I'm writing today because yesterday a great man passed away. 210 00:13:49,626 --> 00:13:53,406 Speaker 3: Michael Jackson. I wish it were a lie. Can't believe 211 00:13:53,466 --> 00:13:58,146 Speaker 3: I'm crying. I loved him. I know I did. This 212 00:13:58,266 --> 00:14:03,126 Speaker 3: pain I feel is real. I love you. Your fans 213 00:14:03,146 --> 00:14:05,976 Speaker 3: slash inspired. Matrice Richardson. 214 00:14:07,396 --> 00:14:08,696 Speaker 1: She was devastated. 215 00:14:09,336 --> 00:14:11,476 Speaker 2: She felt like she was one of the few people 216 00:14:11,576 --> 00:14:14,816 Speaker 2: who truly understood him. And it sent her into a 217 00:14:14,936 --> 00:14:16,456 Speaker 2: funk she couldn't shake. 218 00:14:17,826 --> 00:14:21,106 Speaker 3: Okay, it's been a long time, I know. But it's 219 00:14:21,116 --> 00:14:24,526 Speaker 3: because I've been feeling kind of worthless. You know how 220 00:14:24,606 --> 00:14:26,826 Speaker 3: I made all these plans to get a new job 221 00:14:26,886 --> 00:14:30,746 Speaker 3: and yaddy yaddy boo boo? I finally realized I barely 222 00:14:30,786 --> 00:14:33,566 Speaker 3: do my jobs as it is now. And I love 223 00:14:33,606 --> 00:14:34,166 Speaker 3: my jobs. 224 00:14:35,416 --> 00:14:38,676 Speaker 2: It was right around then, in July 2009, that she 225 00:14:38,716 --> 00:14:42,056 Speaker 2: met and fell in love with a woman named Hannah Parks. 226 00:14:43,156 --> 00:14:46,266 Speaker 2: Matrice was performing at Deborah's, a ladies' night at a 227 00:14:46,276 --> 00:14:51,706 Speaker 2: gay club in Long Beach. In walked Hannah, skinny, blonde, 228 00:14:51,926 --> 00:14:55,286 Speaker 2: covered in tattoos, and wearing sunglasses inside. 229 00:14:55,306 --> 00:14:59,826 Speaker 3: I found God and then I saw you. I saw 230 00:14:59,886 --> 00:15:02,616 Speaker 3: you through the darkness of the club. You saw me 231 00:15:02,656 --> 00:15:05,016 Speaker 3: through the shades of your glasses, and we never really 232 00:15:05,086 --> 00:15:07,646 Speaker 3: saw one another's appearance until the light. 233 00:15:11,186 --> 00:15:14,726 Speaker 2: Hannah Parks is wary of attention. She was questioned by 234 00:15:14,786 --> 00:15:19,196 Speaker 2: police about Mitrice's disappearance, and Mitrice's family was pretty hostile 235 00:15:19,236 --> 00:15:22,596 Speaker 2: toward her. We could tell from the journals that she 236 00:15:22,636 --> 00:15:25,116 Speaker 2: and Mitrice were spending a lot of time together in 237 00:15:25,136 --> 00:15:28,666 Speaker 2: the weeks before Mitrice went missing. and we knew from 238 00:15:28,746 --> 00:15:32,116 Speaker 2: law enforcement documents that Mitrice had told the valet at 239 00:15:32,156 --> 00:15:36,516 Speaker 2: Joffrey's she was there to meet Hannah. Haley and I 240 00:15:36,576 --> 00:15:40,056 Speaker 2: tried calling and emailing, but didn't get anywhere. We ended 241 00:15:40,116 --> 00:15:42,476 Speaker 2: up driving down to Orange County to an address where 242 00:15:42,516 --> 00:15:44,596 Speaker 2: we thought she lived and leaving a note on a 243 00:15:44,616 --> 00:15:47,656 Speaker 2: car we thought belonged to her. A few days later, 244 00:15:47,736 --> 00:15:50,726 Speaker 2: she invited us over. Her wife, Kelsey, answered the door. 245 00:15:51,686 --> 00:15:55,556 Speaker 4: Hannah was and is a serious Christian. But back in 246 00:15:55,576 --> 00:15:58,216 Speaker 4: the summer of 2009, she was taking a little hiatus 247 00:15:58,236 --> 00:15:59,016 Speaker 4: from piety. 248 00:16:15,536 --> 00:16:18,756 Speaker 1: So I, at the time, was going to a private 249 00:16:18,796 --> 00:16:21,716 Speaker 1: Christian university, but it was during the summer. So I 250 00:16:22,466 --> 00:16:25,726 Speaker 1: was kind of wilding out a little bit. And a 251 00:16:25,766 --> 00:16:29,326 Speaker 1: couple friends and I went to a club in Long 252 00:16:29,366 --> 00:16:35,836 Speaker 1: Beach called Deborah's, I believe. And that evening, my trees 253 00:16:35,896 --> 00:16:40,476 Speaker 1: was there like go-go dancing. And I spotted her. 254 00:16:41,746 --> 00:16:45,166 Speaker 2: Matrice was on stage dancing behind a partition while people 255 00:16:45,206 --> 00:16:46,066 Speaker 2: threw money at her. 256 00:16:46,946 --> 00:16:51,006 Speaker 1: She wasn't wearing much. A lot of girls that would 257 00:16:51,026 --> 00:16:54,756 Speaker 1: do like go-go dancing weren't that talented really at dancing, 258 00:16:54,816 --> 00:16:57,876 Speaker 1: but she was a really good dancer. And I don't know, 259 00:16:57,896 --> 00:17:00,816 Speaker 1: she just had this energy about her that made me intrigued. 260 00:17:02,196 --> 00:17:05,356 Speaker 2: Part of what intrigued Hannah was that Matrice was staring 261 00:17:05,576 --> 00:17:09,206 Speaker 2: straight at her while she danced. After the show, they 262 00:17:09,226 --> 00:17:13,486 Speaker 2: started talking. And then they started hanging out. And she 263 00:17:13,546 --> 00:17:17,726 Speaker 2: had a nickname for you, which was PD or private dancer. 264 00:17:17,786 --> 00:17:18,266 Speaker 2: Is that right? 265 00:17:18,446 --> 00:17:19,486 Speaker 4: Oh my gosh. 266 00:17:21,946 --> 00:17:30,476 Speaker 1: That's so funny. I forgot about that. Yeah. So my 267 00:17:30,556 --> 00:17:35,396 Speaker 1: trees would do like private dances for me and asked 268 00:17:35,436 --> 00:17:38,936 Speaker 1: me to dance for her. And so that was something 269 00:17:38,976 --> 00:17:42,856 Speaker 1: we did. I totally forgot about that. 270 00:17:44,176 --> 00:17:47,296 Speaker 2: They had a physical attraction, but there was more to it. 271 00:17:48,256 --> 00:17:51,296 Speaker 1: Once we started talking, I think we just had a 272 00:17:51,406 --> 00:18:00,686 Speaker 1: lot in common. She was very eager to grow, like mentally, emotionally, spiritually, 273 00:18:00,786 --> 00:18:01,366 Speaker 1: for sure. 274 00:18:02,766 --> 00:18:07,246 Speaker 2: Matrice was filling up journal after journal, and Hannah, she 275 00:18:07,266 --> 00:18:07,956 Speaker 2: was a writer too. 276 00:18:09,746 --> 00:18:16,116 Speaker 1: At that time, I was really into writing, poetry, spoken word, 277 00:18:16,456 --> 00:18:19,756 Speaker 1: that sort of thing. So it was definitely, we had 278 00:18:19,796 --> 00:18:22,376 Speaker 1: a strong mental connection as well. 279 00:18:23,996 --> 00:18:27,816 Speaker 2: Maitrese wanted to read every book Hannah mentioned, listen to 280 00:18:27,956 --> 00:18:30,736 Speaker 2: every band, dissect every song. 281 00:18:31,496 --> 00:18:34,606 Speaker 1: And so when I would share certain artists with her, 282 00:18:34,886 --> 00:18:39,166 Speaker 1: or we would literally listen to a song or we 283 00:18:39,206 --> 00:18:43,226 Speaker 1: would listen to a poetic artist or something like that 284 00:18:43,486 --> 00:18:47,526 Speaker 1: and we could sit and talk about it one song 285 00:18:47,646 --> 00:18:52,456 Speaker 1: or one poem for over an hour and just really 286 00:18:52,536 --> 00:18:54,636 Speaker 1: dive into it and what do you think about this. 287 00:18:55,416 --> 00:18:58,456 Speaker 2: With hannah my tree seemed to feel permission to stop 288 00:18:58,556 --> 00:19:02,776 Speaker 2: performing to stop being so perfect she was tuning into 289 00:19:02,816 --> 00:19:07,696 Speaker 2: a more soulful frequency one of hannah's tattoos read look 290 00:19:07,796 --> 00:19:11,786 Speaker 2: deeper My Trace loved that. She wanted to do that. 291 00:19:14,086 --> 00:19:18,286 Speaker 1: I think what was happening is as she was sort 292 00:19:18,326 --> 00:19:23,576 Speaker 1: of growing into herself, because she was in her, what, mid-twenties, 293 00:19:24,776 --> 00:19:29,536 Speaker 1: I don't think that it was enough substantially for her 294 00:19:30,476 --> 00:19:34,916 Speaker 1: to simply define herself as this beauty pageant, this is 295 00:19:34,996 --> 00:19:40,056 Speaker 1: what matters type of woman. And although she was very beautiful, 296 00:19:40,796 --> 00:19:44,096 Speaker 1: she was beautiful without the pageants. She was beautiful without 297 00:19:44,176 --> 00:19:49,626 Speaker 1: all the makeup and she was beautiful beyond physical. And 298 00:19:49,706 --> 00:19:53,686 Speaker 1: so I think for her, she was sort of looking 299 00:19:53,786 --> 00:20:00,196 Speaker 1: for something she could connect with herself and with others 300 00:20:00,376 --> 00:20:01,896 Speaker 1: beyond that physical. 301 00:20:03,096 --> 00:20:05,836 Speaker 2: Part of that was she wasn't going to stress so 302 00:20:05,886 --> 00:20:07,336 Speaker 2: much over her appearance anymore. 303 00:20:09,046 --> 00:20:12,406 Speaker 1: I think Maitrese wanted to see herself how Maitrese wanted 304 00:20:12,446 --> 00:20:14,486 Speaker 1: to see herself, not how other people wanted to see her. 305 00:20:14,866 --> 00:20:18,146 Speaker 2: She started wearing her hair natural and using less makeup. 306 00:20:18,656 --> 00:20:22,556 Speaker 1: I think she was getting tired of kind of straightening 307 00:20:22,616 --> 00:20:26,116 Speaker 1: and gelling, and I think she'd been doing that for 308 00:20:26,276 --> 00:20:31,516 Speaker 1: so long. So I encouraged her, however you're comfortable, that's 309 00:20:31,556 --> 00:20:32,436 Speaker 1: how you should wear your hair. 310 00:20:34,276 --> 00:20:37,056 Speaker 2: Hannah was going through her own identity stuff at the time, 311 00:20:37,856 --> 00:20:41,306 Speaker 2: figuring out how to reconcile her faith with her sexuality. 312 00:20:42,746 --> 00:20:46,526 Speaker 1: I think in this really cool way, we were both... 313 00:20:47,436 --> 00:20:51,476 Speaker 1: at a similar place, but in different ways. 314 00:20:52,756 --> 00:20:55,176 Speaker 2: From the beginning, though, there was an imbalance. 315 00:20:56,696 --> 00:21:02,656 Speaker 1: Mytreese, I mean, she was intense, right? Mytreese felt intensely 316 00:21:02,716 --> 00:21:06,056 Speaker 1: about me, and I felt intensely about her, but not 317 00:21:06,116 --> 00:21:06,796 Speaker 1: in the same way. 318 00:21:09,916 --> 00:21:13,616 Speaker 2: Mytreese's feelings for Hannah went beyond a crush or even 319 00:21:13,656 --> 00:21:14,596 Speaker 2: an infatuation. 320 00:21:14,616 --> 00:21:21,406 Speaker 1: I think that I just so happened to meet her 321 00:21:22,826 --> 00:21:28,386 Speaker 1: at this time pretty close prior to when there was 322 00:21:28,466 --> 00:21:32,726 Speaker 1: this mental decline that started happening. And I think that 323 00:21:32,786 --> 00:21:36,716 Speaker 1: because I was there and because the feelings were already involved, 324 00:21:37,526 --> 00:21:41,596 Speaker 1: I think that she clung to me and the relationship 325 00:21:41,656 --> 00:21:46,096 Speaker 1: we had much more than maybe she would have otherwise. 326 00:21:47,376 --> 00:21:51,216 Speaker 2: In the summer of 2009, as Mitrice was looking deeper, 327 00:21:51,876 --> 00:21:56,336 Speaker 2: she was also undergoing changes she couldn't control. Changes that 328 00:21:56,396 --> 00:21:59,416 Speaker 2: didn't make her feel like a more authentic version of herself, 329 00:22:00,336 --> 00:22:04,906 Speaker 2: but like a stranger. Reading the journals, it's obvious that 330 00:22:04,946 --> 00:22:09,146 Speaker 2: Mitrice was struggling. We thought, at first, that maybe she 331 00:22:09,186 --> 00:22:12,006 Speaker 2: and Hannah were doing hard drugs together, and that's what 332 00:22:12,026 --> 00:22:15,706 Speaker 2: explained the shift. Hannah says that wasn't it at all. 333 00:22:16,346 --> 00:22:19,566 Speaker 2: She didn't use drugs, and Mitrice, to her knowledge, only 334 00:22:19,626 --> 00:22:25,656 Speaker 2: smoked pot. Mitrice's behavior, she said, changed inexplicably, and she 335 00:22:25,716 --> 00:22:27,116 Speaker 2: remembers the day it happened. 336 00:22:29,076 --> 00:22:31,476 Speaker 1: There used to be this restaurant by the apartment I 337 00:22:31,516 --> 00:22:34,176 Speaker 1: used to live in, and we went there for brunch. 338 00:22:35,356 --> 00:22:37,046 Speaker 1: And we would talk about the Bible a lot, and 339 00:22:37,066 --> 00:22:40,426 Speaker 1: we would talk about my beliefs, and she would share 340 00:22:40,446 --> 00:22:44,996 Speaker 1: her beliefs, and There was this one particular conversation where 341 00:22:45,036 --> 00:22:50,116 Speaker 1: she started saying very odd things about the Bible. They 342 00:22:50,156 --> 00:22:52,416 Speaker 1: made no sense to me. I don't know that they 343 00:22:52,456 --> 00:22:54,776 Speaker 1: made sense to her, but it seemed like they made 344 00:22:54,816 --> 00:22:57,536 Speaker 1: sense to her, which is what scared me. And I 345 00:22:57,676 --> 00:23:00,776 Speaker 1: don't remember the specifics, but she would say something like, 346 00:23:01,596 --> 00:23:06,456 Speaker 1: if you replace the word God with I or me 347 00:23:07,796 --> 00:23:12,016 Speaker 1: or something to that effect, I was genuinely trying to 348 00:23:12,096 --> 00:23:14,196 Speaker 1: understand where she was coming from and could not, and 349 00:23:14,376 --> 00:23:18,606 Speaker 1: she would not let it go. And that was the 350 00:23:18,646 --> 00:23:21,106 Speaker 1: first time I remember sitting in that restaurant looking at 351 00:23:21,206 --> 00:23:25,746 Speaker 1: her like, oh shit, something's going on. 352 00:23:27,806 --> 00:23:31,596 Speaker 2: Something in my trees was changing. Hannah could see it. 353 00:23:32,176 --> 00:23:35,256 Speaker 2: My trees could see it. And both of them knew 354 00:23:35,776 --> 00:23:55,066 Speaker 2: that my trees needed help. My trees had always been 355 00:23:55,106 --> 00:23:57,686 Speaker 2: worried about her mental health. There was a history of 356 00:23:57,746 --> 00:24:00,786 Speaker 2: mental illness on both sides of the family. In a 357 00:24:00,846 --> 00:24:05,346 Speaker 2: self-published memoir, her mother, Latice, writes about suffering from, quote, 358 00:24:05,826 --> 00:24:13,196 Speaker 2: major depression, rapid cycling bipolar, PTSD, and anxiety. Latice didn't 359 00:24:13,236 --> 00:24:15,796 Speaker 2: want to talk to me. Her husband, Larry, said it 360 00:24:15,876 --> 00:24:19,666 Speaker 2: is too traumatic for her to talk about Mitrice. In 361 00:24:19,706 --> 00:24:23,726 Speaker 2: her journals, Mitrice writes a lot about being concerned for Latice. 362 00:24:25,206 --> 00:24:28,266 Speaker 3: I would sell my right arm to know more about 363 00:24:28,426 --> 00:24:32,046 Speaker 3: how and why the hell her mind flipped. Ever since 364 00:24:32,126 --> 00:24:35,256 Speaker 3: I was little, my thoughts and lack of understanding about 365 00:24:35,336 --> 00:24:38,816 Speaker 3: her has ran circles in my mind. I guess I'll 366 00:24:38,856 --> 00:24:41,336 Speaker 3: never know, but I wonder if she knows that we 367 00:24:41,376 --> 00:24:41,956 Speaker 3: all love her. 368 00:24:43,536 --> 00:24:46,836 Speaker 2: This family history, it's the reason Mitrice wanted to go 369 00:24:46,886 --> 00:24:50,346 Speaker 2: to grad school for clinical psychology, the reason she wanted 370 00:24:50,386 --> 00:24:54,706 Speaker 2: to become a therapist. She wanted to understand mental illness. 371 00:24:55,346 --> 00:24:58,226 Speaker 2: She wanted to help people manage it. And she wanted 372 00:24:58,266 --> 00:25:02,696 Speaker 2: to spot it if it ever came for her. In 373 00:25:02,716 --> 00:25:07,536 Speaker 2: the weeks before her disappearance, Mitrice's journals changed dramatically. She 374 00:25:07,576 --> 00:25:11,056 Speaker 2: begins to write about losing her mind, finding her mind, 375 00:25:11,656 --> 00:25:15,806 Speaker 2: hoping she gets her mind back. These entries are painful 376 00:25:15,866 --> 00:25:19,626 Speaker 2: to read. She sounds desperate for someone to understand her, 377 00:25:20,226 --> 00:25:24,586 Speaker 2: desperate for reassurance that she's making sense. But she knows 378 00:25:25,046 --> 00:25:25,556 Speaker 2: she isn't. 379 00:25:26,956 --> 00:25:30,356 Speaker 3: I is a representative of me. That is important because 380 00:25:30,476 --> 00:25:32,876 Speaker 3: if you look with two eyes, you will always see 381 00:25:33,116 --> 00:25:35,956 Speaker 3: one eye standing alone, or shall I say one eye. 382 00:25:36,376 --> 00:25:38,516 Speaker 3: But if your two eyes have been opened, you will 383 00:25:38,556 --> 00:25:41,826 Speaker 3: see that one eye is still two. Myself plus I. 384 00:25:42,376 --> 00:25:44,776 Speaker 3: Which I is unknown until I know me. 385 00:25:47,076 --> 00:25:52,426 Speaker 2: Her handwriting also changes. No more exclamation points with hearts. Now, 386 00:25:52,906 --> 00:25:58,526 Speaker 2: she's digging her pen into the page. Underlining, crossing out, revising, correcting. 387 00:25:59,146 --> 00:26:04,266 Speaker 2: As if she's at war with herself. You can still 388 00:26:04,406 --> 00:26:09,476 Speaker 2: glimpse the ambitious young woman, but only in flashes. Everything 389 00:26:09,526 --> 00:26:13,646 Speaker 2: else is... Arcane references to the king of pop in 390 00:26:13,666 --> 00:26:16,346 Speaker 2: the midst of a kaleidoscopic blur. 391 00:26:17,086 --> 00:26:20,466 Speaker 3: Michael J. helped me find me because although he never 392 00:26:20,546 --> 00:26:24,366 Speaker 3: met my trees, I always knew him because before I 393 00:26:24,466 --> 00:26:27,786 Speaker 3: saw him, he touched my soul. I am my trees, 394 00:26:27,926 --> 00:26:31,866 Speaker 3: Al Richardson, and I am a big deal. I am 395 00:26:31,886 --> 00:26:34,926 Speaker 3: my trees, Al Richardson, and I am a big deal. 396 00:26:34,966 --> 00:26:35,386 Speaker 1: P.S. 397 00:26:35,766 --> 00:26:39,096 Speaker 3: I love weed. In one, there is three. I, me, 398 00:26:39,236 --> 00:26:42,226 Speaker 3: and you. I will never know me, plus you are 399 00:26:42,236 --> 00:26:45,226 Speaker 3: the world. Me, my voice is often silenced because, oh 400 00:26:45,626 --> 00:26:46,966 Speaker 3: my trees, you're so pretty. 401 00:26:46,986 --> 00:26:47,386 Speaker 4: Yes, I know, but. 402 00:26:47,406 --> 00:26:51,706 Speaker 3: Oh my trees, oh my trees, your eyes. Yes, I know, but... 403 00:26:51,906 --> 00:26:54,566 Speaker 3: Oh my trees, oh my trees, shut the fuck up 404 00:26:54,716 --> 00:26:57,356 Speaker 3: and let me speak. But my trees, you're so pretty, 405 00:26:57,436 --> 00:27:00,656 Speaker 3: you don't have anything important to say. Thanks, but what 406 00:27:00,696 --> 00:27:02,476 Speaker 3: if I do? Your mouth is going to be the 407 00:27:02,536 --> 00:27:04,936 Speaker 3: death of you. I isn't big when it's small like me. 408 00:27:05,906 --> 00:27:10,346 Speaker 3: I never inspired to be Miss Fullerton. I inspired to 409 00:27:10,366 --> 00:27:14,826 Speaker 3: be Miss America. Because I knew me, but you couldn't. 410 00:27:15,186 --> 00:27:19,876 Speaker 3: Mommy knew I could. I love her happy faces. They 411 00:27:20,006 --> 00:27:25,936 Speaker 3: make me smile. Oh, what is this entry about, LOL? 412 00:27:26,476 --> 00:27:29,216 Speaker 3: I must have been high. Mike, Jack, me and I 413 00:27:29,256 --> 00:27:32,916 Speaker 3: are split personalities, not me plus you. My mouth is 414 00:27:32,956 --> 00:27:37,626 Speaker 3: going to be the death of me? Nope, more like I. 415 00:27:38,716 --> 00:27:42,816 Speaker 3: What the fuck is going on? Where's my mind? It's 416 00:27:42,926 --> 00:27:46,706 Speaker 3: lost as soon as I found it. I disappeared just 417 00:27:46,786 --> 00:27:50,006 Speaker 3: as fast. I feel like on the inside I'm screaming 418 00:27:50,066 --> 00:27:52,726 Speaker 3: and kicking, trying to get out of these fucking restraints 419 00:27:52,826 --> 00:27:55,766 Speaker 3: holding me down. I'm afraid to say so. 420 00:28:02,416 --> 00:28:03,686 Speaker 2: Here's Hannah Parks again. 421 00:28:05,076 --> 00:28:08,406 Speaker 1: I think she was scared about what was going on 422 00:28:08,446 --> 00:28:11,166 Speaker 1: with her. And I don't know that she knew what 423 00:28:11,206 --> 00:28:12,986 Speaker 1: to do, and I think she was looking to me 424 00:28:14,146 --> 00:28:17,786 Speaker 1: for some answer that I didn't have. 425 00:28:19,226 --> 00:28:22,846 Speaker 2: Her interactions with Mitrice were growing increasingly strange. 426 00:28:23,996 --> 00:28:29,736 Speaker 1: We went from having what I would call, like, this really... intellectual, 427 00:28:30,656 --> 00:28:35,356 Speaker 1: stimulating conversation to kind of like, what the fuck are 428 00:28:35,406 --> 00:28:39,006 Speaker 1: you talking about? I don't know what you're talking about. 429 00:28:39,706 --> 00:28:43,406 Speaker 1: And that's not normal for you. Like, I'm not understanding. 430 00:28:43,466 --> 00:28:46,446 Speaker 1: I was much more gentle because I knew that something 431 00:28:46,506 --> 00:28:49,006 Speaker 1: was going on. But now I can say to you, 432 00:28:49,066 --> 00:28:50,606 Speaker 1: what the fuck was going on? 433 00:28:52,166 --> 00:28:55,486 Speaker 2: Whatever it was, Hannah felt unequipped to deal with it. 434 00:28:57,016 --> 00:28:59,176 Speaker 1: But we would sit and talk and I'd be like, dude, 435 00:28:59,336 --> 00:29:02,196 Speaker 1: tell me like, like I would be crying because I 436 00:29:02,256 --> 00:29:07,826 Speaker 1: could see it happening. Like, tell me what is going on. 437 00:29:08,846 --> 00:29:14,986 Speaker 1: We need to get you help. I'm over here writing 438 00:29:15,066 --> 00:29:19,296 Speaker 1: poetry and studying theology. I don't know how to help. 439 00:29:20,676 --> 00:29:26,016 Speaker 1: So we would pray. We would talk. I encouraged her 440 00:29:26,056 --> 00:29:30,886 Speaker 1: to go get help. She was skeptical of people judging her. 441 00:29:30,986 --> 00:29:38,746 Speaker 1: She was skeptical of, I think, admitting. I think she 442 00:29:38,786 --> 00:29:42,766 Speaker 1: was scared to say she was scared. And she was 443 00:29:42,826 --> 00:29:45,146 Speaker 1: just struggling so bad internally. 444 00:29:46,706 --> 00:29:49,746 Speaker 2: According to Hannah, Mitrice resisted the idea. of going to 445 00:29:49,786 --> 00:29:54,156 Speaker 2: a clinic, getting a diagnosis, and going on medication. Instead, 446 00:29:54,506 --> 00:29:57,796 Speaker 2: she started self-medicating, smoking more and more pot. 447 00:29:59,456 --> 00:30:02,976 Speaker 1: My personal opinion, there's no factual evidence behind this, but 448 00:30:02,996 --> 00:30:06,396 Speaker 1: my personal opinion is that she was trying to cope 449 00:30:07,096 --> 00:30:11,216 Speaker 1: with what was going on with her internally. And she 450 00:30:11,256 --> 00:30:17,116 Speaker 1: didn't know how. And I think her opinion was, well, 451 00:30:17,196 --> 00:30:20,456 Speaker 1: I feel better when I smoke weed. But she didn't. 452 00:30:21,736 --> 00:30:23,376 Speaker 1: But I think that's what she was hoping. 453 00:30:25,146 --> 00:30:29,026 Speaker 2: Maitrese stopped sleeping and eating regularly. She was supposed to 454 00:30:29,066 --> 00:30:32,466 Speaker 2: be living with her great-grandmother, Mildred Harris, in South L.A., 455 00:30:32,886 --> 00:30:35,786 Speaker 2: but she started staying in her car. She'd arrive at 456 00:30:35,826 --> 00:30:38,326 Speaker 2: Hannah's place— unshowered and unkempt. 457 00:30:39,676 --> 00:30:42,916 Speaker 1: She'd come over another day and be like, Oh, I've 458 00:30:42,956 --> 00:30:45,176 Speaker 1: been journaling in my car. But she would tell me 459 00:30:45,236 --> 00:30:49,896 Speaker 1: like for days. And I'm like, my trees, you need 460 00:30:49,956 --> 00:30:52,776 Speaker 1: to sleep. Like, have you eaten? No, she wasn't eating 461 00:30:52,836 --> 00:30:56,316 Speaker 1: a lot. She definitely wasn't sleeping. And I would tell 462 00:30:56,336 --> 00:30:59,536 Speaker 1: her like, dude, you cannot just sleep in your car. 463 00:30:59,596 --> 00:31:04,016 Speaker 1: It's not safe. You're a single woman by yourself. You 464 00:31:04,056 --> 00:31:06,486 Speaker 1: can't just sleep in your car. come to my house. 465 00:31:06,546 --> 00:31:08,386 Speaker 1: If you're gonna, if you don't want to go home, 466 00:31:08,466 --> 00:31:11,106 Speaker 1: come to my house. Stop sleeping in your car. But 467 00:31:11,146 --> 00:31:13,666 Speaker 1: she kept doing it. Do you know where she would park? 468 00:31:13,806 --> 00:31:16,946 Speaker 1: I have no idea. I think sometimes she parked outside 469 00:31:16,986 --> 00:31:20,106 Speaker 1: of my apartment, like on the, in the street parking. 470 00:31:21,706 --> 00:31:25,386 Speaker 2: Matrice had met Hannah sometime in July. Within weeks, it 471 00:31:25,426 --> 00:31:28,006 Speaker 2: seemed to Hannah, Matrice was hanging on to her for 472 00:31:28,066 --> 00:31:30,236 Speaker 2: dear life, and they were both drowning. 473 00:31:31,546 --> 00:31:36,506 Speaker 1: It's like she would say one thing, and then Oh, actually, no, 474 00:31:36,666 --> 00:31:40,866 Speaker 1: then say something completely opposite. And then, well, doesn't that 475 00:31:40,906 --> 00:31:44,126 Speaker 1: make sense? I'm like, what makes sense to you? I 476 00:31:44,166 --> 00:31:46,326 Speaker 1: want to know what makes sense to you. Forget what 477 00:31:46,346 --> 00:31:48,686 Speaker 1: makes sense to me because at this point, nothing is 478 00:31:48,726 --> 00:31:53,266 Speaker 1: really making sense to me. I genuinely started getting scared. 479 00:31:54,586 --> 00:31:59,756 Speaker 1: The fear for me was like, oh, it's so weird 480 00:31:59,776 --> 00:32:01,656 Speaker 1: to even say this right now, but like that she 481 00:32:01,676 --> 00:32:05,916 Speaker 1: would like disappear. that she would just like disappear and 482 00:32:06,076 --> 00:32:10,936 Speaker 1: get lost, which is so crazy. 483 00:32:12,056 --> 00:32:14,336 Speaker 2: At the end of August, Hannah made plans to go 484 00:32:14,356 --> 00:32:15,866 Speaker 2: to Las Vegas with some friends. 485 00:32:17,666 --> 00:32:21,046 Speaker 1: That was the last week in a summer. And I 486 00:32:21,086 --> 00:32:24,046 Speaker 1: know that because I was like, well, shit, I'm going 487 00:32:24,066 --> 00:32:27,166 Speaker 1: to go out with a bang because I'm not drinking 488 00:32:27,806 --> 00:32:31,786 Speaker 1: when I go back to school. So me and three friends, 489 00:32:32,516 --> 00:32:35,146 Speaker 1: went to Vegas. It was like for a friend's birthday 490 00:32:35,186 --> 00:32:38,506 Speaker 1: and also kind of like end of summer, let's go 491 00:32:38,906 --> 00:32:42,366 Speaker 1: party in Vegas and then get back to reality. We 492 00:32:42,386 --> 00:32:45,306 Speaker 1: went out there and my trees had asked me like, well, 493 00:32:45,326 --> 00:32:48,066 Speaker 1: I told her I was going and she was kind 494 00:32:48,106 --> 00:32:51,156 Speaker 1: of like, oh, can I come? And for me, it 495 00:32:51,176 --> 00:32:54,776 Speaker 1: was one of those like, like drama free weekends. I'm 496 00:32:54,836 --> 00:32:58,076 Speaker 1: just going to hang out with my friends. And my 497 00:32:58,116 --> 00:33:00,706 Speaker 1: trees at that point was already kind of like, not 498 00:33:00,756 --> 00:33:03,586 Speaker 1: kind of, I mean, that's when she was like, scaring 499 00:33:03,646 --> 00:33:06,626 Speaker 1: me like she was in and out of this mental 500 00:33:07,266 --> 00:33:10,716 Speaker 1: state and to be honest I didn't want to be 501 00:33:10,776 --> 00:33:13,256 Speaker 1: around it I was like I just want to go 502 00:33:13,296 --> 00:33:16,816 Speaker 1: have fun and hang out with my friends so we 503 00:33:16,896 --> 00:33:18,976 Speaker 1: drove out to Vegas and she was texting me like 504 00:33:20,076 --> 00:33:22,396 Speaker 1: where are you staying stuff like that and I didn't 505 00:33:22,416 --> 00:33:24,656 Speaker 1: tell her and I was just like I don't know 506 00:33:24,716 --> 00:33:25,736 Speaker 1: I'm just hanging out. 507 00:33:27,076 --> 00:33:30,506 Speaker 2: My trees wasn't getting the message though In her journal, 508 00:33:30,726 --> 00:33:33,896 Speaker 2: she writes that she woke up certain that Hannah actually 509 00:33:34,236 --> 00:33:35,256 Speaker 2: did want her to come. 510 00:33:36,636 --> 00:33:39,236 Speaker 3: So somewhere around 7 or 8 this morning, I decided 511 00:33:39,496 --> 00:33:42,856 Speaker 3: I'm going to Vegas. I love her so much. Now 512 00:33:42,886 --> 00:33:45,486 Speaker 3: I want to show her. So 3 a.m., we're going 513 00:33:45,506 --> 00:33:48,126 Speaker 3: to ease on down the road to a party. 514 00:33:48,606 --> 00:33:51,746 Speaker 2: She was going to drive to Vegas after finishing her 515 00:33:51,806 --> 00:33:53,436 Speaker 2: shift go-go dancing at Debra's. 516 00:33:54,676 --> 00:33:57,696 Speaker 3: God keep my mind, LOL. I don't know what I'm 517 00:33:57,716 --> 00:34:00,816 Speaker 3: going to see down there, but can't wait. Debra's tonight, 518 00:34:00,976 --> 00:34:01,976 Speaker 3: Vegas after. 519 00:34:03,156 --> 00:34:03,816 Speaker 2: Here's Hannah. 520 00:34:05,016 --> 00:34:07,656 Speaker 1: And all of a sudden, I don't even know if 521 00:34:07,696 --> 00:34:09,256 Speaker 1: it was day or night, because you know when you're 522 00:34:09,276 --> 00:34:13,126 Speaker 1: in a casino, it's like, I don't know. But I 523 00:34:13,146 --> 00:34:15,506 Speaker 1: was like sitting at a slot machine or something, and 524 00:34:17,246 --> 00:34:21,746 Speaker 1: my trees just like comes walking into the casino. You 525 00:34:21,766 --> 00:34:25,486 Speaker 1: have to understand, I was freaked out because how can 526 00:34:25,526 --> 00:34:30,086 Speaker 1: you find a singular person in Las Vegas in summertime? 527 00:34:30,426 --> 00:34:33,996 Speaker 1: Like it's crowded. There's a ton of casinos. There's so 528 00:34:34,016 --> 00:34:37,096 Speaker 1: many places we could be. And in walks my trees. 529 00:34:37,556 --> 00:34:40,456 Speaker 1: To this day, I have no idea how she found me. 530 00:34:41,656 --> 00:34:44,356 Speaker 1: So she walks in and I'm like, whoa, like what 531 00:34:44,396 --> 00:34:48,096 Speaker 1: the hell are you doing here? Like what is going on? 532 00:34:49,116 --> 00:34:51,136 Speaker 1: And she's like, I wanted to come hang out with you. 533 00:34:51,236 --> 00:34:55,626 Speaker 1: And I got all this alcohol and I'm like, I 534 00:34:55,626 --> 00:34:58,406 Speaker 1: don't need alcohol. Like we have, we're in Vegas. Like, 535 00:34:58,666 --> 00:35:00,506 Speaker 1: so I walked with her outside and my friends were 536 00:35:00,526 --> 00:35:04,756 Speaker 1: looking at me like, dude, what? So I walk out 537 00:35:04,796 --> 00:35:07,056 Speaker 1: with my trace and she opens her trunk and it 538 00:35:07,096 --> 00:35:13,376 Speaker 1: was like so much vodka, bottles and bottles and bottles 539 00:35:13,556 --> 00:35:16,796 Speaker 1: of vodka. Nobody in their right mind could drink that 540 00:35:16,856 --> 00:35:20,956 Speaker 1: much like ever in a lifetime. It was so much. 541 00:35:21,896 --> 00:35:24,556 Speaker 1: And I was like, dude, what are you doing driving 542 00:35:24,596 --> 00:35:27,236 Speaker 1: with all that? that's crazy and she's like well I 543 00:35:27,276 --> 00:35:32,496 Speaker 1: know you like vodka and I'm like yeah but that's 544 00:35:32,536 --> 00:35:36,196 Speaker 1: a lot so I didn't hang out with her I 545 00:35:36,236 --> 00:35:39,436 Speaker 1: was like I gotta go like I don't know why 546 00:35:39,476 --> 00:35:43,386 Speaker 1: you came here and there was a part of me 547 00:35:43,406 --> 00:35:45,286 Speaker 1: that felt bad but there was another part of me 548 00:35:45,326 --> 00:35:49,986 Speaker 1: that was like that was scared I was scared I 549 00:35:49,986 --> 00:35:51,266 Speaker 1: don't know how she found me I don't know why 550 00:35:51,326 --> 00:35:54,096 Speaker 1: she's here and I already told her I was going 551 00:35:54,116 --> 00:35:56,676 Speaker 1: to go with my friends. And then she brought all 552 00:35:56,716 --> 00:36:00,816 Speaker 1: this vodka. And the whole time acting like everything she 553 00:36:01,066 --> 00:36:02,606 Speaker 1: was doing was completely normal. 554 00:36:04,126 --> 00:36:06,666 Speaker 2: Vegas, Hannah says, was a turning point. 555 00:36:07,766 --> 00:36:11,806 Speaker 1: She just didn't really ever go back to the normal Mitrice. 556 00:36:12,986 --> 00:36:17,006 Speaker 1: And I think for me it was really difficult because 557 00:36:17,026 --> 00:36:21,836 Speaker 1: I didn't know her that long. And so all I 558 00:36:21,896 --> 00:36:25,146 Speaker 1: had to base it off of was... these few months. 559 00:36:25,726 --> 00:36:28,076 Speaker 1: But even to me, it was so obvious that something 560 00:36:28,176 --> 00:36:33,356 Speaker 1: changed and something was going on that even she knew, 561 00:36:33,456 --> 00:36:36,816 Speaker 1: like even she knew that it was going on and 562 00:36:36,836 --> 00:36:39,976 Speaker 1: we would talk about it. I think until it like 563 00:36:40,106 --> 00:36:44,666 Speaker 1: really didn't go back, we didn't even talk about it anymore. 564 00:36:44,706 --> 00:36:46,546 Speaker 1: It's just like that was the new normal. 565 00:36:47,086 --> 00:36:48,666 Speaker 2: Hannah started to pull away. 566 00:36:49,146 --> 00:36:53,836 Speaker 1: And it was really, really hard because how can you 567 00:36:54,826 --> 00:36:57,746 Speaker 1: be so worried about a person and at the same 568 00:36:57,846 --> 00:37:03,286 Speaker 1: time scared yourself to even be around them. I was 569 00:37:03,326 --> 00:37:07,836 Speaker 1: in this place of truly not knowing what to do. 570 00:37:08,096 --> 00:37:11,596 Speaker 1: And so, not that it was the right decision, but 571 00:37:12,216 --> 00:37:16,036 Speaker 1: I just started really distancing myself because I didn't know 572 00:37:16,076 --> 00:37:16,456 Speaker 1: what to do. 573 00:37:18,556 --> 00:37:22,226 Speaker 2: On September 12th, four days before she was arrested in Malibu, 574 00:37:22,626 --> 00:37:23,946 Speaker 2: Mitrice wrote in her journal. 575 00:37:25,716 --> 00:37:28,996 Speaker 3: Have you ever woke up in the morning and cried 576 00:37:29,096 --> 00:37:34,886 Speaker 3: because you knew too much? Cried because everything finally came 577 00:37:34,946 --> 00:37:38,166 Speaker 3: to light? And now you see all the lost people 578 00:37:38,226 --> 00:37:38,846 Speaker 3: in the dark? 579 00:37:39,966 --> 00:37:40,686 Speaker 1: It hurts. 580 00:37:41,506 --> 00:37:45,986 Speaker 3: The true oxymoron of bittersweet. And the suckiest part of 581 00:37:46,326 --> 00:37:50,456 Speaker 3: all is being a normal 24-year-old who likes to go 582 00:37:50,506 --> 00:37:55,526 Speaker 3: to bed and dream and is now always awake. living 583 00:37:55,606 --> 00:37:58,256 Speaker 3: visions that were once only in dreams. 584 00:38:04,156 --> 00:38:07,596 Speaker 2: This entry is one of the most crushing. Mitrice had 585 00:38:07,646 --> 00:38:10,986 Speaker 2: been a person with big dreams. Now she felt like 586 00:38:11,006 --> 00:38:14,146 Speaker 2: she was trapped inside a living vision, and all she 587 00:38:14,186 --> 00:38:18,556 Speaker 2: wanted was to wake up. The day after writing it, 588 00:38:18,746 --> 00:38:20,936 Speaker 2: she went to see Hannah one last time. 589 00:38:21,936 --> 00:38:26,176 Speaker 1: I was at my apartment, and... it was the middle 590 00:38:26,216 --> 00:38:32,396 Speaker 1: of the day and my trees came over and she 591 00:38:32,436 --> 00:38:37,316 Speaker 1: was like pounding on my door. And she's like, Hannah, Hannah, 592 00:38:37,576 --> 00:38:40,026 Speaker 1: open the door. Hannah, I need to talk to you, Hannah. 593 00:38:40,626 --> 00:38:42,426 Speaker 1: Cause of course she was texting and calling and I 594 00:38:42,486 --> 00:38:47,766 Speaker 1: wasn't responding. And so she's knocking on my door and 595 00:38:49,606 --> 00:38:52,826 Speaker 1: I didn't answer. I didn't answer. I don't know what 596 00:38:52,866 --> 00:38:57,666 Speaker 1: she wanted. I don't know What was going on? I 597 00:38:57,746 --> 00:39:02,006 Speaker 1: know that she really probably needed me in that moment, 598 00:39:02,066 --> 00:39:05,406 Speaker 1: and it breaks my heart that I didn't answer the door. 599 00:39:06,686 --> 00:39:08,706 Speaker 1: But I didn't, and that was the last time I 600 00:39:08,776 --> 00:39:15,096 Speaker 1: saw her. I saw her through the blinds. She didn't 601 00:39:15,136 --> 00:39:16,336 Speaker 1: see me, but I saw her. 602 00:39:20,076 --> 00:39:20,856 Speaker 3: What did she look like? 603 00:39:22,416 --> 00:39:30,106 Speaker 1: Disheveled. It's almost like, see, when you asked before about her, 604 00:39:31,046 --> 00:39:37,306 Speaker 1: was her physical appearance deteriorating? And I mean, I guess 605 00:39:38,646 --> 00:39:43,136 Speaker 1: during that. time maybe a little bit yeah but for 606 00:39:43,216 --> 00:39:46,316 Speaker 1: me it was really after Vegas that it all kind 607 00:39:46,356 --> 00:39:48,336 Speaker 1: of started going downhill. 608 00:39:51,016 --> 00:39:54,316 Speaker 2: Soon the question of Mitrice's mental health would be at 609 00:39:54,336 --> 00:39:58,146 Speaker 2: the center of an investigation into her disappearance and death 610 00:39:59,346 --> 00:40:02,106 Speaker 2: It would be the variable that determined so much of 611 00:40:02,166 --> 00:40:03,706 Speaker 2: what law enforcement. 612 00:40:03,286 --> 00:40:07,326 Speaker 1: Did and what they failed to do. But to Hannah, 613 00:40:07,946 --> 00:40:14,616 Speaker 1: there is no question. My trees changed in whole, like 614 00:40:14,716 --> 00:40:20,396 Speaker 1: wholly changed. And there was never any question in my 615 00:40:20,436 --> 00:40:23,776 Speaker 1: mind that it was something mentally going on. She was 616 00:40:23,936 --> 00:40:29,966 Speaker 1: very aware that she was struggling with mental illness. I 617 00:40:30,046 --> 00:40:35,476 Speaker 1: saw it. It was obvious. She just wasn't acting like 618 00:40:36,396 --> 00:40:41,556 Speaker 1: her normal self. It changed. She changed. Something changed. And 619 00:40:41,596 --> 00:40:42,516 Speaker 1: it wasn't from drugs. 620 00:40:44,416 --> 00:40:48,586 Speaker 2: On September 16, 2009, Mitrice went to Malibu in the 621 00:40:48,666 --> 00:40:52,986 Speaker 2: midst of a severe mental health crisis. And she never 622 00:40:53,106 --> 00:41:08,346 Speaker 2: came back. next time on Lost Hills. 623 00:41:09,606 --> 00:41:11,246 Speaker 5: I think the only way I will come and get 624 00:41:11,286 --> 00:41:13,226 Speaker 5: her tonight is if you guys are going to release 625 00:41:13,286 --> 00:41:16,286 Speaker 5: her tonight. She definitely has no place, you know, I mean, 626 00:41:16,306 --> 00:41:18,776 Speaker 5: she's not from that area, and I would hate to 627 00:41:19,416 --> 00:41:22,796 Speaker 5: wake up to a morning report, so lost somewhere with 628 00:41:22,856 --> 00:41:24,856 Speaker 5: her head chopped off, so I guess I would have 629 00:41:24,876 --> 00:41:26,156 Speaker 5: to come and get her, oh my God. 630 00:41:27,376 --> 00:41:34,126 Speaker 2: That's next in Episode 3, Call for Help. Lost Hills 631 00:41:34,206 --> 00:41:37,516 Speaker 2: is written and hosted by me, Dana Goodyear. It was 632 00:41:37,596 --> 00:41:41,556 Speaker 2: reported by me and Haley Fox, our senior producer. The 633 00:41:41,596 --> 00:41:45,416 Speaker 2: show was created by me and Ben Adair. Lost Hills 634 00:41:45,476 --> 00:41:53,446 Speaker 2: is a production of Western Sound and Pushkin Industries. Subscribe 635 00:41:53,466 --> 00:41:56,206 Speaker 2: to Pushkin Plus and you can binge the whole season 636 00:41:56,306 --> 00:42:00,356 Speaker 2: right now ad-free. Find Pushkin Plus on the Lost Hills 637 00:42:00,396 --> 00:42:05,546 Speaker 2: Show page in Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm slash plus.