1 00:00:15,066 --> 00:00:32,886 Speaker 1: Pushkin. September 16, 2009, the day Mitrice drove to Malibu, 2 00:00:33,306 --> 00:00:38,946 Speaker 1: her longtime off-and-on girlfriend, Desiree Black, decided to do something drastic. 3 00:00:40,246 --> 00:00:46,906 Speaker 2: That was the day that I had... I mean, finally 4 00:00:46,946 --> 00:00:51,686 Speaker 2: worked up the courage to try and, like, break it off, 5 00:00:51,726 --> 00:00:56,926 Speaker 2: call it quits. But definitely was not brave enough to 6 00:00:56,986 --> 00:00:57,786 Speaker 2: do that in person. 7 00:00:58,926 --> 00:01:00,256 Speaker 1: She wrote my Teresa text. 8 00:01:01,276 --> 00:01:05,996 Speaker 2: It went something along the lines of, I love you, 9 00:01:06,056 --> 00:01:09,316 Speaker 2: I care about you, but I don't think that I 10 00:01:09,356 --> 00:01:11,136 Speaker 2: can do this anymore. 11 00:01:12,266 --> 00:01:14,746 Speaker 1: Matrice had been seeing Tessa on and off during her 12 00:01:14,766 --> 00:01:17,646 Speaker 1: relationship with Desiree, and now she was head over heels 13 00:01:17,696 --> 00:01:21,526 Speaker 1: for this new woman, Hannah Parks. Desiree was over it. 14 00:01:22,696 --> 00:01:26,596 Speaker 2: I think that it really weighed on me that I 15 00:01:27,256 --> 00:01:34,496 Speaker 2: had to share. So I text that, and her response 16 00:01:35,216 --> 00:01:41,316 Speaker 2: was definitely unexpected. Her response was just like, I love you, 17 00:01:41,356 --> 00:01:45,996 Speaker 2: I totally understand, you're an amazing person, and, like, all 18 00:01:46,016 --> 00:01:49,306 Speaker 2: of the things that you don't want to hear when 19 00:01:49,896 --> 00:01:53,166 Speaker 2: you're trying to, like, break it off with somebody. Like, 20 00:01:53,226 --> 00:01:55,306 Speaker 2: those are all of the things that I was getting. 21 00:01:56,426 --> 00:01:59,186 Speaker 1: After she sent the text, Desiree, who was still a 22 00:01:59,226 --> 00:02:02,266 Speaker 1: student at Cal State Fullerton, had to go to track practice. 23 00:02:02,886 --> 00:02:05,286 Speaker 1: But she thought about Mitrice the whole time. 24 00:02:05,306 --> 00:02:11,576 Speaker 2: I mean, like, immediately I regretted it. sending that text. 25 00:02:12,316 --> 00:02:14,296 Speaker 2: I just didn't know how much I was going to 26 00:02:14,356 --> 00:02:21,196 Speaker 2: regret it. Because that day, she didn't come home. And 27 00:02:21,716 --> 00:02:23,816 Speaker 2: that was definitely out of the ordinary. 28 00:02:24,656 --> 00:02:28,456 Speaker 1: Matrice still slept over at Desiree's occasionally, and she was 29 00:02:28,536 --> 00:02:32,696 Speaker 1: expecting her that night. At 7 p.m., when she got 30 00:02:32,736 --> 00:02:35,096 Speaker 1: out of practice, she started texting Matrice. 31 00:02:36,236 --> 00:02:41,576 Speaker 2: She wasn't responding. And I just assumed that that was 32 00:02:41,616 --> 00:02:46,496 Speaker 2: my own fault because of the text message that I'd 33 00:02:46,556 --> 00:02:49,826 Speaker 2: sent out before I went to practice, which was, we're 34 00:02:49,866 --> 00:02:54,226 Speaker 2: not doing this anymore. I didn't believe me. I don't 35 00:02:54,586 --> 00:02:58,686 Speaker 2: think that she believed me either. But that's what I said. 36 00:02:58,706 --> 00:03:02,166 Speaker 1: Do you remember making dinner that night and waiting for it? 37 00:03:03,016 --> 00:03:08,086 Speaker 2: To be honest, that whole time, chunk of time in 38 00:03:08,126 --> 00:03:13,746 Speaker 2: my life is just a blur. Like, it was not 39 00:03:13,786 --> 00:03:17,746 Speaker 2: a good time for me. And so, I did cook dinner, 40 00:03:18,616 --> 00:03:24,116 Speaker 2: but I can't say for sure, like, what else I 41 00:03:24,136 --> 00:03:28,676 Speaker 2: was doing besides, like, just kind of wondering where she 42 00:03:28,696 --> 00:03:28,996 Speaker 2: was at. 43 00:03:31,736 --> 00:03:35,836 Speaker 1: At 7pm, Mitrice was nowhere near Desiree's place. She was 44 00:03:35,896 --> 00:03:39,576 Speaker 1: pulling into Joffrey's, an upscale restaurant on Pacific Coast Highway. 45 00:03:40,796 --> 00:03:43,556 Speaker 1: Matrice would later tell the cops she stopped at Joffrey's 46 00:03:43,796 --> 00:03:46,876 Speaker 1: because she saw the white fairy lights dangling from the trees. 47 00:03:47,896 --> 00:03:51,016 Speaker 1: She parked in the valet lot. Her car was a beater, 48 00:03:51,336 --> 00:03:55,646 Speaker 1: a 10-year-old Honda Civic with a jerry-rigged ignition. She told 49 00:03:55,686 --> 00:03:57,626 Speaker 1: the valet she was there to meet up with Hannah, 50 00:03:58,166 --> 00:04:02,246 Speaker 1: Hannah with the tattoos. She walked past the hostess station 51 00:04:02,286 --> 00:04:06,026 Speaker 1: to a table, smiling at everyone. She ordered a steak 52 00:04:06,306 --> 00:04:11,706 Speaker 1: and an ocean breeze. Within two hours, deputies from Lost 53 00:04:11,726 --> 00:04:14,466 Speaker 1: Hill Station would be at the restaurant, trying to figure 54 00:04:14,546 --> 00:04:17,246 Speaker 1: out what to do with this charming young woman who 55 00:04:17,286 --> 00:04:22,526 Speaker 1: couldn't pay her $ 89. 51 bill. Where had she come from? 56 00:04:23,186 --> 00:04:26,126 Speaker 1: That was easy. She was from Mars, she said. And 57 00:04:27,056 --> 00:04:31,156 Speaker 1: what was she doing there? Well, she said sweetly, she 58 00:04:31,196 --> 00:04:40,606 Speaker 1: was there to avenge the death of Michael Jackson. I'm 59 00:04:40,646 --> 00:05:10,976 Speaker 1: Dana Goodyear, and this is Lost Hills. Episode 3, Call 60 00:05:11,036 --> 00:05:18,336 Speaker 1: for Help. Hannah Parks says Mitrice had been in a 61 00:05:18,436 --> 00:05:23,786 Speaker 1: state of full-blown psychosis for over a week. She'd lost 62 00:05:23,826 --> 00:05:27,226 Speaker 1: her grasp on reality. For one thing, Hannah says, she 63 00:05:27,266 --> 00:05:30,386 Speaker 1: had no plans to meet Mitrice at Joffrey's. That was 64 00:05:30,546 --> 00:05:34,916 Speaker 1: all in Mitrice's head. Mitrice had been writing desperately in 65 00:05:34,976 --> 00:05:39,336 Speaker 1: her journal about not sleeping, about being trapped in a never-ending, 66 00:05:39,596 --> 00:05:44,036 Speaker 1: waking dream. When she got to Joffrey's, she'd been awake 67 00:05:44,096 --> 00:05:49,076 Speaker 1: for something like five days. Throughout the early morning hours 68 00:05:49,176 --> 00:05:52,766 Speaker 1: and into the afternoon of September 16th, she'd churned out 69 00:05:52,806 --> 00:05:57,066 Speaker 1: a steady stream of social media posts about her favorite subject, 70 00:05:57,706 --> 00:06:01,786 Speaker 1: Michael Jackson. Her journals and messages in this episode are 71 00:06:01,826 --> 00:06:04,456 Speaker 1: being read by an actor, and have been lightly edited 72 00:06:04,496 --> 00:06:07,956 Speaker 1: for clarity. 1.17 a.m. 73 00:06:09,596 --> 00:06:14,556 Speaker 3: OMG, Michael Jackson, I was your biggest fan in the world, 74 00:06:15,016 --> 00:06:20,336 Speaker 3: but you already knew my trees, Rich Erdson. It's all 75 00:06:20,376 --> 00:06:23,136 Speaker 3: in the eyes of a believer slash child. 76 00:06:23,136 --> 00:06:25,256 Speaker 1: 5.13 a.m. 77 00:06:26,296 --> 00:06:33,856 Speaker 3: Rude, Mike Jack. Current rude, crazy. I'm tired. I'm so tired. 78 00:06:34,036 --> 00:06:41,836 Speaker 3: See me somebody, please. I'm here. Doesn't anyone hear me? Ghost. 79 00:06:41,836 --> 00:06:42,556 Speaker 1: 8.47 a.m. 80 00:06:43,516 --> 00:06:50,436 Speaker 3: Princess Diana and Michael Jackson equal Mitre's America's princess. Long 81 00:06:50,576 --> 00:06:51,516 Speaker 3: live the king. 82 00:06:52,866 --> 00:06:55,076 Speaker 1: She went to her job at the freight company owned 83 00:06:55,136 --> 00:06:59,586 Speaker 1: by Tessa's family. She kept posting strange things all day long. 84 00:07:00,536 --> 00:07:03,156 Speaker 3: With Michael's death, a legend is born that will last 85 00:07:03,176 --> 00:07:04,196 Speaker 3: until the end of time. The proof is in the number. 86 00:07:04,216 --> 00:07:06,476 Speaker 3: Mind playing tricks on me? Haha, you're such a player. 87 00:07:06,536 --> 00:07:09,166 Speaker 3: They speak in letters and all I understand. Just ask 88 00:07:09,176 --> 00:07:14,946 Speaker 3: the believers who are there. 1.34 p.m. Two I equals 89 00:07:15,026 --> 00:07:21,866 Speaker 3: six S's. Michael Jackson's number one fan. I know it. O-M-G, O-M-G, O-M-G, O-M-G. 90 00:07:25,256 --> 00:07:28,606 Speaker 1: According to law enforcement documents, while Mitrice was watching a 91 00:07:28,666 --> 00:07:30,906 Speaker 1: soap opera in the break room at the freight company, 92 00:07:31,486 --> 00:07:34,106 Speaker 1: she thought that one of the actresses gave her, quote, 93 00:07:34,406 --> 00:07:37,526 Speaker 1: a message from God telling her to go to Malibu. 94 00:07:38,546 --> 00:07:41,166 Speaker 4: So she was acting strange at work. She wasn't, you know, 95 00:07:41,286 --> 00:07:44,166 Speaker 4: getting her work done because Mitrice was very efficient at 96 00:07:44,206 --> 00:07:44,546 Speaker 4: her job. 97 00:07:45,506 --> 00:07:49,986 Speaker 1: This is Dr. Rhonda Hampton. She's a psychologist Mitrice interned 98 00:07:50,046 --> 00:07:51,066 Speaker 1: for in college. 99 00:07:52,466 --> 00:07:55,256 Speaker 4: It's almost like I saw her what, four days a week? 100 00:07:55,746 --> 00:07:57,266 Speaker 4: And we would spend a lot of time together. 101 00:07:58,086 --> 00:08:00,546 Speaker 1: She considered herself a mentor to Mitrice. 102 00:08:01,486 --> 00:08:03,466 Speaker 4: So, I mean, a lot of our relationship was definitely 103 00:08:03,566 --> 00:08:07,266 Speaker 4: about the work, but it was also about her future. 104 00:08:08,366 --> 00:08:11,926 Speaker 1: Mitrice was Dr. Hampton's intern in 2007 and 2008. And 105 00:08:12,966 --> 00:08:16,166 Speaker 1: during that time, Dr. Hampton began to notice a change 106 00:08:16,226 --> 00:08:16,806 Speaker 1: in Mitrice. 107 00:08:16,826 --> 00:08:20,006 Speaker 4: It's just that her symptoms were really subtle. You know, 108 00:08:20,116 --> 00:08:24,056 Speaker 4: it wasn't anything that was bizarre. A couple times she 109 00:08:24,076 --> 00:08:28,186 Speaker 4: would come in very disheveled or very angry sometimes. And 110 00:08:28,406 --> 00:08:30,786 Speaker 4: I started to notice like a cyclical pattern to that. 111 00:08:31,286 --> 00:08:33,286 Speaker 4: And it was almost like clockwork. I can tell like 112 00:08:33,506 --> 00:08:36,686 Speaker 4: every six or seven weeks something's going to happen. You're 113 00:08:36,706 --> 00:08:38,346 Speaker 4: going to look not right, right? 114 00:08:39,586 --> 00:08:43,436 Speaker 1: She urged Patrice to get a psychiatric evaluation. This would 115 00:08:43,456 --> 00:08:46,216 Speaker 1: have been at least a year before Hannah was urging 116 00:08:46,256 --> 00:08:47,596 Speaker 1: her to do the same thing. 117 00:08:48,676 --> 00:08:52,676 Speaker 4: We talked about psychosis. specifically about bipolar disorder and about 118 00:08:52,736 --> 00:08:55,156 Speaker 4: the treatment for that. And, I mean, she was very 119 00:08:55,276 --> 00:08:59,556 Speaker 4: open to hearing that. And I know that she got evaluated, 120 00:08:59,576 --> 00:09:01,556 Speaker 4: and I know that she went to the school counseling 121 00:09:01,576 --> 00:09:02,936 Speaker 4: center at least on two occasions. 122 00:09:04,556 --> 00:09:08,896 Speaker 1: Over time, Mitrice's condition grew noticeably worse. But no one 123 00:09:08,936 --> 00:09:13,216 Speaker 1: except Hannah seemed to really comprehend just how bad things 124 00:09:13,256 --> 00:09:19,156 Speaker 1: had gotten. Mitrice's mother, Latice, was preoccupied with marital problems. 125 00:09:19,906 --> 00:09:23,046 Speaker 1: Although they later got back together, in 2009, she and 126 00:09:23,086 --> 00:09:25,806 Speaker 1: her husband Larry were in the midst of a painful divorce, 127 00:09:26,546 --> 00:09:29,306 Speaker 1: and she had Mia, her young daughter with Larry, to 128 00:09:29,346 --> 00:09:33,486 Speaker 1: worry about. On the day of her disappearance, Maitrese sent 129 00:09:33,546 --> 00:09:37,286 Speaker 1: her mother some really confusing texts, which Lattice included in 130 00:09:37,326 --> 00:09:40,206 Speaker 1: her memoir. 12.48 a.m. 131 00:09:41,006 --> 00:09:43,366 Speaker 3: I told you I would take care of everything, Mommy. 132 00:09:43,966 --> 00:09:44,486 Speaker 3: I love you. 133 00:09:44,486 --> 00:09:44,586 Speaker 5: 3.04 a.m. 134 00:09:48,126 --> 00:09:51,756 Speaker 3: Did you know my name means behind every man is 135 00:09:51,816 --> 00:09:52,836 Speaker 3: a strong woman? 136 00:09:54,576 --> 00:09:57,356 Speaker 1: What have you taken care of, Latice replied when she 137 00:09:57,416 --> 00:10:02,816 Speaker 1: woke up. My trees, I'm not understanding. After my trees 138 00:10:02,856 --> 00:10:06,436 Speaker 1: left work, she didn't go straight to Malibu. She headed 139 00:10:06,516 --> 00:10:10,176 Speaker 1: to Cal State Fullerton. She was looking for one of 140 00:10:10,216 --> 00:10:14,196 Speaker 1: her old psychology professors, someone she may have recently confided 141 00:10:14,276 --> 00:10:15,656 Speaker 1: in about her mental problems. 142 00:10:17,036 --> 00:10:19,216 Speaker 4: That professor was not in the office at the time. 143 00:10:19,296 --> 00:10:20,956 Speaker 4: I think she may have been teaching a class and 144 00:10:21,326 --> 00:10:23,386 Speaker 4: So when Mitrice went in there, they said, she's not 145 00:10:23,406 --> 00:10:25,326 Speaker 4: going to be here for a few hours. And apparently, 146 00:10:25,606 --> 00:10:27,646 Speaker 4: from what I hear, is Mitrice sat there and waited 147 00:10:27,706 --> 00:10:30,766 Speaker 4: for the professor to come. So for whatever amount of time. 148 00:10:31,706 --> 00:10:34,926 Speaker 1: When the professor returned to her office, she found Mitrice 149 00:10:35,306 --> 00:10:39,146 Speaker 1: in an elevated state, talking excitedly about publishing her journals 150 00:10:39,196 --> 00:10:43,356 Speaker 1: as a book. Recognizing something was wrong, the professor tried 151 00:10:43,396 --> 00:10:45,196 Speaker 1: to find someone to help Mitrice. 152 00:10:46,536 --> 00:10:51,916 Speaker 4: And so that professor actually walked Mitrice to another professor 153 00:10:51,936 --> 00:10:57,336 Speaker 4: who was a clinical psychologist, walked her to that psychologist's office. 154 00:10:57,956 --> 00:11:01,556 Speaker 4: And Maitrese was apparently not happy with that. And so 155 00:11:02,056 --> 00:11:03,586 Speaker 4: Maitrese at that point said, well, I got to go. 156 00:11:03,596 --> 00:11:05,556 Speaker 4: I'm going to go hang out with my friends. And 157 00:11:05,576 --> 00:11:06,376 Speaker 4: so she ran off. 158 00:11:08,636 --> 00:11:11,656 Speaker 1: After Maitrese left campus, she stopped by her aunt's house, 159 00:11:11,916 --> 00:11:16,656 Speaker 1: where she left some flyers advertising her go-go dancing. Then 160 00:11:16,976 --> 00:11:18,076 Speaker 1: she set out for Malibu. 161 00:11:19,316 --> 00:11:21,036 Speaker 4: She did say the beach was calling her, so that 162 00:11:21,076 --> 00:11:22,836 Speaker 4: was one of the things that she had said earlier 163 00:11:22,896 --> 00:11:25,276 Speaker 4: in that day. I could see her driving out to 164 00:11:25,296 --> 00:11:27,916 Speaker 4: the beach. She was familiar with Pepperdine because she was 165 00:11:27,976 --> 00:11:30,736 Speaker 4: considering going there for grad school. I can't say whether 166 00:11:30,776 --> 00:11:33,136 Speaker 4: she had ever eaten at Joffrey's before. I don't know. 167 00:11:34,046 --> 00:11:35,946 Speaker 4: But I do know that she was familiar enough with 168 00:11:35,986 --> 00:11:38,766 Speaker 4: how to get to Malibu and the beach. 169 00:11:39,886 --> 00:11:42,586 Speaker 1: In her journals, Mitrice wrote about the ocean as a 170 00:11:42,626 --> 00:11:46,686 Speaker 1: place of healing, a place of calm. She was in pain, 171 00:11:47,306 --> 00:12:17,036 Speaker 1: and she thought... Malibu would help. Can you settle a 172 00:12:17,516 --> 00:12:22,246 Speaker 1: long-running question for us? Why is it called Joffreys, not Jeffreys? 173 00:12:22,266 --> 00:12:25,446 Speaker 6: You know how many times people have had that argument? 174 00:12:25,806 --> 00:12:27,766 Speaker 6: Settle a bet. And I'm like, okay, I know exactly 175 00:12:27,786 --> 00:12:28,406 Speaker 6: what you're talking about. 176 00:12:29,346 --> 00:12:32,686 Speaker 1: This is Jeff Peterson. He owns Joffreys Malibu. 177 00:12:33,766 --> 00:12:39,876 Speaker 6: Joffrey and Harvey Baskin started Joffreys in 1983. Yes, it 178 00:12:39,916 --> 00:12:43,536 Speaker 6: should be pronounced Jeffreys, but his name was Joffreys. 179 00:12:45,016 --> 00:12:47,936 Speaker 1: Jeff lives in a big McMansion in Malibu. When I 180 00:12:47,956 --> 00:12:49,536 Speaker 1: went to see him, he was in the middle of 181 00:12:49,576 --> 00:12:52,476 Speaker 1: a divorce. The place was half empty, and his two 182 00:12:52,556 --> 00:12:56,016 Speaker 1: gigantic dogs were jumping all over the place. He told 183 00:12:56,036 --> 00:12:58,106 Speaker 1: me he came to L.A. in the late 80s to 184 00:12:58,126 --> 00:13:01,926 Speaker 1: be an actor and started busing tables at Joffrey's. Eventually, 185 00:13:02,146 --> 00:13:02,886 Speaker 1: he bought the place. 186 00:13:03,486 --> 00:13:07,746 Speaker 6: Lucky for me, I'm a terrible actor. Fail at one thing, 187 00:13:07,946 --> 00:13:08,926 Speaker 6: do well at something else. 188 00:13:10,986 --> 00:13:12,746 Speaker 1: Joffrey's is a Malibu institution. 189 00:13:12,766 --> 00:13:13,686 Speaker 2: Think Joffrey's. 190 00:13:14,016 --> 00:13:18,816 Speaker 1: Tourists, aging celebrities, and a few Malibu regulars sipping cocktails 191 00:13:18,876 --> 00:13:21,656 Speaker 1: and eating food that hasn't changed since the 80s. 192 00:13:22,996 --> 00:13:25,516 Speaker 6: Well, it sits along like a cliff overlooking the ocean, 193 00:13:25,536 --> 00:13:30,536 Speaker 6: and it's surrounded by gardens and water fountains and fire pits. 194 00:13:30,556 --> 00:13:33,476 Speaker 6: I mean, I was talking to Chuck Woolery one time, 195 00:13:33,516 --> 00:13:36,436 Speaker 6: the old dating game guy. It was Love Connection, one 196 00:13:36,456 --> 00:13:39,216 Speaker 6: of those things. And he was at the restaurant filming something, 197 00:13:39,236 --> 00:13:41,236 Speaker 6: and he said, you know what? This was the number 198 00:13:41,346 --> 00:13:43,766 Speaker 6: one place that men would always say they take their dates. 199 00:13:44,466 --> 00:13:48,426 Speaker 6: because it's so romantic and relaxing. So there's a lot 200 00:13:48,466 --> 00:13:51,356 Speaker 6: of anniversaries and dates and birthdays and special occasions. 201 00:13:52,336 --> 00:13:55,436 Speaker 1: It's a celebrity clubhouse. The art on the walls is 202 00:13:55,516 --> 00:13:58,836 Speaker 1: made by patrons like Clint Eastwood and John Travolta. 203 00:13:59,796 --> 00:14:02,216 Speaker 6: Yes, we get our celebrities. I used to wait on 204 00:14:02,716 --> 00:14:05,146 Speaker 6: Redford back in the day. Nicest man in the world. 205 00:14:05,986 --> 00:14:09,186 Speaker 6: What a class act. So we get a combination of both. 206 00:14:09,486 --> 00:14:11,606 Speaker 6: And we get presidents. So we get everybody. 207 00:14:13,646 --> 00:14:17,606 Speaker 1: In depositions they gave later, just about everyone who interacted 208 00:14:17,626 --> 00:14:20,466 Speaker 1: with Mitrice at the restaurant said they noticed that something 209 00:14:20,506 --> 00:14:24,546 Speaker 1: was wrong with her. The valet, for instance. He says 210 00:14:24,586 --> 00:14:28,386 Speaker 1: he found Mitrice sitting in his car, rifling through his CDs. 211 00:14:29,336 --> 00:14:31,576 Speaker 1: When he asked her what she was doing, she replied, 212 00:14:32,216 --> 00:14:36,736 Speaker 1: it's subliminal. And the hostess. She says Mitrice got up 213 00:14:36,756 --> 00:14:39,616 Speaker 1: from the table where she'd been seated alone and joined 214 00:14:39,656 --> 00:14:43,276 Speaker 1: a party of seven. Hi, sorry I'm late. Can I 215 00:14:43,316 --> 00:14:45,836 Speaker 1: sit next to you? she asked one of the strangers. 216 00:14:47,366 --> 00:14:52,826 Speaker 1: From what these witnesses said later, Mitrice was pretty amusing, chatty, spirited, 217 00:14:53,206 --> 00:14:56,806 Speaker 1: and zany, talking about her fascination with the number eight 218 00:14:57,126 --> 00:15:00,226 Speaker 1: and her plans to move to Hawaii, and, of course, 219 00:15:00,686 --> 00:15:05,996 Speaker 1: Michael Jackson. In her deposition, the hostess stated, quote, At 220 00:15:06,036 --> 00:15:08,736 Speaker 1: this point, I did not make too much of the situation, 221 00:15:09,176 --> 00:15:12,746 Speaker 1: because during my time working in Malibu, I had encountered 222 00:15:12,806 --> 00:15:17,876 Speaker 1: lots of people who were off in their behavior and personalities, unquote. 223 00:15:19,396 --> 00:15:23,336 Speaker 1: About an hour after Mitrice walked into Joffrey's, she walked out, 224 00:15:23,896 --> 00:15:27,696 Speaker 1: past the hostess stand to the valet. There was just 225 00:15:27,896 --> 00:15:33,966 Speaker 1: one problem. She hadn't paid her bill. In his deposition, 226 00:15:34,166 --> 00:15:37,066 Speaker 1: the manager says he confronted Mitrice in the parking lot. 227 00:15:37,706 --> 00:15:40,226 Speaker 1: When she said she couldn't pay, he took her back inside. 228 00:15:41,706 --> 00:15:44,046 Speaker 1: He asked her to empty her pockets, thinking there might 229 00:15:44,086 --> 00:15:47,026 Speaker 1: be a credit card or some cash in there. She 230 00:15:47,046 --> 00:15:51,696 Speaker 1: pulled out a joint instead. The manager called Jeff, the owner. 231 00:15:52,876 --> 00:15:56,096 Speaker 6: I can remember that night. I remember I was sitting 232 00:15:56,176 --> 00:15:58,796 Speaker 6: on a couch, not this couch, but another couch right here. 233 00:15:58,816 --> 00:16:01,656 Speaker 6: I was sucking a Theraflu down. I had a cold. 234 00:16:02,476 --> 00:16:05,066 Speaker 6: For the best of my recollection, he calls me up. 235 00:16:05,576 --> 00:16:08,316 Speaker 6: He tells me there's a lady there. They don't know 236 00:16:08,356 --> 00:16:11,876 Speaker 6: if something's wrong with her, if she's mentally ill, if 237 00:16:11,916 --> 00:16:14,836 Speaker 6: she's drunk, if she's high, she's only had one drink, 238 00:16:15,596 --> 00:16:18,536 Speaker 6: and she's talking in gibberish, and he doesn't know what 239 00:16:18,576 --> 00:16:18,956 Speaker 6: to do. 240 00:16:20,396 --> 00:16:24,626 Speaker 1: According to law enforcement documents, when the manager confronted Mitrice 241 00:16:24,786 --> 00:16:28,246 Speaker 1: about paying her bill, she said, quote, that she was 242 00:16:28,306 --> 00:16:30,826 Speaker 1: from Mars and that she was going to have sex 243 00:16:30,846 --> 00:16:32,326 Speaker 1: with him, unquote. 244 00:16:33,446 --> 00:16:36,096 Speaker 6: So I think the managers really, they just wanted to 245 00:16:36,126 --> 00:16:38,736 Speaker 6: help her because The message I got from her was 246 00:16:38,916 --> 00:16:41,346 Speaker 6: that she was a nice, sweet, she wasn't threatening, she 247 00:16:41,416 --> 00:16:47,486 Speaker 6: wasn't mean, but something was just very wrong. One of 248 00:16:47,526 --> 00:16:49,666 Speaker 6: the concerns was that we couldn't let her go that 249 00:16:49,746 --> 00:16:52,706 Speaker 6: night without calling for help. Because if you let a 250 00:16:52,726 --> 00:16:56,496 Speaker 6: person who's obviously something's wrong with them, and like I said, 251 00:16:56,516 --> 00:16:58,156 Speaker 6: I didn't know if it was drugs or alcohol or 252 00:16:58,196 --> 00:17:01,176 Speaker 6: mental illness. If you let a person go and give 253 00:17:01,216 --> 00:17:03,496 Speaker 6: them their car keys and send them out into the 254 00:17:03,556 --> 00:17:07,316 Speaker 6: road and they run over a child or hit a family, 255 00:17:07,916 --> 00:17:10,736 Speaker 6: then people ask you the question, why would you let 256 00:17:10,776 --> 00:17:11,436 Speaker 6: this person go? 257 00:17:14,436 --> 00:17:19,396 Speaker 1: At 8.30 p.m., the manager told the bartender to call 911. Hi, I'm. 258 00:17:21,056 --> 00:17:27,046 Speaker 7: Calling from Joffrey's Restaurant in Malibu. We have a guest 259 00:17:27,146 --> 00:17:30,006 Speaker 7: here who is refusing to pay her bill and we 260 00:17:30,026 --> 00:17:32,626 Speaker 7: think she may, she sounds really crazy, she may be 261 00:17:32,666 --> 00:17:35,416 Speaker 7: on drugs or something. We were wondering if someone could 262 00:17:35,436 --> 00:17:36,316 Speaker 7: come by and pick her up. 263 00:17:36,336 --> 00:17:39,666 Speaker 8: And is she a white, black, Asian, Hispanic? 264 00:17:39,926 --> 00:17:43,226 Speaker 7: She's a young black girl. She's probably in her. 265 00:17:44,806 --> 00:17:44,866 Speaker 5: 20s. 266 00:17:44,866 --> 00:17:45,646 Speaker 9: Is she with anybody else? 267 00:17:45,986 --> 00:17:46,706 Speaker 5: No, it's just her. 268 00:17:47,916 --> 00:17:53,376 Speaker 1: Twenty minutes later, three Lost Hills deputies arrived at Joffrey's. Now, 269 00:17:53,776 --> 00:17:59,316 Speaker 1: the equation changed. The deputies searched Mitrice's car, supposedly looking 270 00:17:59,356 --> 00:18:01,886 Speaker 1: for a form of payment. and found it was a mess, 271 00:18:02,406 --> 00:18:06,256 Speaker 1: full of CDs, clothes, and shoes. It was so bad, 272 00:18:06,336 --> 00:18:09,296 Speaker 1: they thought maybe she'd been living out of it, which 273 00:18:09,336 --> 00:18:13,076 Speaker 1: was pretty accurate. In the trunk, they found some handles 274 00:18:13,116 --> 00:18:16,586 Speaker 1: of vodka, a half-drunk bottle of tequila, and half a 275 00:18:16,626 --> 00:18:20,466 Speaker 1: case of beer. And between the two front seats, they 276 00:18:20,526 --> 00:18:24,066 Speaker 1: found a small bag of weed. The valet asked a 277 00:18:24,106 --> 00:18:28,496 Speaker 1: deputy what was wrong with Mitrice. He replied that she was, quote, 278 00:18:28,896 --> 00:18:34,016 Speaker 1: a ding. which is cop speak for mentally ill. With 279 00:18:34,036 --> 00:18:40,036 Speaker 1: the deputies, Mitrice was lovely. Later, according to investigation documents, 280 00:18:40,436 --> 00:18:44,696 Speaker 1: they said that while she, quote, seemed slightly embarrassed, Ms. 281 00:18:44,716 --> 00:18:50,416 Speaker 1: Richardson was cooperative and polite, unquote. The deputies gave her 282 00:18:50,456 --> 00:18:56,336 Speaker 1: a field sobriety test, which she passed. Mitrice was trained 283 00:18:56,376 --> 00:18:59,296 Speaker 1: at keeping up appearances. She was afraid of what was 284 00:18:59,376 --> 00:19:01,976 Speaker 1: happening to her mind, and she was in the midst 285 00:19:02,016 --> 00:19:04,876 Speaker 1: of a crisis that was altering her sense of reality. 286 00:19:05,916 --> 00:19:07,446 Speaker 1: When they asked her if she had a history of 287 00:19:07,486 --> 00:19:13,646 Speaker 1: psychiatric problems, she said no. Still, she had to pay 288 00:19:13,666 --> 00:19:17,526 Speaker 1: that bill. The hostess asked Mitrice if there was anyone 289 00:19:17,566 --> 00:19:21,606 Speaker 1: she could call. Mitrice gave her the number of her great-grandmother, 290 00:19:22,046 --> 00:19:25,546 Speaker 1: Mildred Harris. The hostess called her and asked her if 291 00:19:25,586 --> 00:19:27,626 Speaker 1: she could come to the restaurant and take care of 292 00:19:27,666 --> 00:19:31,526 Speaker 1: the bill. Joffreys apparently had a policy, and they wouldn't 293 00:19:31,566 --> 00:19:35,196 Speaker 1: take a credit card over the phone. I'm 91 years old, Ms. 294 00:19:35,216 --> 00:19:35,796 Speaker 3: Harris said. 295 00:19:35,816 --> 00:19:41,716 Speaker 1: I can't drive to Malibu. Then Mitrice's mother, Latice, called 296 00:19:41,736 --> 00:19:46,046 Speaker 1: the restaurant and spoke to a manager. Investigation documents state 297 00:19:46,106 --> 00:19:49,326 Speaker 1: that Latice told the manager her daughter had, quote, been 298 00:19:49,366 --> 00:19:52,166 Speaker 1: spending time with persons of whom she did not approve, 299 00:19:52,186 --> 00:19:55,346 Speaker 1: end quote, needed to learn a lesson and be taken 300 00:19:55,386 --> 00:20:00,966 Speaker 1: to jail. Mitrice's offense, Dine and Dad, or defrauding an innkeeper, 301 00:20:01,346 --> 00:20:06,106 Speaker 1: was misdemeanor petty theft. That's typically a citation, not a 302 00:20:06,156 --> 00:20:08,916 Speaker 1: crime for which a person usually gets taken into custody. 303 00:20:09,976 --> 00:20:13,396 Speaker 1: But the Joffreys' management didn't want Mitrice leaving in her car. 304 00:20:14,076 --> 00:20:16,316 Speaker 1: The cops told the manager that if he wanted them 305 00:20:16,356 --> 00:20:19,076 Speaker 1: to take Mitrice away... the manager would have to make 306 00:20:19,116 --> 00:20:24,236 Speaker 1: a citizen's arrest. Here's how Jeff Peterson, the owner of Joffrey's, 307 00:20:24,436 --> 00:20:25,036 Speaker 1: explains it. 308 00:20:26,376 --> 00:20:30,496 Speaker 6: So what happened was, and excuse my dogs, they're coming 309 00:20:30,536 --> 00:20:33,056 Speaker 6: in the room now. The only way that we were 310 00:20:33,196 --> 00:20:36,956 Speaker 6: able to get her help, the deputy told us, we 311 00:20:36,976 --> 00:20:38,856 Speaker 6: have to be able to take her away on something 312 00:20:39,536 --> 00:20:42,666 Speaker 6: because that came from them. So they told us, this 313 00:20:42,726 --> 00:20:44,546 Speaker 6: is what you need to do for us to be 314 00:20:44,566 --> 00:20:45,126 Speaker 6: able to get her help. 315 00:20:46,156 --> 00:20:50,036 Speaker 1: There was another option, though. The deputies could have put 316 00:20:50,096 --> 00:20:57,436 Speaker 1: Mitrice on a 72-hour psychiatric hold, also known as a 5150. 317 00:20:57,436 --> 00:20:59,646 Speaker 1: Jeff says he had no idea. 318 00:21:00,546 --> 00:21:03,586 Speaker 6: If I knew that there was other ways, like if 319 00:21:03,686 --> 00:21:05,886 Speaker 6: she could be charged on a 5150 and taken for 320 00:21:05,926 --> 00:21:09,466 Speaker 6: mental evaluation, and we didn't have to do that, then absolutely, 321 00:21:09,526 --> 00:21:11,996 Speaker 6: why the heck would I want to charge her? Because 322 00:21:12,046 --> 00:21:18,336 Speaker 6: it's never been about $ 89. 00. 323 00:21:14,636 --> 00:21:17,736 Speaker 1: The Lost Hills deputies executed a citizen's arrest on the 324 00:21:17,776 --> 00:21:21,336 Speaker 1: Dine and Dash charge and also charged Mitrice with another 325 00:21:21,356 --> 00:21:25,666 Speaker 1: misdemeanor for the pot in her car. Everyone, even her mother, 326 00:21:26,026 --> 00:21:30,326 Speaker 1: seemed to agree she'd be better off in custody. So 327 00:21:30,446 --> 00:21:33,906 Speaker 1: Anthony Larreiro, the arresting officer, decided to hard book her 328 00:21:34,246 --> 00:21:37,786 Speaker 1: at the Lost Hills Sheriff's Station. The justification he gave 329 00:21:37,846 --> 00:21:41,136 Speaker 1: his superiors is that he was worried about her. that 330 00:21:41,216 --> 00:21:44,876 Speaker 1: she was, quote, a little ditzy, and he was uneasy 331 00:21:45,076 --> 00:21:50,036 Speaker 1: about just letting her go. According to internal station correspondence 332 00:21:50,216 --> 00:21:55,216 Speaker 1: written after Mitrice was officially a missing person, or MP, quote, 333 00:21:55,736 --> 00:22:01,076 Speaker 1: deputies uncomfortable with field release, no articulated reason, instinctive feeling, 334 00:22:01,436 --> 00:22:06,656 Speaker 1: concern for MP's welfare. Lorero put Mitrice in the back 335 00:22:06,696 --> 00:22:09,516 Speaker 1: of a squad car, and they drove through Malibu Canyon 336 00:22:09,536 --> 00:22:14,036 Speaker 1: to the station, about 13 miles away. Meanwhile, her car 337 00:22:14,076 --> 00:22:16,456 Speaker 1: was taken to a tow yard near Pacific Coast Highway, 338 00:22:16,856 --> 00:22:21,646 Speaker 1: where it was impounded. While Mitrice was in transit, deputies 339 00:22:21,686 --> 00:22:25,566 Speaker 1: were preparing for her arrival. One of the deputies who'd 340 00:22:25,606 --> 00:22:28,466 Speaker 1: responded to the Joffreys' call typed a message to another 341 00:22:28,506 --> 00:22:35,016 Speaker 1: deputy over the interdepartmental computer system. At station and 15, re-femsearch, 342 00:22:35,136 --> 00:22:39,296 Speaker 1: he wrote. What'd you get? His colleague typed back. Defrauding 343 00:22:39,336 --> 00:22:39,956 Speaker 1: an innkeeper. 344 00:22:40,376 --> 00:22:40,816 Speaker 5: LOL. 345 00:22:41,596 --> 00:22:41,816 Speaker 6: What? 346 00:22:41,996 --> 00:22:45,706 Speaker 1: Did she leave without paying? Tried, but failed. Then had 347 00:22:45,766 --> 00:22:49,626 Speaker 1: no means to pay. Citizen's arrest. Why didn't you help 348 00:22:49,686 --> 00:22:54,606 Speaker 1: assist her out? This exchange is callous, and it has 349 00:22:54,826 --> 00:23:00,426 Speaker 1: uncomfortable racial undertones. Mitrice was a black female, alone and 350 00:23:00,466 --> 00:23:04,286 Speaker 1: in crisis in Malibu. For many, her race would be 351 00:23:04,346 --> 00:23:07,786 Speaker 1: the defining factor in what happened to her. She should 352 00:23:07,806 --> 00:23:11,746 Speaker 1: have been granted extra protection, but that's not what happened. 353 00:23:12,806 --> 00:23:16,726 Speaker 1: What happened is that sometime on that long, dark drive 354 00:23:16,986 --> 00:23:20,526 Speaker 1: from the restaurant to the station, the concern for Mitrice's 355 00:23:20,566 --> 00:23:23,766 Speaker 1: well-being that had justified her arrest in the first place 356 00:23:24,766 --> 00:23:26,086 Speaker 1: seemed to vanish. 357 00:23:40,236 --> 00:23:42,506 Speaker 5: I am calling. I'm a little frazzled right now. I 358 00:23:42,686 --> 00:23:46,226 Speaker 5: understand my daughter is being brought into the station. My 359 00:23:46,286 --> 00:23:49,866 Speaker 5: Therese Richardson has made it to the station yet, and 360 00:23:49,946 --> 00:23:50,766 Speaker 5: she's been booked. 361 00:23:51,866 --> 00:23:53,686 Speaker 9: Okay. Do you know where she's coming from? 362 00:23:53,706 --> 00:23:59,166 Speaker 5: It's some restaurant out in Malibu, and I didn't even 363 00:23:59,206 --> 00:24:01,436 Speaker 5: think to get the name. The manager's name is. 364 00:24:01,496 --> 00:24:03,716 Speaker 10: The only place we have somebody that's in custody that 365 00:24:03,756 --> 00:24:06,016 Speaker 10: they just announced on the radio that they're coming up 366 00:24:06,076 --> 00:24:07,536 Speaker 10: is from Joffrey's. 367 00:24:07,916 --> 00:24:11,516 Speaker 9: In Typical Highway. It's the only female that's being brought 368 00:24:11,556 --> 00:24:12,736 Speaker 9: up to the station as we speak. 369 00:24:12,756 --> 00:24:14,916 Speaker 10: They actually just put it on the radio right before 370 00:24:14,956 --> 00:24:15,356 Speaker 10: you called. 371 00:24:16,166 --> 00:24:18,726 Speaker 1: This is a recording of a call Latice Sutton made 372 00:24:18,786 --> 00:24:21,126 Speaker 1: to Lost Hills Station on the night of the arrest. 373 00:24:21,646 --> 00:24:24,746 Speaker 1: It was published on the internet shortly after Mitrice disappeared. 374 00:24:25,876 --> 00:24:27,036 Speaker 5: Okay, okay. 375 00:24:27,556 --> 00:24:28,236 Speaker 11: I'm her mother. 376 00:24:28,256 --> 00:24:31,186 Speaker 5: And you guys want to book her and then release 377 00:24:31,226 --> 00:24:35,586 Speaker 5: her on her own recognizance tonight because it's dark. 378 00:24:35,626 --> 00:24:37,166 Speaker 10: She doesn't have a car, and I don't want her 379 00:24:37,226 --> 00:24:37,906 Speaker 10: wandering out. 380 00:24:38,406 --> 00:24:41,406 Speaker 5: I'm totally just taken aback because this is so out 381 00:24:41,426 --> 00:24:45,106 Speaker 5: of character for her. And you'll see when she comes in, 382 00:24:45,126 --> 00:24:47,926 Speaker 5: she's well-spoken. I think the only way I will come 383 00:24:47,966 --> 00:24:49,716 Speaker 5: and get her tonight is if you guys are going 384 00:24:49,736 --> 00:24:50,846 Speaker 5: to release her tonight. 385 00:24:51,836 --> 00:24:56,056 Speaker 1: It was already late, almost 10 p.m., Latice lived at 386 00:24:56,136 --> 00:24:59,486 Speaker 1: least an hour away from the station. She and Larry 387 00:24:59,526 --> 00:25:02,066 Speaker 1: weren't living together at the time, and she couldn't leave 388 00:25:02,106 --> 00:25:03,206 Speaker 1: their daughter home alone. 389 00:25:03,226 --> 00:25:06,526 Speaker 5: If she's going to be held in custody for some 390 00:25:06,566 --> 00:25:10,106 Speaker 5: type of arraignment tomorrow, then I will wait until tomorrow. 391 00:25:10,126 --> 00:25:12,436 Speaker 5: She definitely has no place, you know, I mean, she's 392 00:25:12,476 --> 00:25:15,576 Speaker 5: not from that area, and I would hate to... Wake 393 00:25:15,616 --> 00:25:19,096 Speaker 5: up to a morning report, lost somewhere with her head 394 00:25:19,116 --> 00:25:21,096 Speaker 5: chopped off. So I guess I would have to come 395 00:25:21,156 --> 00:25:22,056 Speaker 5: and get her. Oh, my God. 396 00:25:22,256 --> 00:25:23,956 Speaker 9: Yeah, we're in a great house. The only thing is, 397 00:25:23,996 --> 00:25:26,066 Speaker 9: at least in the station here, she will be separated, 398 00:25:26,106 --> 00:25:29,066 Speaker 9: but nobody's going to be with her. So at least that's, 399 00:25:29,346 --> 00:25:30,686 Speaker 9: you know, the plus thing, so you don't have to 400 00:25:30,706 --> 00:25:31,646 Speaker 9: worry about her safety. 401 00:25:32,606 --> 00:25:32,966 Speaker 3: Oh, yeah. 402 00:25:33,006 --> 00:25:35,686 Speaker 5: No, I feel safe with her being in custody. It's 403 00:25:35,746 --> 00:25:39,326 Speaker 5: being released, but I'm worried about it. It's crazy out here. 404 00:25:45,046 --> 00:25:48,436 Speaker 1: A short time later, the squad car carrying Mitrice arrived 405 00:25:48,476 --> 00:25:52,116 Speaker 1: at Lost Hill Station. She was taken to a booking cell, 406 00:25:52,456 --> 00:25:55,496 Speaker 1: where she was searched and made to hand over her possessions. 407 00:25:56,876 --> 00:25:59,616 Speaker 1: She was given a medical and mental health assessment and 408 00:25:59,656 --> 00:26:03,676 Speaker 1: a live scan for fingerprints and other identifying details, like 409 00:26:03,696 --> 00:26:09,526 Speaker 1: her tattoos, to submit to law enforcement databases. In pictures, 410 00:26:09,726 --> 00:26:15,366 Speaker 1: Mitrice was always radiant, eyes lit up, dazzling smile, In 411 00:26:15,406 --> 00:26:18,326 Speaker 1: the mugshot taken at Lost Hills Station that night, she 412 00:26:18,386 --> 00:26:22,326 Speaker 1: looks like a different person. Her hair is messy. Her 413 00:26:22,386 --> 00:26:27,076 Speaker 1: skin looks waxy and tired. But really, it's her eyes. 414 00:26:27,916 --> 00:26:34,036 Speaker 1: The light has gone out. Lost Hills is what's known 415 00:26:34,126 --> 00:26:37,506 Speaker 1: as a slow station. That night, there was just one 416 00:26:37,546 --> 00:26:38,726 Speaker 1: other person in custody. 417 00:26:39,586 --> 00:26:41,826 Speaker 11: My name is Shemaine Marie Henderson. 418 00:26:42,746 --> 00:26:45,406 Speaker 1: I recently met Shermaine in the courtyard of a motel 419 00:26:45,446 --> 00:26:46,246 Speaker 1: where she was staying. 420 00:26:47,406 --> 00:26:48,406 Speaker 6: It was just me and Matrice. 421 00:26:49,146 --> 00:26:50,646 Speaker 11: I don't know how big the station was, but I 422 00:26:50,646 --> 00:26:52,406 Speaker 11: know it was like a little small station where they 423 00:26:52,466 --> 00:26:55,226 Speaker 11: held people. They say you go in for like DUI, 424 00:26:55,246 --> 00:26:58,656 Speaker 11: they go in until you get well enough to drive, 425 00:26:58,676 --> 00:27:01,676 Speaker 11: you know, leave again. Like they have hold-of-selfs of that type, 426 00:27:01,716 --> 00:27:05,116 Speaker 11: you know. It was a small station. 427 00:27:06,096 --> 00:27:08,456 Speaker 1: That night, Shermaine said, she'd been picked up in the 428 00:27:08,496 --> 00:27:13,456 Speaker 1: valley for soliciting. Her memory's foggy. It's been a long time. 429 00:27:13,756 --> 00:27:16,576 Speaker 1: And over the years, she's had multiple strokes. But she 430 00:27:16,636 --> 00:27:19,276 Speaker 1: does remember that Mitrice was already in the cell when 431 00:27:19,316 --> 00:27:19,856 Speaker 1: she arrived. 432 00:27:21,096 --> 00:27:25,196 Speaker 11: I mean, she was there before me. And I walked in. 433 00:27:25,216 --> 00:27:27,736 Speaker 11: Because she was standing, like, in the doorway. Like, I 434 00:27:27,736 --> 00:27:29,686 Speaker 11: need to sit down. I'm very tired. I want to 435 00:27:29,706 --> 00:27:31,886 Speaker 11: sit down. It was just me and her in the cell. 436 00:27:32,546 --> 00:27:34,286 Speaker 11: And she was just by the doorway. And I was like, 437 00:27:34,566 --> 00:27:35,946 Speaker 11: excuse me, can I get in so I can sit down? 438 00:27:37,126 --> 00:27:40,246 Speaker 1: Charmaine noticed right away that Mitrice was acting strange. 439 00:27:41,756 --> 00:27:45,196 Speaker 11: From some of her, like, her actions and stuff, I 440 00:27:45,216 --> 00:27:48,056 Speaker 11: could tell that she was not okay to be by herself. 441 00:27:48,816 --> 00:27:50,756 Speaker 11: I don't know what kind of mental state she was in. Like, 442 00:27:50,956 --> 00:27:52,436 Speaker 11: some people ain't okay to be by themselves. 443 00:27:52,896 --> 00:27:56,596 Speaker 1: She seemed kind of vulnerable to you. Yes, very vulnerable, yes. 444 00:27:58,016 --> 00:28:01,736 Speaker 1: I read somewhere that you requested to change cells. Do 445 00:28:01,776 --> 00:28:03,356 Speaker 1: you remember that? Was she being annoying? 446 00:28:04,636 --> 00:28:07,576 Speaker 11: Because she was, like, she would not understand her situation. Like, 447 00:28:08,236 --> 00:28:11,026 Speaker 11: I'm trying to sleep. If she's going to keep knocking 448 00:28:11,046 --> 00:28:14,566 Speaker 11: at the door, trying to, like, you know, she wanted out. 449 00:28:15,366 --> 00:28:17,766 Speaker 11: Come on, who will arrest someone? You get a ticket 450 00:28:17,786 --> 00:28:19,966 Speaker 11: for that. You don't go to jail for not being 451 00:28:19,986 --> 00:28:22,326 Speaker 11: able to pay your meal. Who will arrest someone for that? 452 00:28:22,346 --> 00:28:25,706 Speaker 11: So it was like they went overboard with it. And 453 00:28:25,766 --> 00:28:28,906 Speaker 11: I felt her. So she was like, she wanted out. 454 00:28:29,406 --> 00:28:31,286 Speaker 1: She's, like, banging on the door? Banging on the door, like, 455 00:28:31,306 --> 00:28:31,646 Speaker 1: trying to. 456 00:28:31,586 --> 00:28:34,386 Speaker 11: Get Debbie, like, sign me out or let me know 457 00:28:34,426 --> 00:28:35,006 Speaker 11: my charges. 458 00:28:36,026 --> 00:28:39,626 Speaker 1: Around 11.45 p.m., When it was determined that Mitrice had 459 00:28:39,746 --> 00:28:43,646 Speaker 1: no outstanding warrants, the jailer gave her the citation and 460 00:28:43,706 --> 00:28:47,806 Speaker 1: told her she could go. She asked Mitrice if someone 461 00:28:47,846 --> 00:28:51,376 Speaker 1: was going to pick her up. Mitrice said she hadn't 462 00:28:51,396 --> 00:28:54,756 Speaker 1: been able to reach anyone. According to the sheriff's department, 463 00:28:55,016 --> 00:28:59,096 Speaker 1: she had tried calling her great-grandmother, Mildred Harris, with no luck. 464 00:29:00,036 --> 00:29:02,856 Speaker 1: The jailer later said she offered to let Mitrice stay 465 00:29:02,916 --> 00:29:05,716 Speaker 1: the night in an unlocked cell or wait in the 466 00:29:05,756 --> 00:29:08,886 Speaker 1: front lobby until she got a ride. but she declined, 467 00:29:09,476 --> 00:29:13,716 Speaker 1: saying she had to go meet friends. Shemaine was in 468 00:29:13,756 --> 00:29:16,196 Speaker 1: a different cell at this point, but she says she 469 00:29:16,236 --> 00:29:19,456 Speaker 1: could hear what was going on. I guess they cited 470 00:29:19,516 --> 00:29:19,896 Speaker 1: her out. 471 00:29:20,256 --> 00:29:21,956 Speaker 11: But when you cite someone out, you still don't let 472 00:29:21,976 --> 00:29:26,116 Speaker 11: them leave until they have knowledge of a ride or 473 00:29:26,216 --> 00:29:28,696 Speaker 11: they have a way to get somewhere. I mean, they 474 00:29:28,716 --> 00:29:30,816 Speaker 11: can call a cab on their own, something like that, 475 00:29:30,836 --> 00:29:33,356 Speaker 11: you know? They wouldn't have released me in the middle 476 00:29:33,386 --> 00:29:36,706 Speaker 11: of the night. I mean, I would hope not, you know, 477 00:29:36,726 --> 00:29:37,846 Speaker 11: because it was in the middle of nowhere. 478 00:29:39,096 --> 00:29:41,996 Speaker 1: It struck her as unusual and not okay. 479 00:29:42,936 --> 00:29:45,686 Speaker 11: When I seen the news, it was like, damn, that's crazy, 480 00:29:45,706 --> 00:29:47,526 Speaker 11: because I was like in a cell with this woman. 481 00:29:48,246 --> 00:29:49,086 Speaker 2: And all of a sudden, she's missing. 482 00:29:50,036 --> 00:29:52,136 Speaker 11: I was thinking like, damn, if I would have got released, like, 483 00:29:52,556 --> 00:29:53,196 Speaker 11: that could have been me. 484 00:29:56,576 --> 00:30:00,346 Speaker 1: Over the following weeks, months, and years, the Los Angeles 485 00:30:00,386 --> 00:30:04,266 Speaker 1: County Sheriff's Department would repeatedly seek to justify their release 486 00:30:04,406 --> 00:30:08,286 Speaker 1: of Mitrice Richardson, saying that legally they did not have 487 00:30:08,306 --> 00:30:12,046 Speaker 1: the right to detain her. She had no outstanding warrants, 488 00:30:12,386 --> 00:30:16,416 Speaker 1: her infractions were misdemeanors, and she was not gravely disabled 489 00:30:16,596 --> 00:30:20,316 Speaker 1: or in immediate danger to herself or others. That's the 490 00:30:20,336 --> 00:30:24,976 Speaker 1: standard for a 5150 psychiatric hold. That's bullshit. 491 00:30:25,976 --> 00:30:26,676 Speaker 12: Is what that is. 492 00:30:27,456 --> 00:30:31,896 Speaker 1: That's bullshit. Here's Hannah again. 493 00:30:33,176 --> 00:30:37,616 Speaker 12: A young woman by herself drives to Malibu to go 494 00:30:37,656 --> 00:30:43,516 Speaker 12: to Joffrey's, an expensive restaurant in Malibu, by herself, claiming 495 00:30:43,576 --> 00:30:47,436 Speaker 12: she's there to avenge Michael Jackson's death, sits with people 496 00:30:47,496 --> 00:30:52,096 Speaker 12: she doesn't know, says weird things, gets arrested for her 497 00:30:52,516 --> 00:30:57,596 Speaker 12: own safety. goes to the police station, all of a 498 00:30:57,646 --> 00:31:02,506 Speaker 12: sudden she's okay. That's bullshit. She wasn't okay. 499 00:31:04,186 --> 00:31:08,406 Speaker 1: Mitrice's unstable mental condition was the reason deputies had taken 500 00:31:08,466 --> 00:31:12,626 Speaker 1: her into custody in the first place. Remember, the arresting 501 00:31:12,686 --> 00:31:16,136 Speaker 1: deputy thought she was, quote, a little ditzy, and he 502 00:31:16,196 --> 00:31:20,836 Speaker 1: was uneasy about just letting her go. But once she 503 00:31:20,856 --> 00:31:24,396 Speaker 1: got to the station, law enforcement says, Mitrice was acting normal. 504 00:31:24,936 --> 00:31:27,596 Speaker 1: so they had no reason to keep her. In fact, 505 00:31:27,676 --> 00:31:32,446 Speaker 1: they said, they were legally obligated to release her. Hannah 506 00:31:32,486 --> 00:31:37,346 Speaker 1: says that is just not possible. Anyone who interacted with 507 00:31:37,406 --> 00:31:40,526 Speaker 1: Mitrice would have recognized that she was in crisis. 508 00:31:42,126 --> 00:31:45,966 Speaker 12: I understand that some people are thinking, oh, maybe she 509 00:31:46,006 --> 00:31:51,316 Speaker 12: was on drugs, or maybe that's what it was. For 510 00:31:51,416 --> 00:31:57,766 Speaker 12: me personally... It was a psychotic break that my trees 511 00:31:57,926 --> 00:32:02,646 Speaker 12: was experiencing. The drive to Malibu, the Joffreys, the saying 512 00:32:02,686 --> 00:32:06,266 Speaker 12: she was meeting me, the talking about aliens and Michael 513 00:32:06,306 --> 00:32:13,736 Speaker 12: Jackson and all that. And it is without question. Anybody 514 00:32:14,016 --> 00:32:18,816 Speaker 12: that came into contact with Mitrice, look at the mugshot. 515 00:32:19,296 --> 00:32:22,656 Speaker 12: Anybody who came into any contact with her, I don't 516 00:32:22,716 --> 00:32:27,436 Speaker 12: care who you are, family, neighbor, somebody who's walking past 517 00:32:27,476 --> 00:32:31,636 Speaker 12: her on the street, there is a 0% chance that 518 00:32:31,776 --> 00:32:34,176 Speaker 12: they didn't know something was wrong with her mentally. 519 00:32:34,596 --> 00:32:35,016 Speaker 9: Zero. 520 00:32:38,756 --> 00:32:43,306 Speaker 1: At 12.25 a.m., Mitrice left Lost Hill Station. She had 521 00:32:43,386 --> 00:32:46,546 Speaker 1: no money, and her phone was in her car, which 522 00:32:46,586 --> 00:32:49,756 Speaker 1: was in a tow yard 10 miles away on the 523 00:32:49,896 --> 00:32:53,336 Speaker 1: other side of Malibu Canyon near Pacific Coast Highway. 524 00:32:55,116 --> 00:33:00,686 Speaker 12: Make it make sense. It doesn't make sense. At bare minimum, 525 00:33:00,726 --> 00:33:05,296 Speaker 12: they should have kept my trees at bay. the sheriff's station, 526 00:33:05,616 --> 00:33:09,156 Speaker 12: until morning, until her mom came or somebody came to 527 00:33:09,216 --> 00:33:11,576 Speaker 12: come check on her and get her. She had nothing. 528 00:33:11,956 --> 00:33:15,076 Speaker 12: They knew she was mentally unwell, which is why she 529 00:33:15,096 --> 00:33:17,456 Speaker 12: was there in the first place. What they should have 530 00:33:17,496 --> 00:33:19,376 Speaker 12: done is placed her on a hold and taken her 531 00:33:19,416 --> 00:33:22,216 Speaker 12: to a psychiatric facility, but they can't do that because 532 00:33:22,256 --> 00:33:26,686 Speaker 12: they're claiming she was fine. They're lying. It's bullshit, and 533 00:33:26,706 --> 00:33:28,586 Speaker 12: if you care about my treats, you'll. 534 00:33:28,426 --> 00:33:29,186 Speaker 1: Say what's true. 535 00:33:29,446 --> 00:33:33,056 Speaker 12: That's true. They're just trying to cover their own ass. 536 00:33:33,156 --> 00:33:35,916 Speaker 12: That's bullshit. And that really bothers me. 537 00:33:38,316 --> 00:33:41,006 Speaker 1: Once she left the station, Mitrice had no way to 538 00:33:41,066 --> 00:33:44,086 Speaker 1: call anyone for help and no way for help to 539 00:33:44,146 --> 00:33:48,146 Speaker 1: find her. All of this was news to her mother, 540 00:33:49,146 --> 00:33:52,236 Speaker 1: who called the station around 5.20 a.m. on the morning 541 00:33:52,246 --> 00:33:55,616 Speaker 1: of the 17th and was horrified to learn that her 542 00:33:55,696 --> 00:33:59,826 Speaker 1: daughter was no longer there. She thought she had an 543 00:33:59,866 --> 00:34:03,346 Speaker 1: agreement with the cops that they would keep Mitrice overnight. 544 00:34:04,726 --> 00:34:08,306 Speaker 1: Latice was alarmed. Mitrice had already been out of custody 545 00:34:08,386 --> 00:34:11,006 Speaker 1: for five hours, and no one in the family had 546 00:34:11,046 --> 00:34:16,406 Speaker 1: heard from her. Fifteen minutes later, at 5.35 a.m., Latice 547 00:34:16,466 --> 00:34:19,226 Speaker 1: called Lost Hill Station again to find out how to 548 00:34:19,306 --> 00:34:21,026 Speaker 1: file a missing persons report. 549 00:34:23,206 --> 00:34:24,726 Speaker 9: Lost Hill Station, Baumgartner. 550 00:34:25,296 --> 00:34:28,316 Speaker 1: This recording of Latice's call was released on the Internet 551 00:34:28,376 --> 00:34:29,976 Speaker 1: shortly after Mitrice disappeared. 552 00:34:29,996 --> 00:34:33,606 Speaker 5: Yes, hi. My name is Latice. I called not too 553 00:34:33,646 --> 00:34:37,786 Speaker 5: long ago regarding my daughter, Mitrice Richardson. How long before 554 00:34:37,806 --> 00:34:41,266 Speaker 5: a missing persons report can be filed? Is it 24 555 00:34:41,266 --> 00:34:42,166 Speaker 5: or 48 hours? 556 00:34:43,146 --> 00:34:48,396 Speaker 10: Well, it depends on the circumstances, but I didn't take 557 00:34:48,416 --> 00:34:49,986 Speaker 10: your call, so I'm not familiar with it. 558 00:34:50,016 --> 00:34:52,716 Speaker 9: Did she just not return home after going out? 559 00:34:53,846 --> 00:34:56,566 Speaker 1: She explains that Mitrice had been in custody at Lost 560 00:34:56,586 --> 00:34:58,366 Speaker 1: Hill Station and then released. 561 00:34:58,386 --> 00:35:02,386 Speaker 5: She was arrested last night. This is the first time 562 00:35:02,406 --> 00:35:08,436 Speaker 5: she's been arrested. She's in an unknown area that she's 563 00:35:08,476 --> 00:35:12,796 Speaker 5: never been in. She's without a vehicle. Nobody can find her. 564 00:35:13,916 --> 00:35:18,196 Speaker 1: But the deputy doesn't seem overly concerned. He thinks Mitrice 565 00:35:18,216 --> 00:35:20,496 Speaker 1: can hold off on the missing persons report. 566 00:35:22,056 --> 00:35:25,876 Speaker 10: Yeah, normally I wouldn't recommend doing one. 567 00:35:28,566 --> 00:35:29,266 Speaker 9: That soon. 568 00:35:29,286 --> 00:35:32,066 Speaker 5: Right. What is the time frame? 569 00:35:32,226 --> 00:35:35,426 Speaker 10: You know, I guess probably 24 hours would be reasonable. 570 00:35:36,026 --> 00:35:39,966 Speaker 10: I mean, if there would be some mitigating factors, you know, 571 00:35:40,026 --> 00:35:43,696 Speaker 10: where you would suspect maybe something. 572 00:35:43,706 --> 00:35:48,766 Speaker 5: You know, not quite right. She doesn't know the area. 573 00:35:48,846 --> 00:35:51,326 Speaker 5: She's never been in your area before. 574 00:35:51,386 --> 00:35:52,266 Speaker 9: Where does she live? 575 00:35:52,306 --> 00:35:54,666 Speaker 5: She is unfamiliar with that area. 576 00:35:54,706 --> 00:35:58,646 Speaker 9: Do you think she possibly could have gotten a bus home? 577 00:35:58,946 --> 00:36:02,896 Speaker 5: No. Listen, my child has never ridden a bus. No. 578 00:36:03,376 --> 00:36:04,916 Speaker 5: She would not know how to ride a bus. 579 00:36:06,436 --> 00:36:09,896 Speaker 10: I would probably wait until, you know, early this morning. 580 00:36:10,176 --> 00:36:12,676 Speaker 10: And if she doesn't turn up, you can certainly call. 581 00:36:12,716 --> 00:36:15,736 Speaker 10: I don't suspect anything bad happened. 582 00:36:18,126 --> 00:36:22,186 Speaker 1: But Latice does suspect something bad has happened, so she 583 00:36:22,226 --> 00:36:23,666 Speaker 1: decides to level with him. 584 00:36:24,786 --> 00:36:28,236 Speaker 5: Something is obviously going on with her. 585 00:36:28,376 --> 00:36:29,596 Speaker 9: Have you talked to the jailer? 586 00:36:30,436 --> 00:36:33,296 Speaker 5: Yes, yes, yes, yes, I have. He said he tried 587 00:36:33,416 --> 00:36:35,836 Speaker 5: to get her to stay, but because she was an adult, 588 00:36:35,896 --> 00:36:38,956 Speaker 5: they had to let her go. I believe that she 589 00:36:39,116 --> 00:36:43,326 Speaker 5: is highly depressed, and she's in a depressive state. 590 00:36:43,346 --> 00:36:50,206 Speaker 9: Okay. You know, it could be possible that maybe she. 591 00:36:51,006 --> 00:36:53,336 Speaker 10: I mean, there's a lot of options and a lot 592 00:36:53,356 --> 00:36:56,116 Speaker 10: of possibilities, and I don't think all of them would be, 593 00:36:57,756 --> 00:37:02,476 Speaker 10: you know, something dire. But I can certainly understand. 594 00:37:01,976 --> 00:37:04,916 Speaker 9: Your fears, you know, being your daughter and all that. 595 00:37:05,536 --> 00:37:08,916 Speaker 5: Well, I think she's depressed. That's what has me more. 596 00:37:09,256 --> 00:37:11,956 Speaker 9: That's worried you more than just her... Okay. 597 00:37:12,666 --> 00:37:14,826 Speaker 5: That and the fact that she's in an area where 598 00:37:14,866 --> 00:37:16,806 Speaker 5: she doesn't know where she's at. 599 00:37:16,846 --> 00:37:18,646 Speaker 9: Does she take medication at all? 600 00:37:19,426 --> 00:37:23,066 Speaker 5: No. I believe it's a state that she's in right 601 00:37:23,146 --> 00:37:27,366 Speaker 5: now because of just the weird activity that's going on. 602 00:37:27,386 --> 00:37:27,906 Speaker 9: What's her name? 603 00:37:27,946 --> 00:37:28,846 Speaker 5: What's her name? 604 00:37:28,886 --> 00:37:32,906 Speaker 9: Her name is Myatrice Richardson. 605 00:37:39,076 --> 00:37:43,886 Speaker 1: In another hour, around 6.30 a.m., Bill and Karen Smith, 606 00:37:44,226 --> 00:37:47,436 Speaker 1: the couple in Montanito who spotted Mitrice in their backyard, 607 00:37:47,816 --> 00:37:53,276 Speaker 1: would call the cops. This is a recording of that call, 608 00:37:53,536 --> 00:37:54,716 Speaker 1: which was published online. 609 00:37:55,196 --> 00:38:12,346 Speaker 8: The Smiths lived at the tennis courthouse. This is Cold Canyon, 610 00:38:12,826 --> 00:38:16,446 Speaker 8: like Hot and Cold in Montenegro. But it's in the 611 00:38:16,486 --> 00:38:19,386 Speaker 8: back of the house, which is right where Wood Bluff 612 00:38:19,426 --> 00:38:26,866 Speaker 8: hits Cold Canyon. And we just had a strange woman 613 00:38:26,886 --> 00:38:29,546 Speaker 8: walk up to the backyard here. It's a fairly large property, 614 00:38:29,586 --> 00:38:31,486 Speaker 8: and she was sitting on the steps right in the 615 00:38:31,526 --> 00:38:33,926 Speaker 8: back of the house here. This is kind of a 616 00:38:33,966 --> 00:38:36,496 Speaker 8: circular driveway, and the gates were closed, so we don't 617 00:38:36,506 --> 00:38:37,476 Speaker 8: know where this woman came from. 618 00:38:38,936 --> 00:38:42,236 Speaker 1: Their property, Smith said, connected to a network of trails 619 00:38:42,776 --> 00:38:44,356 Speaker 1: used by everyone in the neighborhood. 620 00:38:44,376 --> 00:38:47,316 Speaker 9: What did she look like, white, black, and spanky? 621 00:38:47,356 --> 00:38:50,316 Speaker 8: You know, a tall, slim, black woman with afro hair. 622 00:38:50,336 --> 00:38:53,476 Speaker 8: How tall? Well, she was sitting down, stretched out on 623 00:38:53,496 --> 00:38:54,936 Speaker 8: the wooden steps in the back of the house, hard 624 00:38:54,976 --> 00:38:56,536 Speaker 8: to tell. But she looked like she might have been 625 00:38:56,856 --> 00:39:00,816 Speaker 8: medium to slightly tall, with a big afro hair, very skinny. 626 00:39:01,696 --> 00:39:04,276 Speaker 8: I think she was wearing maybe jeans or tight pants 627 00:39:04,316 --> 00:39:04,976 Speaker 8: with a t-shirt. 628 00:39:05,316 --> 00:39:06,836 Speaker 9: You've never seen her there before? 629 00:39:06,856 --> 00:39:09,096 Speaker 8: No, never. Nobody ever does that. I mean, the people 630 00:39:09,116 --> 00:39:11,296 Speaker 8: hike on the trail all the time. The trail goes 631 00:39:11,316 --> 00:39:13,006 Speaker 8: through our property, but we leave it open on purpose 632 00:39:13,026 --> 00:39:14,956 Speaker 8: because it's kind of a nice thing for horses and people. 633 00:39:15,646 --> 00:39:18,546 Speaker 9: And you said she was laying across the steps? 634 00:39:18,706 --> 00:39:21,506 Speaker 8: She was sitting kind of sprawled out on these wooden 635 00:39:21,526 --> 00:39:22,886 Speaker 8: steps in the back of the house, right against the 636 00:39:22,926 --> 00:39:25,126 Speaker 8: back of the house. She's since got up and left? 637 00:39:25,606 --> 00:39:27,706 Speaker 8: She's since gone, yeah. She's been gone about five minutes now, 638 00:39:27,726 --> 00:39:29,626 Speaker 8: but as we followed over, we thought maybe a little 639 00:39:29,646 --> 00:39:32,716 Speaker 8: drive-by wouldn't be a bad idea. And what direction was 640 00:39:32,816 --> 00:39:35,326 Speaker 8: she last seen Never saw her. Once she left, she 641 00:39:35,366 --> 00:39:39,286 Speaker 8: just disappeared. I moved from one window to another. I 642 00:39:39,326 --> 00:39:41,046 Speaker 8: said to her, I hollered down, are you all right? 643 00:39:41,086 --> 00:39:43,106 Speaker 8: She said, I'm just resting or something like that. 644 00:39:45,976 --> 00:39:49,136 Speaker 1: According to her memoir, when Latisse arrived at Lost Hill 645 00:39:49,176 --> 00:39:53,196 Speaker 1: Station to file a missing persons report, the deputy recognized 646 00:39:53,276 --> 00:39:57,786 Speaker 1: the name Mitrice Richardson. He told Latice someone who looked 647 00:39:57,806 --> 00:40:02,776 Speaker 1: like her daughter had been seen in Montanito early that morning. Matrice, 648 00:40:02,816 --> 00:40:07,836 Speaker 1: he said, might be, quote, with some friends in the neighborhood, unquote. 649 00:40:09,836 --> 00:40:13,926 Speaker 1: Friends in Montanito? Matrice didn't have any friends in Montanito. 650 00:40:15,526 --> 00:40:18,246 Speaker 1: Latice asked how to get there. The deputy told her, 651 00:40:18,566 --> 00:40:22,086 Speaker 1: just take Las Virginas, the road that turns into Malibu Canyon, 652 00:40:22,646 --> 00:40:30,316 Speaker 1: and you'll hit Cold Canyon Road. As Latisse drove mile 653 00:40:30,376 --> 00:40:34,696 Speaker 1: after mile of rural Canyon Road, no houses, no street lamps, 654 00:40:34,776 --> 00:40:38,756 Speaker 1: no nothing, she thought. There's no way on earth my 655 00:40:38,796 --> 00:40:45,176 Speaker 1: daughter walked here. My trees was afraid of the dark. 656 00:40:52,646 --> 00:40:56,226 Speaker 1: Next time on Lost Hills. Did you have the feeling 657 00:40:56,286 --> 00:40:59,746 Speaker 1: when you were dealing with people in Montanito, like they 658 00:40:59,806 --> 00:41:02,446 Speaker 1: wanted to tell you something, but they couldn't tell you something? 659 00:41:03,086 --> 00:41:08,016 Speaker 4: Yes, definitely. People just didn't want to talk. They're just 660 00:41:08,076 --> 00:41:11,296 Speaker 4: afraid of law enforcement. This story by this time had 661 00:41:11,336 --> 00:41:13,836 Speaker 4: broke on the news, and law enforcement did not look good. 662 00:41:14,776 --> 00:41:16,936 Speaker 4: They're not really in a position to talk because these 663 00:41:16,956 --> 00:41:19,416 Speaker 4: are the people that they have to rely on to 664 00:41:19,816 --> 00:41:22,456 Speaker 4: protect them. Because, you know, it's so secluded. 665 00:41:23,646 --> 00:41:34,036 Speaker 1: That's next in Episode 4 of Lost Hills, Hopscotch. Lost 666 00:41:34,076 --> 00:41:37,416 Speaker 1: Hills is written and hosted by me, Dana Goodyear. It 667 00:41:37,456 --> 00:41:40,896 Speaker 1: was reported by me and Haley Fox, our senior producer. 668 00:41:41,526 --> 00:41:45,106 Speaker 1: The show was created by me and Ben Adair. Lost 669 00:41:45,146 --> 00:41:48,446 Speaker 1: Hills is a production of Western Sound and Pushkin Industries. 670 00:41:52,106 --> 00:41:54,966 Speaker 1: Subscribe to Pushkin Plus and you can binge the whole 671 00:41:55,006 --> 00:41:59,326 Speaker 1: season right now ad-free. Find Pushkin Plus on the Lost 672 00:41:59,346 --> 00:42:04,756 Speaker 1: Hills show page in Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm slash plus.