Mitrice Richardson's Mother Sues LA County Sheriff's Department

The mother of a lesbian who went missing last year filed a lawsuit against Los Angeles County and the Sheriff's Department Tuesday.

Mitrice Richardsonwas last seen September 17 when she was arrested in Malibu, Calif., for her inability to pay a $90 bill at a restaurant. Richardson was released from a sheriff's station early in the morning after exhibiting strange behavior in her jail cell the previous night.

Her mother, Latice Sutton, believes Richardson would not have gone missing if police had given her daughter a mental evaluation before releasing her. Sutton is suing for wrongful death and negligence because after acting mentally disturbed, Richardson was released from custody without her cell phone, purse, or car into a deserted area.

Those closest to Richardson believe the 4.0 GPA student, who was described as being a responsible woman, might have had the equivalent of a mental breakdown before the restaurant episode happened. Authorities deny that Richardson acted strangely while in custody, but surveillance videos show Richardson tugging on her hair and pacing shortly before her disappearance.

Richardson was last seen walking in a Malibu yard, but there are no other confirmed sightings of the woman.

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