Mitrice Richardson Case: Investigators Follow Vegas Leads

Authorities told NBCLA on Wednesday there is a very good chance that a 24-year-old Cal State Fullerton graduate who was reported missing last year is alive and living in Las Vegas.

Sources tell NBCLA that Mitrice Richardson was last seen at the Rio Hotel in June. The woman's family has been notified of the situation, sources told NBCLA.

Authorities conducted a conference Thursday to urge Richardson to contact authorities. Authorities said they are following up on the lead regarding the possible Las Vegas sighting.

Late Wednesday night Mitrice's father, Michael Richardson told NBCLA he was planning to make a "surprise guest appearance" at the Las Vegas news conference. 

"I am very very positive that she is in Vegas," he said.

Richardson told NBCLA he filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Tuesday over Mitrice's disappearance.

"Please let us know you're OK," Sheriff's Department spokesman Steve Whitmore told the Los Angeles Times. "You're not in trouble. You've done nothing wrong. You are not the subject of a criminal investigation. You will not be arrested."

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Richardson vanished in September 2009 after walking out of the Lost Hills sheriff's station near Malibu.

She had been arrested for not paying her bill at a Malibu restaurant in September. Based on her diaries, investigators believe that days before her arrest, the Cal State Fullerton graduate had gone without sleep for as many as five nights and described her as having a major mental breakdown.

Whitmore would not confirm a report from Michael Richardson, the woman's father, who said a deputy told him there were about 80 possible sightings of his daughter in Las Vegas.

Both of the woman's parents are suing the sheriff's department and the county.

Michael Richardson also told The Times that sheriff's deputies discussed with him the possibility that his daughter was working as prostitute, and he told the newspaper it was possible that someone was keeping her from contacting her family and friends.

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