Update: Sheriff Lee Baca took some heat from reporters for allegedly notifying Mitrice Richardson's family of her body's identification moments before his press conference. KTLA reports:
Richardson's father, Michael, said officials never contacted him to confirm his daughter's death prior to the press conference. Instead, he says, he found out through the news media.
When asked why Michael Richardson was not informed, Baca grew visibly agitated and said that he himself had just found out the confirmation minutes before the news conference.
Baca responded saying, "I just get informed a half an hour ago. You expect me to tell the father immediately?"
Baca also said he had offered the father his condolences upon arriving to the news conference.
Coroner's offiicals said they contacted Michael Richardson and left him a message, which is standard procedure.
Watch Baca's angry response to the reporter's questions:
Original Story
The remains of Mitrice Richardson have been identified in Malibu Canyon, a source tells the Los Angeles Times.
CNN confirmed the news and said that the family has been informed.
The body was found on Monday about two and a half miles from the last credible sighting of her on Sept. 17, 2009.
Richardson had vanished nearly a year ago, after she was arrested for being unable to pay an $89 dinner tab at a Malibu restaurant and subsequently released in the early morning hours while it was still dark.
A campaign to Bring Mitrice Home had been circulating the Web. The 25-year-old grad student was a 4.0 GPA student who completed her undergraduate studies studying psychology at Fullerton.
She was allegedly sighted in Las Vegas in June, temporarily restoring hope to rescue efforts, and L.A. County Sheriff officials had said there were several "credible sightings."