Perryman Family Still Searching After Richardson Discovery

When human bones were found in a Malibu ravine Aug. 9, Timothy Perryman's family arrived on the scene hoping that this would be the closure they've sought after six years of searching.

A forensic anthropologist examined the remains Wednesday, and dental records were compared with ones belonging to Perryman, a 53-year-old Agoura Hills resident who went missing after leaving his home around 1 p.m. March 28, 2004. 

Described as 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 185 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes, the Scoutmaster was believed to have gone for a hike in the mountains near his home before he disappeared, according to Det. Diane Harris of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Division, Missing Persons Detail.

"Each one of the family members called me after they found those remains," said Harris. "I am sure they are torn between wishing it's him and hoping it's not. At least people would know. And that is the hardest part."

Perryman's youngest son, 24-year-old Mark, an Eagle Scout who will be beginning his final year at Cal State Northridge in the fall, was hopeful Wednesday.

"There is a backbone trail pretty near the site. It is why we are concerned that these remains may be possibly my father," said Perryman. "It is another reason to lead us to believe that he may be on a trail somewhere."

But on Friday, the remains were confirmed to be those of Mitrice Richardson, a 24-year-old Cal State Fullerton graduate who had been taken into custody on a citizen's arrest after failing to pay an $89 restaurant tab in Malibu.

"It's funny, because when these remains that are Mitrice's came up, there were probably so many people out there who didn't remember that my father even went missing," said Perryman. 

Darrell LaMoure, director of the now defunct nonprofit Racing for the Missing, a division of the nation's Missing Children's Organization, remembered placing a larger-than-life image of Perryman on Jim Pettit's race car in 2005 to publicize his disappearance.  

"I think it would have been a wonderful thing to find him, if for any reason—his family," said LaMoure. "What we found over the years was that if it was new in the news, the family got a lot of attention, but after awhile, it just died off. Unfortunately, in most missing persons cases, the law enforcement just doesn't seem to give as much weight to an adult as a child."

Perryman said he and his family are grateful for the sheriff's department's efforts and are sorry for the Richardson family's loss.

"It is very unfortunate that it is their daughter, and we are happy for them that they can find closure," said Perryman. "For us, we are going to keep searching for my dad. He has been missing since 2004 and he is still missing, and anyone that is willing to help us follow up and try to find him, that would be extremely helpful."