Details of Disappearance
Richerson was a student at Texas A & M University in Galveston, Texas in 1988. She was employed as a night clerk at Casa Del Mar Condominiums on Seawall Boulevard in the resort community at the time. Richerson was last seen at work at approximately 6:00 AM on October 7, 1988 by resort security guards. Another employee who was sleeping in a room above Richerson's office heard a female scream shortly after the guards left the vicinity. A car door slammed shut, accompnaied by another scream and the sound of a car speeding away from the parking lot ahortly thereafter. A guest arrived at Richerson's office to check out at approximately 6:30 AM and discovered the desk was abandoned. There was no sign of a struggle and Richerson's purse, books and car were left at the resort. One of Richerson's shoes was located in the parking lot later in the morning, but she has never been seen again.
Richerson was wearing a blue blouse, a denim skirt and tan shoes at the time of her disappearance. Foul play is suspected in her case. Her disappearance may be connected to a string of over 20 women who have been abducted and / or murdered in the Galveston, Texas area since the 1970's. A task force comprised of local law enforcement officials and Federal Bureau Of Investigation (FBI) agents has been formed to investigate the incidents called Operation HALT (Homicide / Abduction Liason Team).
The disappearances of three other young women from Galveston County may also be connected to Operation HALT's caseload. Sondra Ramber vanished in 1983, Michelle Thomas disappeared in 1985 and Jessica Cain vanished in 1997. It should be emphasized that law enforcement has not determined if these cases are related to one another.
Gabriel Soto was a suspect in Richerson's case. He died as the result of an apparent drug overdose in late July 2002. Authorities stated that they believed Soto was involved in Richerson's abduction, but he was never charged in connection with her disappearance. Soto was arrested sometime before his death after allegedly attempting to run his vehicle over another individual. Investigators said that the victim told Soto to avoid another person who allegedly witnessed Soto and Richerson speaking on the night of her abduction.
Authorities reportedly questioned two cousins about Richerson's case in May 2001. Media sources claimed that officials had located circumstancial evidence that connected the men to her disappearance. The cousins resided in Galveston in 2001 and allegedly denied any involvement in her case.