Anita Middleton Richardson, 24: Husband Claims Missing Woman Left Him
She abruptly left a party after fighting with her husband.
In 2003, Anita Middleton Richardson was last seen on August 15 in Columbia, South Carolina. That day, Anita reportedly visited her cousin's residence at the Churchill Apartments to celebrate a baby shower. Things took a turn when Anita and her husband, Robert Richardson Jr., got into a fiery argument. Upset, Anita stormed out of the party. Anita's family considered Richard to be abusive.
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Anita's family was unable to get in contact with her that evening or the next day. They hadn't heard from her for months, and eventually, on October 10, her sister Natalie Middleton filed an official missing person report. Then, someone spotted her missing 1994 green Ford Mustang. It was in St. Mary’s, Georgia, with Anita's husband's sister behind the wheel. When authorities learned of the news, they began considering that Anita's case could be a homicide.
"That one put the icing on the cake," Natalie told Fox 57 News. "Before that, we didn't really know nothing before that. But for the sister to have the car in Georgia?"
The Investigation Into Anita's Husband
Police questioned Richard, but according to The Charley Project, he wasn't named as a suspect. The husband claimed his wife left him after their last argument, and he hadn't had any contact with her since. Not long after Anita went missing, Richard stopped paying rent at their apartment and moved before two eviction notices were left on the door. The home was vacant, but food was still in the refrigerator, and Anita's personal belongings were left behind. "This included a television set, a video cassette recorder, a mattress, and Richardson's clothes," reports TCP.
A Family Comes To Their Own Conclusions
Anita's father, Charles Wideman, doesn't believe that his daughter is alive, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want to know what happened to his child. Back in 2014, Charles told Fox 57 News that he wasn't happy with what he believed was a "lack of action" by South Carolina authorities. Anita has been listed as being 24 years old when she went missing, an age that Charles claimed was incorrect. However, in his interview, he didn't state Anita's accurate age.
The family of Anita Middleton Richardson believes that Richard Richardson Jr. is responsible for her death, but they don't have the evidence to prove it. They claimed that Richard never contacted them to find Anita.
Anita Middleton Richardson: What To Know
At the time of her disappearance, Anita was described as 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 135 pounds. She had black/dark brown hair and brown eyes. Both of her ears are pierced. Her middle name is listed as Quatina, and she went by the nickname Q.
Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact the Richland County Sheriff's Department at 803-576-3000 or their local authorities.
Please share this story regarding Anita Middleton Richardson to reignite the investigation into her disappearance. She is our sister, and her life matters.
Case Number:
Agency: Richland County Sheriff's Department
Phone: 803-576-3000
Email:
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