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J. Richard DuPont

Jan 3, 1974 - Jan 18, 2001

(Mentally Ill Ex-MCI/Worldcom computer programmer needlessly dies of hypothermia after being released over 24 miles from his camping gear at Point Mugu. Apparently Richard was expected to go back to a ranger station and possibly confront three rangers who took him down needlessly,alone by himself, with no help from any Agency in Ventura County. Would anyone go back without help? Social Worker Lori Perlman acknowledge in her report that Richard was talking to himself but thought that normal! She saw him on Nov 14 that Nov.20 and there appears to be no metion of how Richard was to get whole again! Obviously Lori was not qualified

to assess the condition of my son. Obviously the public defender did not give a damn about my son's condition either. The question is, when was the State Parks department going to let Richard know that they had his life saving camping gear. Gear that would have saved his life?!?!?!

The Public Defeners office refused to lift a finger to help also.

Our 27 year old son Joseph Richard Dupont, but known as J.Richard Dupont was found dead in Ventura County, California on Jan. 18th. While on his own he managed to use his debit card twice in Jan. The last time being Jan. 12th! He was trying to piece his life together while camping on the beautiful Californian coast. Richard was born on Jan 3 1974. He was a kind, gentle and very philosophical soul. (Class of 92 WHRHS)

Richard had chosen to try to make it in California. Richard was institutionalized twice before.

Faced with another return to Saint Clare's Hopital Richard begged us to take him home. We bought him the proper camping gear to make him more visible and to give him a chance if he took off again. His brother Michael returned from Germany to take a quick camping trip with us. We drove to California via Montain Home,Arkansas and saw the Cooley's their grand parents on their mother's side. It was at a road side stand that Richard purchase the knife which proved to be his downfall.

We drove to New Mexico and saw their Uncle J Richard DuPont who Richard was named after. We eventually made San Diego and camped our way up the coast to Leo Carrillo Park (Los Angeles County) just 6 miles South of Pount Mugu(Ventura County). We had to return and Richard wanted to stay.

At that point I decided to get him a bike trailer from the Oxnard bicycle shop. We hugged and told him that we loved him and drove back to NJ in two days for Michael's flight back to Frankfurt. Richard had promised to call collect every week or two. He never did.

We did find out from a fine sent to our address that he had been arrested on 11/14.

Rangers inquired about his camping fees and asked him if he had any weapons. He opened up his jacket and displayed his contained knife. Instead of asking him to drop his knife or the belt it was on and step back they

attempted to disarm him. It got ugly.Frantic calls to find out the facts were made. The Public Defenders office refused to cooperate and told me that Richard was a big boy and that I should let him live his own life. Although Richard listed my name and telephone number, in case of an emergency, the public defenders office did not see this as any

reason to co-operater with me. A bail of $50,000.00 was set for Richard! At this point, I now know that Judge Campbell did not know at the time of Richard's trial that he was mentally ill. The Rangers who had witnessed his behavior for at least 2 weeks made no report of same. When the trial came, Richard was to be banned from Ventura County Parks for the next 3 years. That being factual, exactly how was Richard supposed to legally get his camping gear back? Until Judge Campbell said "NO!" to that agreement, what written record did

the public defenders office have have that

they made made plans for the return of Richard's things, if it would have been illegal for him to get them?!

Technicality? Richard was arrested on a technicality. Knowing the needless brutality with which Richard was taken down, is there now more reasons why Richard never made it back to the camp where these Rangers hot dogged him? Knowing that Richard was mentally ill, did Liana really think he was going back without assistance? Richard was released about 24 miles from his life sustaining property. If Richard was actually banned from camping in Ventura County his only

escape route would have been South, back to

Leo Carrillo only 6-7 miles South to where

he was arrested! Did any one talk to him about that? You might write the public defender's office and ask why they

never told the judge. You might write them

and tell them about Richard. Richard was ultimately found dead on Jan. 18th, minus his boots, hat, vest and debit card! We now know that Richard's blood test showed NO drugs and .06% alcahol in his blood. I am now wondering if the marks might have been from his hospital stays or rough handling from the rangers.

You might ask, even as a tax payer, why someone with over 2 thousand on him

and a debit card line of over 10,000 dollars would get a public defender? Richard could afford a GOOD lawyer who cared. But I guess as long as they keep busy they keep

employed at the tax payers expense. Something Tax Payer Groups should look into!

Today, Oct.13 we took Richard to Rays Sport Shop on Rt 22 and purchased a 2 man tent, a sleeping bag good to -15F, a back pack and a sleeping mat

to keep him dry on the ground. We are looking for some warm hiking boots which he could not find at Rays. If Richard is going to travel or trek across this nation, hopefully this equipment will prevent him from getting too wet or cold. Hopefully we can get him to communicate with us as to when he leaves, where he is going and to call collect every week or so. If we can accomplish just that it will be a big victory.

Richard graduated from Watchung Hills Regional High School in 1992 and took computer programming courses at Raritan Valley Community College. He joined his brother in Germany at MCI Worldcom for about 4 years. He worked with his brother J Michael on their(MCI Worldcom's) billing program. It is possible that excessively long hours at MCI caused my son to burn out. Apparently he wanted time off without pay and they would not give it to him.

Left our house in NJ with ($300.00)

Had a bankcard on him, which he has not used.

(bank card has pin number accidently changed so

Richard could not access it.)

left with belly pack (was found with it.)

left with back pack ( was found with it and blanket.)

left with over coat( found with it.)

has not called any know family or friend.

(was about to head home.)

Apparently stayed around the house for a few days

trying to get Juno to give us his email address password. (Juno never came up with pass word.)

waiting for telephone call records.

(Phone records give no indication where he was or was going.)

Has not worked in about a

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Our deepest and sincerest appreciation goes out to the many concerned officers of the Long Hill Police Department who told us never to give up hope. A special thanks goes out to Det. Sean Brown and Det. Sgt Dan Hedden. They never lost hope or gave up. One can not fully appreciate the decation of the men in blue until they come to your aid in the time of crisis. All police departments should have the heart and soul of Long Hill Township's. [email protected]

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Officer who first saw Richard's body

Corporal Matt Harvill 530 622 5658

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Thanks to the Payton Mortuary in Oxnard, California who truly helped me to give honor to my son as did Deacon

Oscar Duke who prayed with me and asked the lord to accept him at his side.

I want Thank Air West and Continental Airlines who did everything they could to get me out there and back with Richard.

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I want to thank Senior Deputy Public Defender Neil Quinn and Susan Olson for taking the time to let me know they cared. It is possible that if any one other than Liana Johnsson represented my son that he might be alive today.

You have heard of the wall of blue.]

I wonder if they will protect Liana.

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Mitch Breeze and Craig Stevens of the Coroners office were very professional in doing thier painful job of calling the next of kin. It is a shame that the Point Mugu Rangers or Liana Johnsson did not call the next of kin when it could have counted. What a waste of life!

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Such events test us and humble us and hopefully make us better and more understanding people. The mind is a very fragile thing which many us only eventually learn. I want to thank so many people who prayed and sent their heartfelt thoughts of concern. It did make a difference and we will always be indebted.

Richard is gone. He is at peace. He could never have lived in an institution. He chose to be free and may have died early as a result of that decision. Hopefully, for himself, he made the right decision. For myself, I will grieve for him forever. If changes can be made to make such a tragedy less likely for others I will grieve a little less. Please try to make a statement on what basic rights our mentally ill and homeless deserve.



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