Authorities are one step closer in determining what happened to a Washington, D.C., man whose abandoned vehicle was found on a desolate mining road in Big Horn County more than four years ago.
Davante Richardson, then 28, drove to Wyoming in July 2020 after telling others he was planning to “help Kanye West.”
West, a noted musician, businessman and former presidential candidate, had just bought two ranch properties in Cody and Greybull, which is where it was believed Richardson was headed. There’s no evidence suggesting he made it to either ranch.
Richardson was reported missing by family on July 22, 2020, after they lost contact with him, and his abandoned 2016 Jeep Compass was discovered on a haul road roughly 7 miles outside of Greybull a week later.
Despite extensive searches on foot, horseback, aerial and drone, and K-9 searches by the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies, no trace of Richardson has ever been found.
New leads generated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which is working hand-in-hand with the Big Horn Sheriff’s Office and the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., have helped clarify Richardson’s route on the 1,600-mile trip to Wyoming, where his digital footprint ended in Big Horn County.
Initially, it was believed that Richardson traveled through Nebraska, but advanced technology used by the FBI now suggests he drove through the highline of South Dakota into Buffalo and through the Big Horn Mountains, according to Big Horn County Sheriff Ken Blackburn.
Blackburn declined to elaborate on how this rerouting changes the focus of the investigation, only to say that it’s “very” active.
“We’ve got a very good rapport going with the FBI and the Washington, D.C., police,” he told Cowboy State Daily. “There has been a lot of investigation going on, and there are a lot of leads continuing to be followed up on.”
Too Clean
One of the key pieces of evidence in Richardson’s case is his vehicle that was found parked on the side of an unpaved bentonite mining road. It showed no sign of mechanical issues.
In it were Richardson’s digital equipment, including at least one cellphone and two laptops, as well as a charging cord, Blackburn said.
Missing were his clothing, a travel bag, wallet, bank cards or other forms of personal identification. There have been no transactions or activity on his bank accounts since Richardson disappeared.
What struck Blackburn the most was the condition of the vehicle, which he said was immaculate inside. Despite having traveled nonstop for more than 24 hours, there were no fast-food wrappers or other garbage in the vehicle typically indicative of cross-country road trips.
“The forensic examination of the vehicle, its contents and its condition were not consistent for a vehicle that had just recently traveled across the country,” he said. “It was very clean; it was very organized.”
Blackburn declined to comment on what such evidence might suggest, only that the vehicle has undergone a thorough examination by the FBI.
“This case is far from cold,” he said. “Leads and evidence from the vehicle are being examined with the assistance of other agencies.”
No Trace Of Another Missing Woman and Man
Since his disappearance, there have been numerous searches for Richardson as well as for another missing woman, Danell Bennett, whose truck was found abandoned at a rest stop on Highway 16 between Lovell and Burgess Junction nearly a year later.
Kyle Ellis, of Sheridan, is also missing after being dropped off at a gas station in Greybull in 2018.
Blackburn couldn’t estimate the number of hours spent and miles searched, only to say it’s been extensive for each.
Most recently, they deployed drones with specialized imaging technology capable of spotting a fragment of clothing, Blackburn said, but have thus far not turned up a clue on either missing person.
Search efforts will continue this fall, Blackburn said, noting his gratitude to all the volunteers who have put in countless hours helping to scour the vast terrain.
The sheer vastness and mountainous terrain add to the challenge, Blackburn noted, though he’s committed to bringing all of these missing people home to their families.
“We’ve never stopped looking for them nor will we ever,” he said.
Thus far, there has been one unverified sighting of Richardson at a gas station about 150 miles south from where his vehicle was found. A witness reported seeing a man resembling Richardson get into the passenger side of a Jeep while a woman got into the driver’s seat, according to the FBI.
To Blackburn’s knowledge, there haven’t been any other reported sightings.
Why Wyoming?
Richardson’s aunt, Marquita Richardson, did not return Cowboy State Daily’s request for an interview, but told the Greybull Standard in 2021 that Richardson’s greatest love was music.
On a post on his Facebook page, which has since been removed, Richardson, who went by the handle “D Rich,” described himself as the CEO of Big Blues Studio, a graphic design and multimedia company providing digital services for those in the music industry.
She described him as a “laid-back type of person” who was always doing his own thing. Though he had friends, Marquita said her nephew most enjoyed being in his room listening to music with the goal of one day becoming a producer.
She went on to describe his last day in Washington, D.C., in detail. At the time, Richardson had been working at a local grocery store but had been laid off as a result of COVID-19 and was living on unemployment and stimulus checks.
His aunt said Richardson had appeared fine in the days leading up to his cross-country trip and that his last correspondence, a text message, had been to a friend telling him that he was planning to start a music career and was going to Wyoming to see his friend, who is believed to have been West.
West and his security team have been interviewed by authorities, Blackburn said, and have been cooperative and deny seeing Richardson.
Urging People To Come Forward
Blackburn stopped short of saying he suspects foul play in Richardson’s disappearance, only that certain evidence appears suspicious.
“It’s fair to say that this is not a standard missing person’s case,” he said. “We’re looking at all options.”
His goal remains finding Richardson.
“Our No. 1 goal is to bring this young man home to his family,” he said.
Blackburn encourages anyone with information about Richardson, Bennett or Ellis to come forward by contacting the Big Horn County Sheriff at 307-568-2324. People can also call or submit an anonymous tip to the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation online or by calling 307-777-7181.
Anyone with information can also report to Metropolitan Police Department Detective Matthew Batko at 202-763-9938 or matthew.batko@dc.gov or to the FBI ViCAP at 800-634-4097.
Jen Kocher can be reached at jen@cowboystatedaily.com.
