Custer is still missing after four weeks
A 27-year-old man with a pending domestic violence case was charged Wednesday with killing his girlfriend who disappeared in July, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.
Robert Anthony Camou of Monrovia now faces one count of murder with a special circumstance allegation of killing a witness and an allegation that he was out on bail when he committed the crime.
Deputy District Attorney Melanie Drew said case GA105870, originally filed on May 29, also charged him with one felony count each of first-degree burglary, person present; injuring a girlfriend; and assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury. The charges also include one misdemeanor count of battery.
Arraignment on the murder charge was scheduled Wednesday but continued to Oct. 10 in Department J of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Pasadena Branch.
On April 22, the defendant is accused of battering his girlfriend, Amanda Custer, including strangling her and threatening her with a Taser, the prosecutor said. The victim sought help at a nearby residence and the defendant is alleged to have chased her into the residence and battered an elderly male who attempted to intervene.
While out on bail for that attack, Camou allegedly killed Custer, 31, on or about July 29, the prosecutor added. Her body has not been found.
If convicted as charged, Camou faces death or life in prison without the possibility of parole. A decision on whether to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date.
The case remains under investigation by the Pasadena Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
