Originally published July 30 at 10:19 a.m. / Updated July 31 at 10:42 a.m.
Female victim still missing
By Terry Miller
A man suspected of kidnapping a woman in Monrovia on Monday morning was taken into custody following a standoff with police in downtown Los Angeles early Tuesday morning, but the search for the victim continues.
It wasn’t the first time Monrovia Police Department responded to the 600 block of Vaquero Road regarding a domestic violence incident.
Los Angeles Police were alerted by authorities in Monrovia at about 2:45 a.m. that a kidnapping suspect could be in the area, Los Angeles Police Department Lt. Chris Ramirez said in a press release.
Captain Heath Harvey of the Monrovia Police Department confirmed on Tuesday that the suspect, Robert Anthony Camou, in the kidnapping of Amanda Kathleen Custer was in custody. “His vehicle was spotted in downtown Los Angeles in the early morning hours and he was arrested approximately 3 hours later,” he said. He added that the arrest was the result of the combined efforts of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Los Angeles Police, and Monrovia PD.
Custer was not found in the vehicle when Camou was arrested. Harvey said, “Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau is now handling the investigation and is re-interviewing all the witnesses. We will remain hopeful that she will be found soon.”
Harvey was also able to confirm that police had been called on at least two occasions for what he described as noise complaints from neighbors. These were later found to be fights between the couple, but he did not have information regarding whether there was any violence involved in the disputes.
Custer, 31 years old, 5-feet-8, 140 pounds, brown hair and green eyes was allegedly kidnapped by 27-year-old Camou who fled in a grey 2017 Toyota Prius. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau Detectives are assisting Monrovia Police Department with the kidnapping/domestic violence investigation. The incident occurred on Monday at approximately 8:15 a.m.
Upon their arrival they located evidence that there was an apparent assault that had occurred. Investigators believe the victim was kidnapped and taken against her will in the Prius.
On Wednesday morning, KTLA TV aired a bizarre video of the alleged kidnapping suspect, Camou, made at a Skid Row bar a few hours before he was arrested. In the rap video at an open mike night, Camou allegedly confesses to killing his girlfriend and then burying her. “I killed my b—- and buried that b—- in the f—— dirt,” Camou allegedly raps. A witness reported seeing Camou placing Custer’s limp body into the cargo hatch of his Prius.
Investigators from LASD said they found blood at the scene.
As of Wednesday 10 a.m., Beacon Media had heard through a reliable source that Custer has been located and is under arrest. Calls to LASD had not been immediately returned to confirm this latest development.
If anyone has any information regarding the above incident or the whereabouts of the victim, suspect or vehicle pictured they are encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), use your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” mobile app on Google Play or the Apple App Store or by using the website lacrimestoppers.org.
