 Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - The man accused of capital murder in the slaying of his estranged girlfriend entered a plea October 10. Robert Anthony Camou, 27, pleaded not guilty in the death of Amanda Custer, 31, who disappeared July 29. She was last seen being placed in the rear hatch of a Toyota Prius outside a Monrovia home. Blood was found inside the home. Custer has not been seen or heard from since. Camou faces a 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. He is also charged 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, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Deputy District Attorney Melanie Drew alleges while Camou was out on bail for a previous assault, Camou killed Custer on or around July 29. Camou was out on bail connected to an April 22 assault in which Camou allegedly battered his girlfriend, strangled her and threatened her with a stun gun, Drew said. Custer fled to a nearby home where Camou chased her into and battered a male resident who tried to stop him. If convicted as charged, Camou faces life in prison without parole or death.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Homicide detectives are again asking for public assistance in identifying the gunman who killed an 18-year-old in a friend’s garage. Oscar Garcia, 18, was shot and killed in a garage in the 100 block of West Cypress Street April 22, 2017 by a still-unidentified shooter. A 17-year-old boy was also hit by gunfire, but survived. A teen girl escaped injury. The gunman is a Hispanic male 20 to 25 years, stands 6 feet tall, has a medium build, light skin, has black hair and brown eyes. A $20,000 rewards is offered to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect. The three teens were in a detached garage when the gunman approached and stood at the doorway and pointed a gun at the teens. There was a brief verbal exchange and gunfire erupted.
The shooting was reportedly unprovoked. Anyone with information on the gunman is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - The county DA slapped a capital murder charge against the domestic violence suspect who rapped about killing and burying his girlfriend. Robert Anthony Camou, 27, 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, according to Ricardo Santiago of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. The case against Camou, originally filed 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. While investigators have searched for the missing 31-year-old Amanda Custer, Deputy District Attorney Melanie Drew alleges Custer was killed by Camou on or about July 29.
The May 29 charges stem from an incident when Camou allegedly strangled Custer and threatened her with a stun gun. Custer fled to a neighbor’s home where she was chased inside by Camou who also attacked the resident within for intervening. If convicted as charged, Camou faces life in prison without parole. A decision to seek the death penalty will be made at a later date, Santiago said. Custer’s body has yet to be found.  PHOTO/Courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Detectives investigating the assault and disappearance of a Monrovia woman pieced together the suspect’s movements in the hours since her July 29 disappearance. Amanda Kathleen Custer, 31, was seen by witnesses as her reportedly lifeless body was placed into the rear hatch of a grey Prius, allegedly at the hands of Robert Anthony Camou, 27. Before Camou was seen in Claremont northbound towards the San Gabriel Mountains, he stopped at Del Taco, 1834 E. Route 66, in Glendora at 8:32 a.m. Five minutes later, Camou bought cigarettes from a Shell Gas Station, 1860 E. Route 66, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau. Camou was tracked by the ankle monitor he was required to wear as part of a domestic violence case involving Custer. The Prius headed east through Claremont at 8:56 a.m. through Baseline Road and Padua Avenue.  PHOTO/Courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Camou stopped at an AMPM in the 3800 block of Sierra Avenue just before 9 a.m. near Lytle Creek. Nearly 30 minutes later, he headed south on the 15 freeway, but detectives lost track of Camou’s movements.
“After this point, there is a five-hour gap in time, where the location of Robert Camou and Amanda Custer is unknown,” detectives said. At 2:40 p.m., Camou visited a Chase Bank ATM in Azusa -- about five hours after detectives lost track of him after he removed the ankle monitor. Detectives have expanded their search, which focused on the Glendora Ridge Road/Mt. Baldy Road and Lytle Creek areas, to include the Azusa canyons. "This is basically a plea to anybody one out there, especially on Monday, the 29th of July that was hiking or fishing or mountain biking that might of seen anything out of the ordinary. It might not have seemed important at that time, but it does now,” said Custer’s father, Rick Custer. Camou is being held without bail in an unrelated domestic violence, burglary and assault case. Anyone with information on Custer’s whereabouts is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).  PHOTO/Courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Homicide detectives have expanded their search for a woman not seen since July 29. Detectives are searching the Lytle Creek area, where suspect Robert Anthony Camou apparently has great knowledge of. His girlfriend Amanda Custer has been missing since she was taken against her will, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. “We are asking the community to remain vigilant and keep an eye out for Amanda Custer,” deputies said in a written statement. Deputies are also searching the San Gabriel Mountains in the Glendora Ridge Road and Mt. Baldy Road areas. Camou was apparently witnessed placing Custer into his grey Prius after an assault occurred in a Monrovia home. Police entered the home after Camou drove away with Custer and found blood inside. Camou was found sleeping in his Prius in Los Angeles July 30 and was arrested after a lengthy standoff. Camou is being held on an unrelated, no-bail domestic violence warrant.
Camou infamously was recorded rapping about killing a woman and burying her in the dirt. The video was recorded hours before his arrest. If anyone has information on Amanda Custer’s whereabouts or any information about her disappearance, call 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).  IMAGE/KTLA News. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Homicide Investigators believe the suspect seen allegedly kidnapping his girlfriend July 29 from her Monrovia home may have driven to the mountains above Claremont just hours after a domestic attack. The suspect, 27-year-old Robert Anthony Camou, was witnessed taking Amanda Custer, 31, from her Monrovia home around 8:15 a.m. July 29. Sheriff’s Homicide detectives state Camou’s 2017 four-door Toyota Prius was seen north on Padua Road in Claremont heading to Mt. Baldy. “Anyone on or off road, in the area of Mount Baldy (Mount Baldy Road, Glendora Ridge Road, Glendora Mountain Road) on Monday July 29, 2019, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., that observed suspect Camou, victim Custer and/or the Toyota Prius, are encouraged to contact Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau,” the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. Police entered the home where the attack occurred July 29 and reportedly found blood inside. Camou was found around 2:45 a.m. the following day, sleeping in his Prius parked at South Hill Street and West Second Street in Downtown Los Angeles. He was arrested after an hours-long standoff -- Custer was nowhere to be found.  PHOTO/Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Camou is being held without bail on unrelated burglary and domestic violence charges, the Sheriff’s Department said.
In a bizarre twist, a video surfaced of Camou rapping at an L.A. club. In the song, Camou spoke of killing a woman and burying her in dirt. He mentioned police were looking for him before exiting off screen. “Although the extent of Victim Custer’s injuries are unknown, Homicide Detectives believe she may be in grave danger,” the Sheriff’s Department said. Anyone who has seen Custer or knows her whereabouts is urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Information can be provided anonymously by calling L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).  PHOTO/Courtesy of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor LOS ANGELES - Sheriff’s deputies, Los Angeles Police and crisis negotiators are attempting to have an accused domestic violence and kidnapping suspect peacefully surrender from inside his Prius.
The grey Prius used in the July 29 kidnapping is parked at South Hill Street and West Second Street in Downtown Los Angeles. It was found parked with a sleeping suspect inside since 2:45 a.m., authorities said. 27-year-old Robert Anthony Camou is believed to be barricaded within. “Officers attempted to make contact with the suspect, however he refused to exit the vehicle. Due to the nature of the crimes the suspect is wanted for, LAPD SWAT resources have been deployed to the scene,” according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPD has hard closures along 1st Street, 2nd Street, 3rd Street and Broadway. Camou is Accused of injuring and kidnapping 31-year-old Amanda Custer. Monrovia Police we’re called to the 600 block of Vaquero Drive around 8:15 a.m. Monday and found blood at the scene. Authorities believe a domestic violence incident occurred, but do not yet know whose blood was found. Camou and Custer are or were dating and have a history of domestic violence. Custer was reportedly seen being placed into the rear hatch of the grey Prius. It is unclear if she is in tthe barricaded Prius.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A handful of mountain roads will be closed ahead of the Independence Day holiday. Glendora Mountain Road north of Big Dalton Road to East Fork Road and Glendora Ridge Road from Glendora Mountain to Mt. Baldy Road will close Wednesday, July 3 at 4 p.m. The roads are expected to reopen Friday, July 5 at 10 a.m., according to the U.S. Forest Service.
The above road closures will not affect pedestrian, bicycle or horse traffic. Chantry Flat Road will close Wednesday, July 3 at 8 p.m. and is expected to reopen the morning of July 5, Sierra Madre Police said. Monrovia Canyon Park, 1200 N. Canyon Blvd., will be closed July 3 through July 5, the City of Monrovia said.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - A man found guilty of a series of heinous crimes against four women over five years will see the inside of a prison cell for life. Jason Chung Chien Yu, 43, was sentenced Wednesday. He was found guilty in June of three counts of sodomy by use of force, two counts each of kidnapping to commit rape, assault to commit rape and false imprisonment and one count each of forcible rape, forcible oral copulation and criminal threats, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Yu assaulted women ranging from 22 to 60 years old. He promised the victims money or drugs in exchange for sex. Yu Kidnapped a woman to commit rape in 2012. He also beat and sodomized two women in 2016. In February 2017, Yu kidnapped another woman and assaulted her, the DA’s office said.  Written by AARON CASTREJON CityWatch Editor REGION - Authorities across the country are investigating the overseas source of an emailed bomb threat Thursday. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona Police Chief Dario Robinson revealed the campus received a similar threat. A Monrovia business also received the e-mailed threat. “UPD are in touch with local and fed authorities and are conducting sweeps of campus buildings as a precautionary measure,” Robinson said. “The campus remains open and finals will continue as scheduled.” WTC Consulting, 222 E. Huntington Dr., in Monrovia received an emailed threat around Noon Thursday. The business was evacuated as a precaution and nearby businesses were evacuated, according to Monrovia officials.
The author of the e-mail said an explosive device was planted inside the targeted business. A supposed accomplice would detonate the device and wound anyone in the business unless $20,000 in Bitcoin was not delivered. |
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