Kidnapping Suspect Is Caught, But Monrovia Woman Remains Missing

LOS ANGELES, CA — A Los Angeles police SWAT Team surrounded a kidnapping suspect in Downtown Los Angeles Tuesday bringing an end to a tense manhunt. However, status and whereabouts of his alleged victim remain unclear.

Police found the 27-year-old Robert Anthony Camou barricaded in Toyota Prius early Tuesday . near Hill and Second Streets. Camou is suspected in the violent domestic assault kidnapping of 31-year-old Amanda Kathleen Custer.

Video from the scene showed officers with guns drawn taking positions behind the car and the SWAT vehicle next to the Prius. An armored Los Angeles police SWAT vehicle was parked alongside the Prius.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's department tweeted that authorities were on scene of "kidnapping vehicle from Monrovia, barricaded suspect - officers on scene continuing efforts of negotiations, hopeful of peaceful resolution."

Custer, 31, has been missing since about 8:15 a.m. Monday when police were called to her home in the 600 block of Vaquero Road to respond to a report of a domestic violence assault. When they arrived, they found an empty home and signs of a violent struggle, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Once Camou was arrested, investigators said there was no sign of the Custer.

Camou was booked on suspicion of burglary and was being held without bail, according to the sheriff's department, which reported that he had been the subject of a no bail warrant.

Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said Camou and Custer had been dating for about two years and they had a tumultuous relationship marred by domestic violence allegations.

Sheriff's officials began searching for Camou and Custer Monday. According to the sheriff's department, law enforcement responded to a domestic violence report at about 8:15 a.m. Monday in the 600 block of Vaquero Road.

Sheriff's Lt. Scott Hoglund told reporters Monday that blood was found inside the residence at that location. A witness also told investigators that Camou was seen placing Custer -- who appeared possibly unconscious -- in the trunk area of a 2017 gray Toyota Prius, the same vehicle found Tuesday morning in downtown Los Angeles.

Custer does not live at the house in Monrovia where blood was found, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported.

"These two have had a dating relationship for at least two years," Hoglund said. "There have been numerous domestic violence incidents between them."

Custer filed court papers in February seeking a restraining order against Camou, claiming he showed up uninvited at her home and broke a double- pane window with a hatchet, according to court documents cited by ABC7.

Custer is white, 5 feet 8, 140 pounds with brown hair and green eyes.

Anyone with information regarding the possible kidnapping was urged to call the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS or lacrimestoppers.org.

City News Service and Patch staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.