Photo: Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
But Anthony Rauda’s criminal history — including weapons violations and burglaries — as well as the location of his arrest and his possible role in local burglaries dating back to 2016 have raised suspicions that he’s connected to the death of35-year-old Tristan Beaudetteand aseries of similar shootings around Malibu Creek State Park, where Beaudette was killed.
“We aren’t going to say ‘yes he is’ or ‘no he is not,’ ” Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell told reporters on Wednesday night. “We don’t have the information yet. There will be a lot of work done.”
Rauda, 42, was arrested Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of violating his parole, and authorities believe he “could be responsible” for eight burglaries in the Malibu and Calabasas area beginning in October 2016.
He has not yet been formally charged and it was unclear if he has retained an attorney who could comment on his behalf. He remains in custody without bail.
McDonnell said a rifle was found with Rauda when he was arrested and authorities plan to perform ballistic tests to determine if it was used to shoot Beaudette.
Other testing will also be conducted “to try to tie the individual to crimes or eliminate him from potentially from other crimes,” McDonnell said.
courtesy Beaudette Family
John Antczak/AP/REX/Shutterstock
Beaudette, who had worked as a researcher at a pharmaceutical company, was camping with his two young daughters when he was found fatally shot in the head inside his tent on June 22.
His death, which prompted a $5,000 reward from the Malibu City Council,rattled campground regularswho have enjoyed the park’s relative safety, close proximity to L.A. and tranquil hiking trails.
Rauda was arrested this week on a remote hillside in Malibu Creek State Park one day after the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center was broken into and multiple items were stolen from a vending machine.
He was spotted Wednesday after search crews observed fresh boot prints in the ground leading up to a steep ravine approximately a mile from Mulholland Highway and Las Virgenes Road.
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They ordered him to drop his weapon and after “a few tense moments” he surrendered and was taken into custody at 3:20 p.m.
Courtesy Beaudette Family
Whileno arrests have been made in Beaudette’s killing, police have been investigating seven unsolved reports of gunfire in the area outside of the park over the previous two years.
“I really want to catch this person,” Beaudette’s uncletold PEOPLE this summer. “Probably 10 times a day I think about it and those little girls. It tears me up. That is why I feel like I owe him and try to find out who did this.”
source: people.com
