For residents of Malibu Canyon, a two-year nightmare may finally be over. On Wednesday, October 10, Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell announced the arrest of 42-year-old Anthony Rauda
Rauda is suspected of committing numerous burglaries in the area over the past two years. The sheriff’s department will also investigate whether he is connected to a series of seven unsolved shooting incidents over the past 19 months, including the June 22 death of 35-year-old Tristan Beaudette, who was shot and killed while camping with his two young daughters in Malibu Creek State Park.
Sheriff McDonnell stated that the arrest was made following an October 9 burglary, but that the suspect could be responsible for numerous incidents occurring over the past two years. The earliest burglary occurred in October 2016, the most recent, on October 9 of this year. There were two burglaries in 2016, one in 2017, and five this year.
In each of the incidents, food items were stolen from businesses around the periphery of Malibu Creek State Park, including the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District campus on Las Virgenes Road, and De Anza Park community center on Lost Hills Road. The burglaries usually occurred between 2:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m.
The sheriff’s department conducted a search for the suspect on October 2 that did not result in an arrest. Another major search was ordered on October 6, when a park maintenance worker called law enforcement to report an encounter with the suspect, who reportedly asked for a ride out of the canyon. That search was called off at sunset. The successful arrest was made following the October 9 burglary.
“Major Crimes personnel, Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station personnel, members of the LASD Aero Bureau, and members of the Malibu Search and Rescue team deployed resources in the Malibu Canyon area to conduct a detailed search for the suspect and evidence related to the crimes,” McConnell said. “The plan included a coordinated, comprehensive search of a vast area located in the heart of Malibu Canyon.”
McConnell reported that investigators observed fresh boot prints in the ground leading up to a steep ravine in the wilderness reserve section of the park—some of the most remote and inaccessible terrain in the Santa Monica Mountains.
“With the assistance of air support, detectives followed the boot prints approximately 50 yards. Shortly after, they heard movement amongst the brush, followed by observing a male adult, wearing black clothing, walking quickly, who resembled the suspect in the burglaries,” he announced.
“Air support confirmed the individual’s location, and it was learned he was armed with a rifle. Investigators contained the suspect in a heavy brush area and ordered him to drop the rifle and surrender. After a few tense moments of communicating with the suspect, he opted to surrender and was taken into custody without incident.”
McDonnell stressed that his detectives are still recovering and processing evidence and that the investigation is still in its early stage. The suspect was transported to Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station where he is was booked for an active no bail felony parole violation warrant. Ballistics tests will be performed on the rifle to see if there is evidence it was used in the Baudette case.
Rauda, who reportedly has a criminal history for burglary and weapons violations, is being held on a no-bail felony warrant for parole violation.
