Armida Custodio: 78-Year-Old Grandma Bludgeoned To Death, Grandson Key Suspect
Armida Custodio, a 78-year-old grandma from Los Angeles, was found in her home, bludgeoned to death on Wednesday, KTLA reports. The gruesome discovery was made by the Los Angeles Police Department earlier this week after her family members asked them to do a welfare check at the Lake View Terrace home she was living in. Now, the chief suspect in the brutal murder of Armida is her own 36-year-old grandson, Joseph “Joey” Kushner, who police say has been missing since Monday – the very day Custodio is thought to have been murdered.
According to officials from the Los Angeles Police Department, Armida was beaten to death sometime between Monday and Wednesday at her home in the 11300 block of Terra Vista Way. Kushner is believed to have been living with her at, or just before, the time of her death and went missing just after the incident. In a statement issued by the Los Angeles Police Department, detective Timo Illig said that Kushner was the last known person to be with his grandmother and for the same reason, they are currently treating him as a suspect.
LAPD looking for 36 YO Joey Kushner after his grandmother Armida Custodio was found beaten to death in her home. pic.twitter.com/mB0XJ8qk8g
— Jeff Nguyen (@jeffnguyen) May 6, 2016
The statement reads as follows.
“On May 4, 2016, Armida Custodio’s body was discovered in her residence after officers conducted a welfare check at the request of family members. Armida’s adult grandson, Joseph ‘Joey’ Kushner, has not been seen by the family since May 2, 2016. Joseph was living with his grandmother at the time of the murder. Detectives need the public’s help in locating him. Joseph travels extensively via public transportation particularly city buses.”
Illig further added, “He’s basically disappeared off the grid at this point,” calling Kushner a “potential suspect.”
The LAPD also conducted a press conference to disseminate information regarding the gruesome murder. Authorities have still not been able to identify the weapon that could have been used to kill Armida. The press conference was also attended by Kushner’s father who said that his son is “schizophrenic and needs medication.” He added that Kushner frequently complains about “hearing voices” and added that he could be “verbally dangerous” when he stops taking his medications. He added that Kushner did not have any history of physically harming anyone before and that he can take care of himself.
Kushner’s father, a retired Metro employee, also made an appeal to his son, asking him to return.
“I’m very worried. Joey, I love you, please come home. I’d like to talk to you.”
At the press conference, the senior Kushner was also asked if he believes his son could have been behind the murder.
“No, I don’t. … I don’t think there’s no way that he did that,” his father responded while adding that Kushner has, in the past, disappeared without warning and had traveled to Las Vegas and California on separate occasions.
Kushner has been described as a man who is five-feet, 10-inches tall, weighing 150 pounds and having brown hair and eyes. He is also known to extensively use public transportation. Officials also said that Kushner is known to keep weapons with him and for the same reason, the public has been warned not to approach him in case they spot him. Instead, officials recommend calling 911 and report his location to them.
According to officials, they are hoping to find Kushner soon so that they could have more information pertaining to the killing of Armida.
If you have any information pertaining to this case or if you have seen Kushner, please call Valley Bureau Homicide Detective Dave Peteque at 818-374-1934. During nonbusiness hours or on weekends, call 877-527-3247. Anonymous tipsters may call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477.
[Image Via Pixabay]
