Elderly Woman Found Slain Inside Sylmar Home

Detectives were searching Thursday night for the person who bludgeoned a 78-year-old woman to death inside her Sylmar home.

Armida Custodio's body was found around 9:15 p.m. Wednesday by officers conducting a welfare check at her home in the 11300 block of Terra Vista Way, according to the LAPD.

When no one answered the door, they entered the residence and found Custodio unconscious and not breathing, police said.

Further investigation indicated that Custodio had been deceased for an unspecified amount of time, according to the LAPD.

Homicide detectives said the woman suffered fatal blunt force trauma inside the home.

"She's very small, frail and what, 78-years-old. Why would someone do that to a giving person like that. That doesn't make sense," said Bill Custodio, the woman's son.

Anyone with information on this homicide was asked to call LAPD Detective Dave Peteque at (818) 374-1934. After-hours or weekend calls should
be directed to (877) LAPD-24-7. Anonymous tips can be provided by calling Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.