Overview of Park Predators: The Sniper
This episode examines the 2018 murder of Tristan Beaudette at Malibu Creek State Park in Southern California and the disturbing string of earlier shootings in and around the park that investigators initially failed to connect. Host Delia D'Ambra traces how a seemingly random camping homicide ultimately led to the arrest and conviction of Anthony Rauda, while also exposing serious questions about whether law enforcement missed warning signs and failed to alert the public sooner.
What Happened to Tristan Beaudette
The camping trip
- On June 21, 2018, Tristan Beaudette traveled from Irvine to Malibu Creek State Park with his two young daughters for a father-daughters camping trip.
- His brother-in-law Scott and Scott’s children camped nearby.
- The trip was meant to be a special outing before Tristan’s family moved to Northern California.
The murder
- In the early morning hours of June 22, 2018, Scott heard what sounded like a gunshot or firework.
- He found Tristan in the tent, unresponsive and covered in blood.
- Tristan had been shot in the head while sleeping beside his daughters.
- His daughters were physically unharmed.
Tristan’s background
- Tristan was portrayed as a brilliant, accomplished family man:
- UC San Diego graduate with top academic honors
- PhD in chemistry from UC Berkeley
- Worked as a scientist for Allergan
- He was deeply devoted to his family and loved camping, hiking, and being outdoors.
The Hidden Pattern of Prior Shootings
A series of earlier incidents
The episode reveals that Tristan’s death was not the first shooting tied to Malibu Creek State Park or Malibu Canyon Road. From late 2016 through 2018, there had reportedly been at least seven prior shootings in the same broader area.
Examples discussed
- James Rogers, a wildlife biologist, was struck by birdshot while sleeping in a hammock in the park.
- Another camper heard an explosion near their site.
- A couple camping in their SUV found a bullet hole in their vehicle after hearing a loud bang.
- A driver on Malibu Canyon Road had his Tesla struck by a bullet just days before Tristan’s murder.
Law enforcement response
- Victims said they reported the incidents to both state parks officials and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD).
- According to the episode, no public warnings were issued and no meaningful follow-up occurred.
- Investigators initially insisted the earlier shootings were not connected to Tristan’s killing.
How Investigators Identified Anthony Rauda
The burglary trail
- In the months after Tristan’s murder, authorities investigated a rash of burglaries around the park.
- Surveillance footage showed a man in black clothing, a balaclava, and carrying what appeared to be a rifle.
- A maintenance worker later reported a suspicious hitchhiker who resembled that man.
The arrest
- On October 10, 2018, deputies found Anthony Rauda in a canyon near a burglary scene.
- He matched the suspect description and was carrying a rifle.
- Rauda was arrested for burglary and firearm-related probation violations.
Ballistic and digital evidence
- Prosecutors later linked Rauda’s Ruger PC-9mm rifle to:
- Tristan’s murder
- The Tesla shooting
- Investigators also found:
- Cell phone data placing him near the park
- Internet searches about bullets and gas tanks
- Searches for breaking news on the morning of Tristan’s murder
Anthony Rauda’s History
Background
- Rauda had a long criminal history in Los Angeles County and earlier trouble in Florida.
- His record included allegations and convictions involving:
- Burglary
- Receiving stolen property
- DUI
- Firearms
- Arson
- Resisting arrest
Lifestyle and beliefs
- He described himself as an artist and rapper.
- He lived a transient, survivalist, off-the-grid lifestyle.
- He reportedly wrote manifestos and preferred isolation.
Trial, Conviction, and Sentence
Criminal charges
- In 2019, Rauda was charged with:
- Murder in Tristan’s death
- Multiple attempted murder counts
- Commercial burglary counts tied to the park-area break-ins
Verdict
- After a delayed trial that began in 2023, a jury found him guilty of:
- Second-degree murder
- Three attempted murders
- Five burglary counts
- He was acquitted on other attempted murder charges tied to different shootings.
Sentence
- Rauda received 119 years to life in prison.
- The judge described the crime as violent, cold-blooded, and chilling.
Civil Lawsuits and Accountability Questions
Erica Wu’s lawsuit
- Tristan’s wife, Erica Wu, filed a $90 million wrongful death lawsuit against LASD and California State Parks.
- Her suit alleged negligence, emotional distress, and failure to warn the public despite known prior shootings.
- As of the episode, the case remained ongoing, with mediation scheduled for 2027.
Internal department fallout
- Two LASD employees, Detective Lieutenant James Royal and Sergeant Tui Wright, had reportedly tried to raise alarms about the pattern of shootings.
- They claimed they were ignored, transferred, and retaliated against.
- Royal filed his own lawsuit; Wright later settled.
Key Takeaways
- Tristan Beaudette’s murder may have looked random at first, but it occurred amid a long pattern of unexplained shootings near Malibu Creek State Park.
- The episode strongly suggests that warning signs were missed or dismissed by authorities.
- Anthony Rauda’s arrest and conviction provided a clear suspect, but the broader story centers on:
- Possible institutional negligence
- Delayed recognition of a serial-shooter pattern
- The painful legal and emotional aftermath for Tristan’s family
Notable Context
Recommended related listening
- Delia repeatedly references the investigative podcast Lost Hills by Dana Goodyear, which is described as the most detailed reporting on both the murder and the sheriff’s department’s handling of the case.
Central theme
The episode’s core message is that a beautiful public space can become dangerous when repeated threats are overlooked—and that the failure to act on early reports may have helped set the stage for tragedy.