Amber Alert suspect makes first court appearance

WSLS News Staff
Published: June 17, 2008

The main suspect in an Amber Alert case from South Carolina makes his first appearance before a judge in Giles County.

Giles County Sheriff’s deputies, State Police and U.S. Marshal’s agents caught Robert Custer II in Pearisburg Monday afternoon.  Investigators say Custer kidnapped his ex-girlfriend and four year old son Colin from Florida early Monday. Officers found the ex-girlfriend locked in a Lexington County, South Carolina gas station bathroom, and sent out the Amber Alert after that.

In court, the judge appointed Custer a lawyer.  Custer told the judge that he wanted to get back to South Carolina as soon as possible to make sure his son is OK.  Custer also wanted to introduce some documents for his case, and enter a motion for dismissal.  The judge said no, this was not a hearing for that, and to discuss all of that with his lawyer.

Giles County Sheriff Morgan Millirons tells WSLS that Custer’s mother owns property in Giles County, but she does not live there.  Sheriff Millirons says Custer’s mother is from Maryland.

The Sheriff thinks Custer wanted his son to spend some time with his grandparents.  Sheriff Millirons believes the grandparents had no idea about the kidnapping charges.