West Coast suspect in murder of beloved Cherry Hill, NJ vet arrested

🚨Dr. Michael Anthony was stabbed numerous time and found in the street

🚨An Oregon man was arrested in California and charged with first-degree murder

🚨No motive for the murder was disclosed by prosecutors

CHERRY HILL — Authorities have arrested a suspect wanted in the brutal slaughtering of a beloved veterinarian.

Dr. Michael Anthony, 45, was found unconscious around 7:10 a.m. on Dec. 10 in front of his house on Sharrowvalle Road and screams heard by neighbors He was pronounced dead at the scene, Camden County Prosecutor Grace C. MacAulay said.

Cristian Custodio-Aquino, 27, of Portland, Oregon, was identified as the suspect and charged with first-degree murder. He was arrested on Tuesday in Fresno, California by the U.S. Marshals Service Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force. He is being held in the Fresno County Jail pending extradition back to New Jersey.

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Michael J. Anthony Fund donations

The complaint and affidavit in the case said that Anthony and Custodio-Aquino were "acquaintances" but did not disclose further details.

A black sedan caught on security footage video the day of the murder leaving the neighborhood was found to have been in Pennsylvania an hour after neighbors heard multiple screams in the street. The next day it was detected in Florida and then Alabama and Texas. Investigators learned that it came to New Jersey in October and was in the Haddon Township area until Dec. 8.

Investigators also found that a pair of prescription glasses found in the street next to Anthony's body were sold to Custodio-Aquino at a retail location in Washington State.

Anthony owned Haddon Vet in Haddon Heights and worked at general and emergency practices in Camden, Gloucester, and Ocean counties. He has two sons, one cat, and three dogs.

According to his obituary, donations are being accepted by the Michael J. Anthony Memorial Fund at PO Box 364, Marlton, NJ 08053. Donations will be used to enhance a dog park and emergency assistance to pets in need.

"I commend the Camden County Prosecutor's Office and the Cherry Hill Police Department for making an arrest in this case. Our community continues to mourn the loss of Dr. Anthony and I am pleased that a suspect in his death is in custody," Cherry Hill Mayor Dave Fleisher said in a statement.

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