Los Angeles authorities have arrested a 22-year-old man in connection with the fatal shooting of Robin Kaye, a longtime music supervisor for American Idol, and her husband, Thomas DeLuca, a songwriter. The couple, both 70 years old, were discovered dead in their Encino home on Monday, July 15, following a welfare check initiated by a concerned friend.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the couple was likely killed on July 10, the same day two separate 911 calls were made regarding a possible break-in at their home. Witnesses reported seeing a man jump the 8-foot spiked fence surrounding the property.
Police responded to the calls but were unable to enter the heavily fortified home. A helicopter search from above yielded no visible signs of a disturbance, and officers eventually left the scene without further action. Days later, surveillance footage from a neighboring property revealed a man climbing the fence and entering through what appeared to be an unlocked door.
Roughly 30 minutes after the break-in, Kaye and DeLuca returned home — and were subsequently killed during what detectives have described as a “violent struggle.”
On Monday, July 15, a friend of the couple called police after being unable to contact them for several days. Responding officers noticed blood on the front porch and forced entry by breaking a window. Inside, they found both victims dead from multiple gunshot wounds to the head.
The suspect, Raymond Boodarian, was arrested the following day at his residence. Investigators believe Boodarian acted alone and had no prior relationship or known connection to the victims. He is not suspected in any other burglaries, and police say the house was not ransacked — leaving the motive unclear.
LAPD Lt. Guy Golan stated that authorities are actively investigating several leads to determine what may have driven the crime. “We’re looking into multiple avenues on what the motive may be,” he said at a press conference. As of now, there is no footage from inside the home showing the incident.
The LAPD is also launching an internal review into how the initial July 10 burglary calls were handled. Given the outcome, questions have been raised about whether a more thorough investigation could have prevented the tragedy.
Robin Kaye had been an integral part of American Idol since 2009, playing a behind-the-scenes role in helping shape the show’s musical identity. Her husband, Thomas DeLuca, was known in music circles as a seasoned songwriter. In a statement, a spokesperson for American Idol expressed profound grief over their deaths:
“We are devastated to hear of Robin and her dear husband, Tom’s, passing. Robin has been a cornerstone of the Idol family since 2009 and was truly loved and respected by all who came in contact with her. Robin will remain in our hearts forever and we share our deepest sympathy with her family and friends during this difficult time.”
