The slayings of “American Idol” music supervisor Robin Kaye and her rock musician husband, Tom DeLuca, in their Encino home may have happened days before their bodies were discovered Monday afternoon, Los Angeles police say.
The couple are believed to have been killed after walking in on a burglary suspect inside their $4.5-million Encino home on Thursday, according to the L.A. Police Department.
“It was discovered that a prior radio call had been generated for a possible burglary suspect at the residence on July 10, 2025, around 4:00 p.m.,” the LAPD said in a statement.
The suspect is believed to have entered the home — which is heavily secured, with a large wall and security cameras — through an unlocked door, police said. After the couple returned home, “a confrontation ensued, which resulted in the suspect taking their lives,” police said.
The couple, whose bodies were found in separate rooms, according to sources, were shot multiple times. Police said the suspect then fled on foot.
Homicide investigators identified the suspect as Raymond Boodarian, 22, who resided in Encino.
Boodarian was apprehended Tuesday without incident by LAPD and FBI officers, law enforcement sources said. The killings appeared to be random, the sources said, but investigators were looking for any connection between the suspect and DeLuca and Kaye, and whether Boodarian was involved in any past calls for service at the White Oak Avenue residence.
Officers responded Monday around 2:30 p.m. to a welfare check in the 4700 block of White Oak Avenue where they discovered two people inside the home, LAPD Det. Meghan Aguilar said early Tuesday. Paramedics responded and declared the pair dead at the scene. Kaye and Deluca, the homeowners, were both 70.
In a statement shared with The Times on Tuesday, a spokesperson for “American Idol” said the team behind the singing competition was “devastated” by news of the couple’s deaths and remembered Kaye as “a cornerstone of the ‘Idol’ family.”
On Tuesday, police secure the home where Robin Kaye, an “American Idol” music supervisor, and husband Tom DeLuca were found dead.
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
The statement continued: “[Kaye] 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.”
The identities of the two victims, who KTLA said had been shot in the head, were not disclosed until late Tuesday morning. TMZ was first to report the deaths of Kaye and DeLuca, citing law enforcement sources.
Kaye notably served as a music producer for “American Idol” from 2009 to 2023, working on nearly 300 episodes, according to IMDb. Her credits also included several “Miss Universe” TV specials, numerous NAACP Image Awards ceremonies, “The Singing Bee” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
DeLuca was a singer-songwriter best known for his 1986 album “Down to the Wire.” His most recent release was the album “Street Rock,” which came out in 2022.
The suspect has a history of alleged criminal offenses, according to court records, including charges of battery, exhibiting a deadly weapon and threatening to commit a crime with the intent to terrorize. Charges were later dismissed after hearings related to mental competency and a conservatorship.
