A longtime music supervisor for American Idol and her husband were found dead in their Los Angeles home on Monday, July 14, following what police describe as a random double homicide.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said officers conducted a welfare check at approximately 2:30PM at a residence on White Oak Avenue in Encino.
Upon entering the home, officers discovered two victims, both 70 years old, with multiple gunshot wounds to the head. Paramedics with the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to the scene and pronounced them dead, per The Daily Star.
The victims were later identified as Robin Kaye, a veteran music supervisor with extensive credits in television and film, and her husband, musician Thomas Deluca. According to LAPD, the couple was found in separate rooms of the $4.5 million home.
The suspect, 22-year-old Raymond Boodarian, a resident of Encino, was arrested in connection with the killings. Investigators believe Kaye and Deluca may have returned home to find the suspect inside, and a confrontation followed.
Authorities currently believe the incident was random. There is no known relationship between the victims and the suspect, The Independent reports.
Kaye worked as a producer in the music department of American Idol from 2002 through 2023 and held music supervisor roles on numerous other productions, including Lip Sync Battle, The Singing Bee, After the Sunset, and Q’Viva!: The Chosen. She also contributed to multiple Miss USA and Miss Universe broadcasts.
Just days before the incident, on July 10, police responded to a reported burglary at the same address around 4:00PM. Though no signs of forced entry were found at the time, LAPD now believes the suspect may have accessed the home through an unlocked door.
In a statement, LAPD said, via PEOPLE: “The victims returned home while the suspect had gained entry into the residence, and a confrontation ensued, which resulted in the suspect taking their lives. The victims succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds, and the suspect fled from the residence on foot.”
Neighbors have also reported suspicious activity at the property prior to the fatal shooting. One neighbor, Amee Faggen, told KTLA that a renter witnessed someone hopping the fence on July 10 and called 911. “But we [haven’t] heard anything since then, so we have no idea if it’s even related or not,” she said.
In a statement to PEOPLE, American Idol expressed its condolences: “We’re 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.”