The man accused of killing American Idol music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband, musician Thomas Deluca, allegedly used the couple’s own firearm in the fatal shootings, according to recent reports.
Kaye and Deluca, both 70, were found dead inside their $4.5 million home in Encino, California, on July 14, each with gunshot wounds to the head, as previously reported. The tragic discovery was made after someone close to the couple requested a welfare check, concerned they had not heard from them.
New details revealed by Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman during a community town hall meeting on July 21 suggest the suspect, 22-year-old Raymond Boodarian, gained access to the couple’s home, located on White Oak Avenue, and used a firearm found inside the residence to shoot them.
According to ABC7 Los Angeles, the suspect allegedly called police himself after the incident, providing his name, which ultimately led to his arrest.
Four days before the couple was discovered, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) had responded to a reported burglary at the home. Officers reportedly found no evidence of forced entry at the time and left the property.
It's now believed that Kaye and Deluca may have already been dead or dying when police first arrived, according to a felony complaint, per PEOPLE.
Authorities believe the victims returned home during the break-in, which escalated into a deadly confrontation.
Deluca was found in the bathroom, while Kaye was located in the pantry. A blood trail led police from the front of the home to a shattered sliding glass door in the back, which may have been the suspect's entry point. First responders from the Los Angeles Fire Department pronounced the couple dead at the scene.
Boodarian, who lived in Encino, was arrested the day after the bodies were discovered. On July 17, he was formally charged with two counts of murder and one count of residential burglary with a person present.
The murder charges include special circumstance allegations for committing multiple murders and for committing murder during the commission of a burglary, as well as multiple firearm enhancements.
LAPD officials have emphasized that the attack appears to have been random, with no known connection between the suspect and the victims.
During the town hall meeting, Deputy Chief Marla Ciuffetelli acknowledged concerns about local crime, saying (via CBS News): “We're having phenomenal numbers on crime reduction. That being said, when two wonderful people end up dead in their own home, those crime statistics fall kind of flat.”
Robin Kaye had a prolific career in music and television, serving as music supervisor on American Idol from its launch in 2002 until 2023.
Her other credits include Lip Sync Battle, The Singing Bee, After the Sunset, and various Miss USA and Miss Universe broadcasts.
Thomas Deluca was an accomplished musician and songwriter. He most recently released an album titled Street Rock in 2022.