“Robin will remain in our hearts forever,” says American Idol in a statement.
In a shocking tragedy that has shaken the music and television communities, American Idol’s longtime music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband, musician Thomas Deluca, were found fatally shot in their $4.5 million Encino home on Monday, July 14.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE that Raymond Boodarian, 22, a resident of Encino, has been arrested in connection with the killings. According to authorities, the couple is believed to have walked in on the suspect inside their home, where a confrontation turned deadly.
Both Kaye and Deluca, both 70, were found in separate rooms of the home with gunshot wounds to the head. According to police sources, officers arriving at the scene discovered a trail of blood leading to the front of the property and made entry through a shattered glass sliding door at the back of the house. Deluca was found in the bathroom, while Kaye was located in the pantry. First responders from the Los Angeles Fire Department pronounced the couple dead at the scene.
Police say the killings appear to be random, and there is currently no known connection between the victims and the suspect.
The LAPD told PEOPLE that a welfare check was conducted on July 14 at approximately 2:30 p.m. at the couple’s home on the 4700 block of White Oak Avenue in Encino, after a concerned individual reported they hadn’t heard from the pair. That’s when authorities made the grim discovery.
Just four days prior, on July 10, police responded to a possible burglary at the same address around 4:00 p.m. While there were no visible signs of forced entry at the time, investigators now believe the suspect entered through an unlocked door.
“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,” authorities said. “The victims succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds, and the suspect fled from the residence on foot.”
The arrest of Boodarian was carried out without incident by a multi-agency task force, including Operations-Valley Bureau Homicide, the LAPD Gang and Narcotics Division, the FBI Fugitive Task Force, and West Valley Division officers.
Investigators tell PEOPLE they are still working to determine whether the suspect had any prior connection to the couple or if he had been involved in previous calls for service at the residence. The case remains an active investigation.
Rachel Murray/Getty for Guild of Music Supervisors
Robin Kaye attends The 7th Annual Guild Of Music Supervisors Awards at The Theater at Ace Hotel on February 16, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Kaye’s impressive career spanned decades in both the music and television industries. Best known for her work on American Idol from 2002 to 2023, she also served as music supervisor on Lip Sync Battle, After the Sunset, The Singing Bee, and Q’Viva!: The Chosen, in addition to multiple Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants.
She began her career in Nashville working for Waylon Jennings before transitioning into artist development at MTM Records. She went on to hold roles in licensing at MCA-Universal Records and PolyGram Records, eventually founding her own company, SyncroniCity, in 2000. Through it, she represented artists such as Andrea Bocelli, Kenny Loggins and Donny Osmond. That work eventually led her into music supervision, where she built a respected career across television and film.
DeLuca, a respected songwriter and musician, most recently released an album titled Street Rock in 2022.
In a heartfelt statement, American Idol paid tribute to their longtime colleague:
“We’re devastated to hear of Robin and her dear husband, Tom’s, passing,” the statement continued. “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.”
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