The usually tranquil streets of Encino, a Los Angeles neighborhood known more for its leafy boulevards than for headlines, have been rocked by a tragedy that has left both the entertainment industry and local residents reeling. On July 10, 2025, Robin Kaye, a beloved music supervisor for “American Idol,” and her husband, Thomas Deluca, were shot and killed in their own home after interrupting a burglary. The man accused of their murders, 22-year-old Raymond Boodarian, now finds himself at the center of a legal and mental health storm that raises as many questions as it answers.
On August 20, 2025, Boodarian was scheduled to be arraigned in a Los Angeles courtroom. Instead, the proceedings took a dramatic turn. According to ABC7 Eyewitness News, Boodarian could be seen through a door window, staring off and not responding to the judge’s questions. Judge Martin L. Herscovitz, observing Boodarian’s unresponsiveness, repeatedly asked, “Can you hear me?” but received no reply. The judge subsequently suspended the criminal proceedings and ordered a mental evaluation to determine if Boodarian is competent to stand trial. Boodarian was remanded to mental health court, with his next appearance scheduled for September 3.
Boodarian faces two counts of murder and one count of residential burglary with a person present. The charges carry special circumstances, including multiple murders and murder during the commission of a burglary, as well as firearm allegations. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has yet to decide whether to seek the death penalty, but the gravity of the charges is unmistakable. District Attorney Nathan Hochman, in a statement shortly after the charges were filed, said, “In a matter of moments, this couple was senselessly killed in their own home as they returned from the grocery store. This tragic shooting has shaken a Valley community and the notion that home should be our safe sanctuary. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their family and friends who are grieving this tremendous loss.”
The events leading up to the tragedy were as chilling as they were sudden. According to The Associated Press and the Los Angeles Police Department, officers had initially responded to a 911 call from the Kaye-Deluca residence on July 10, reporting someone jumping the fence. Finding no immediate signs of a break-in or trouble, police left the scene. Four days later, on July 14, officers returned to the home for a welfare check after friends reported not hearing from the couple. Inside, they discovered the bodies of Kaye and Deluca, both 70, each with multiple gunshot wounds.
Detectives quickly turned to surveillance video from the home. As reported by KTLA, the footage showed a suspect entering through an unlocked door and lingering for about 30 minutes. When Kaye and Deluca unexpectedly returned, a violent struggle ensued. LAPD homicide investigator Lt. Guy Golan explained, “A violent struggle ensued between them and the suspect.” District Attorney Hochman later told a community meeting that Boodarian shot the couple with their own gun, then called 911 himself—a detail that underscores the chaos and horror of the encounter.
Boodarian was arrested the day after the bodies were found, identified through the home’s surveillance footage. He has remained jailed without bail since July 15. Yet, the case has only grown more complex as details of Boodarian’s past have come to light. According to ABC7 Eyewitness News, Boodarian has a criminal history that includes charges of brandishing a knife and making criminal threats against his stepfather in 2023, and battery against his mother and sister in 2024. All three misdemeanor cases were dismissed late last year, after Boodarian was declared mentally incompetent three months prior to the dismissals.
The decision to dismiss those cases has become a flashpoint for legal experts and community members alike. Criminal defense attorney Lou Shapiro told ABC7, “Some of the questions are going to be, why was this case dismissed? Was he put on some type of diversion where he proved to the court and everyone he had since rehabilitated? Or did he slip through the cracks and this case was dismissed by accident, which is very rare?” Shapiro further explained that California’s legal system has a separate court for people with mental health issues. “If they are eligible for that court, they usually get put on a different track, and for the most part, most people that go on that track do well. But every so often, we have a situation like this, where it didn’t go the way it should have gone, and very tragically we have two people who are dead because of it.”
The tragedy has also prompted scrutiny of the initial police response. LAPD officials have said there will be an internal investigation into why officers, responding to the initial 911 call, did not detect an intruder in the home that day. The lack of forced entry and the suspect’s use of an unlocked door have only added to the heartbreak and confusion surrounding the case.
Robin Kaye’s death has resonated deeply within the entertainment industry. Kaye had been a cornerstone of the “American Idol” family since 2009, responsible for securing licensing for songs performed by contestants—a behind-the-scenes role, but one essential to the show’s success. She was working on the upcoming season at the time of her death. An “American Idol” representative expressed the collective grief of the production team, stating, “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.”
Former “Idol” executive producer Nigel Lythgoe told The Hollywood Reporter, “Robin was a joy to work with. If there was a piece of music that she couldn’t get permission to use, she would have numerous other ideas to offer the contestant.” Ken Warwick, another former executive producer, echoed the sentiment: “Robin was a pleasure to work with. She always kept a cool head in a job that was difficult and manic. She never ceased to deliver and no matter what the stress of a weekly live television show, she always had a friendly and pleasant demeanor. My heart goes out to her family, she will be truly missed.”
As the legal process continues, the Encino community and the wider entertainment industry are left to grapple with their grief and questions about how such a tragedy could have occurred. The case has highlighted both the challenges and potential shortcomings of the intersection between mental health and the criminal justice system. With Boodarian’s mental competency now under evaluation, the path forward remains uncertain, but the impact of Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca’s deaths will be felt for a long time to come.
For many, the hope is that the lessons learned from this devastating event will lead to changes that prevent future tragedies—and that the memories of Kaye and Deluca will be honored not just in words, but in actions that make homes and communities safer for all.
