Music Supervisor Robin Kaye and Spouse Thomas Deluca Were Fatally Gunned Down Inside Their Own Home

22 July 2025

Robin Kaye/Facebook

Robin Kaye, who had shaped the musical backbone of American Idol for over a decade, and her husband Thomas Deluca, a devoted songwriter, were discovered shot dead in their Encino, California home on July 14. Both aged 70, they were found in different rooms a trail of blood marking the grim path to the bodies. Authorities believe the couple returned home from errands and encountered an intruder whom they surprised inside, sparking a fatal confrontation using their own firearm.

Five days later, 22‑year‑old Raymond Boodarian, a nearby resident, was arrested. Surveillance footage traced his entry through an unlocked sliding door on July 10, four days before the victims were found. Police had initially responded to a burglary call that same day but left without entering the property, despite spotting someone scaling the fence, mistakenly believing all was well.

District Attorney Nathan Hochman revealed at a town hall that the suspect used the couple’s own gun in the killings then called police on himself providing his name and location. Boodarian was formally charged with two counts of murder and residential burglary with special circumstances. He is currently held without bail and faces life imprisonment or even capital punishment.

Law enforcement is also under scrutiny. Despite multiple 911 calls, including one reporting a person with a gun, officers never entered the home until the welfare check days later. The community has raised concerns about police inaction amid a series of similar incidents in the San Fernando Valley this summer.

Beyond headlines, this tragedy highlights the powerful cultural void left by Kaye’s death. As music supervisor on nearly 300 episodes of American Idol and other televised events, she was cherished by colleagues and contestants alike. Tributes poured in from cast and crew, describing her as the show’s "cornerstone" and a deeply caring presence behind the scenes.

For Deluca, music was a lifelong passion. His past releases, including his 2022 album Street Rock, cemented his reputation as a creative journeyman. As the entertainment community mourns, focus has shifted to unanswered questions: why security measures failed, how the weapon was accessed, and whether justice will be served through a shored-up prosecution.

The unfolding drama offers a painful jolt: the sanctuary of home may not be enough, and even prominent figures like a beloved American Idol exec cannot escape violence. As Boodarian awaits arraignment scheduled for August 20 attention is turning both to the legal path ahead and to lessons for law enforcement and community safeguarding.

As Encino residents grapple with shock and grief, one sentiment has crystallized: Robin Kaye and Tom Deluca were more than victims, they were artists whose lives touched many. Their sudden absence leaves a hushed space both on the lawn of their home and in the chords of a show they shaped.