Raymond Boodarian was charged with two counts of murder and one count of first-degree residential burglary after Robin Kaye, an American Idol music supervisor, and her husband, Thomas Deluca, were found dead at their Encino home. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced the charges on July 17, 2025. Prosecutors’ account of the killings is an allegation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Who were Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca?
Robin Kaye, 70, worked as a music supervisor on American Idol. Her husband, Thomas Deluca, was also 70. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office identified both as victims in its July 17, 2025, charging announcement. Los Angeles County DA announcement
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What do prosecutors allege happened?
According to the DA’s release, Boodarian entered the couple’s home on the 4700 block of White Oak Avenue in Encino on or about July 10, 2025, at about 4 p.m. Prosecutors allege that Kaye and Deluca were shot multiple times when they returned home and that the suspect then fled. The couple was found several days later during a welfare check.
District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman characterized the alleged events this way: “In a matter of moments, this couple was senselessly killed in their own home as they returned from the grocery store.” That was Hochman’s public statement, not a court finding.
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What charges were filed?
The July 17, 2025, announcement said Boodarian, then identified as 22, faced two counts of murder and one count of first-degree residential burglary. Prosecutors also alleged special circumstances of multiple murders and murder during a burglary. The DA named Deputy District Attorney Hilary Williams of its Major Crimes Division as prosecutor and the Los Angeles Police Department as the investigating agency.
At the time of the announcement, arraignment was expected on August 20, 2025. The DA said that, if convicted as charged, Boodarian could face a maximum sentence of life without parole or death. These were charging-stage statements about possible consequences, not a conviction or sentence.
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What has been reported about the case since the charges?
In an account dated July 1, 2026, LegalClarity reported that Boodarian was found incompetent to stand trial in late 2025 and ordered to a state hospital for competency restoration. This is secondary reporting; a current court docket or official competency order has not been independently confirmed here. It should not be treated as a verified statement of the case’s present status. LegalClarity’s July 1, 2026 account
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What does the presumption of innocence mean here?
The DA’s release explicitly says that the charges are allegations and that Boodarian is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. The allegations, special-circumstance claims, and possible penalties described in the announcement do not establish guilt.
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