Robin Kaye, a music supervisor for American Idol, and her husband, Thomas Deluca, were found shot dead at their home in Encino, Los Angeles, on July 14, 2025. Authorities said they believed the couple had been killed four days earlier. Raymond Boodarian was charged in the case, but the allegations had not been tested at trial as of the latest reported update: in September 2026, a judge again found him unfit to stand trial.
Who were Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca?
Kaye, 70, worked as a music supervisor for American Idol. A spokesperson for the show said she had been part of the program since 2009. The Associated Press also reported that her credits included The Singing Bee, Hollywood Game Night and Lip Sync Battle. The show’s spokesperson called her “a cornerstone of the Idol family since 2009” and said she was loved and respected by those who worked with her. (AP)
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Her husband, Thomas Deluca, was also 70, according to reporting based on information from authorities and the show’s spokesperson. (ABC News)
What happened at the Encino home?
Police accounts place the suspected killings on July 10, 2025. Officers found Kaye and Deluca with gunshot wounds four days later, on July 14, while conducting a welfare check at their Encino home. Authorities have not publicly established in the cited reports why the bodies were not discovered sooner.
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Police had responded to calls about a possible burglary at the property on July 10. LAPD accounts said officers saw no signs of forced entry or other trouble at that time. Subsequent reporting described surveillance footage and an unlocked door; ABC News said the property’s security prevented officers from entering during the initial response. These are details attributed to police and news reports, not independent findings about what officers could or should have known during that visit. (ABC News) (CBS News Los Angeles)
What did prosecutors allege?
Police announced the arrest of 22-year-old Raymond Boodarian on July 15, 2025. Prosecutors later charged him with two counts of murder and residential burglary. They alleged that he entered the home while the couple was away and shot them when they returned. Those claims are allegations; the case had not reached a trial verdict in the latest reporting. (ABC News)
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Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said prosecutors alleged the gun came from the couple’s home. ABC News quoted him: “It was a gun that he had recovered from the actual house. It was Robin and Tom’s gun.” (ABC News)
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the latest status of the case?
In a report published September 23, 2026, Rolling Stone said Judge Maria Cavalluzzi again found Boodarian unfit to stand trial after reviewing a report from Patton State Hospital. The report said he remained committed there for treatment, an earlier involuntary medication order remained in force, and the judge scheduled the next progress hearing for March 22, 2027. It quoted the minute-order language as: “The defendant is ordered retained and treated.” (Rolling Stone)
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An unfitness finding concerns whether a defendant can proceed through court; it is not a verdict on the murder charges and does not establish guilt or innocence. The latest cited update reports no trial finding on the underlying allegations.
Quick Recap
Case timeline
- July 10, 2025: Police responded to calls about a possible burglary at the Encino property. Authorities later said they believed Kaye and Deluca were killed that day. (CBS News Los Angeles)
- July 14, 2025: Officers conducting a welfare check found the couple dead. (AP)
- July 15, 2025: Police announced Boodarian’s arrest. (AP)
- July 17, 2025: Contemporary reports said prosecutors filed murder and burglary charges. (CBS News Los Angeles)
- August 20, 2025: The Associated Press reported that proceedings were suspended for a mental competency evaluation. (AP)
- September 21, 2026: According to the September 23 report, a judge again found Boodarian unfit for trial and set a progress hearing for March 22, 2027. (Rolling Stone)
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