‘American Idol’ music supervisor, husband shot and killed at their L.A. home
LAPD confirmed to Rolling Stone that a suspect has been arrested in connection with the double homicide
By Tomás Mier
Robin Kaye, a longtime music supervisor for American Idol, and her husband, Thomas Deluca, were shot and killed at their Encino home, and were found dead Monday afternoon, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) confirmed with Rolling Stone Tuesday.
In a press release shared Tuesday, LAPD confirmed that Kaye and Deluca, both 70, were found dead at their home Monday afternoon following a welfare check call. Homicide investigators interviewed friends and family, reviewed surveillance video, “recovered evidence” from the scene, and found that the couple died following “multiple gunshot wounds.”
“While there were no signs of forced entry or trouble at the location during that investigation, it is now believed that the suspect had gained entry into the residence through an unlocked door,” the release read. “The victims returned home while the suspect was inside their residence, and a confrontation ensued, which resulted in the suspect taking their lives.”
A 22-year-old man named Raymond Boodarian, who’s from Encino, was identified and detained without incident. It’s unclear whether Boodarian had any connection to the couple or to prior incidents at the residence.
“We are devastated to hear of Robin and her dear husband, Tom’s, passing,” a spokesperson for American Idol told Rolling Stone. “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.”
No motive has been revealed as the Valley Homicide Bureau continues to investigate the killing.
According to her IMDB, Kaye worked on nearly 300 American Idol episodes. She was also credited as a music supervisor for Miss Universe, Lip Sync Battle, The Dance Scene, Crashed, and several other shows. According to Variety, Deluca was a songwriter and musician.
“The general public assumes that music supervision is a glamorous and exciting job — being paid to work with one of everyone’s favorite pastimes, music,” Kaye told Variety for a feature in 2019. “[But] in most films and scripted television … the music is usually the very last thing that happens, and sometimes there is not enough budget left to fill all the music needs. Music supervisors are often expected to work fast and pull miracles creatively and financially to complete the project.”