"In Encino, the husband and wife duo, Robin Kaye - a 'American Idol' executive, and their spouse, fall victims to a deadly shooting. The assailant reportedly apprehended by authorities, according to police."
In a shocking turn of events, Los Angeles police have arrested Raymond Boodarian, a 22-year-old man from Los Angeles, in connection with the shooting deaths of Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca. The couple, known for Robin's work as a music supervisor on the singing competition series "American Idol", were found dead in their Encino home on Monday.
The tragic discovery was made during a wellness check at the couple's home in the 4700 block of White Oak Avenue early Monday morning, following a call from a neighbour about a suspicious person. Police believe that Boodarian scaled a fence onto the property and shot the couple during a struggle when they arrived home. Investigators suspect he was burglarising the residence at the time of the incident.
Boodarian was arrested at his home without incident on Tuesday. He has been charged with two counts of murder and one count of residential burglary. The charges include special circumstances. Surveillance cameras in the victims' home helped investigators track down Boodarian, and a handgun was found at his residence, which is suspected to be the murder weapon pending forensic analysis.
Prior to this incident, Boodarian had been charged with battery and exhibiting a deadly weapon, but those charges were dismissed. Additionally, he was determined to be mentally incompetent three months before the dismissal of those prior charges.
The Los Angeles Police Department has asked those with additional information to contact LAPD detectives at (818) 374-9550. It is believed that the incident was random, and there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Guy Cohen, the owner of SecureIT Homes, stated that Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca had called for their services after a different break-in in May. It appears, however, that Boodarian gained entry into the residence through an unlocked door.
A statement from "American Idol" expressed sorrow over the passing of Robin Kaye and her husband, Tom. The show's producers asked for privacy during this difficult time.
Police were dispatched for suspected burglary calls in the same West Valley police district four times in July, including three days in a row on July 9, 10, and 11. For the first five months of the year in that same neighborhood, there were only four such calls to LAPD, suggesting a possible increase in burglary attempts there.
The investigation is still ongoing, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
- The shocking news of the arrest of Raymond Boodarian, a 22-year-old man, for the murder of music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca, has been widely reported in general-news outlets.
- In a strange twist, it has been revealed that Boodarian, who was previously charged with battery and exhibiting a deadly weapon, had his charges dismissed, and was found to be mentally incompetent three months before the current incident.
- The crime-and-justice section of several news websites has covered the story of the shooting deaths of the "American Idol" music supervisor and her husband, highlighting the police's belief that Boodarian was burglarizing their home at the time of the incident.
- As the investigation into the shootings continues, many are also discussing the possible increase in burglary attempts in the same neighborhood where the incident occurred, as indicated by the police being dispatched for suspected burglary calls four times in July alone.
