Robin Kaye: 'American Idol' Boss Had 'Felt Threatened by Somebody' and Planned to Hire Private Security Days Before Being Murdered Along with Husband
Authorities arrested 22-year-old Raymond Boodarian on Tuesday, a day after police officers found the bodies of the couple during a welfare check at their home. In the weeks leading up to the tragedy, Kaye had reportedly contacted a private security company due to growing concerns about her safety, according to NBC Los Angeles.
Anticipating Danger Before Murder
Robin Kaye X
"She felt threatened by somebody because of somebody around their home or around their neighborhood who felt suspicious," said Kris Herzog, owner of the Bodyguard Group of Beverly Hills.
The couple ultimately did not go through with hiring the security firm and it remains unclear whether their home had been targeted before. The property, which was purchased for nearly $4.5 million in 2023, stood out as one of the largest and most fortified homes in the area, featuring high walls topped with spikes.
Robin Kaye with husband Thomas Deluca Instagram
According to neighbors who spoke to NBC Los Angeles, the upscale neighborhood has been a repeated target for burglars over the years. Investigators believe Boordarian was in the middle of robbing Kaye's home on July 10 while the couple was out.
Detectives say the suspect had likely been inside for about 30 minutes before the couple came back and caught him in the act.
He didn't break in but instead accessed the house through an unlocked entry point, before shooting dead both Kaye and her husband when they confronted him.
Robin Kaye X
Boodarian allegedly shot both victims during a confrontation after they caught him in the middle of the burglary
On the day the couple died, the LAPD received two reports of a potential break-in. However, when officers arrived, they were unable to enter the property due to the home's heavy security, according to ABC7.
With no visible signs of a break-in and no warnings from a police helicopter surveying the area, officers saw no immediate threat and eventually left the scene. Officers returned to the six-bedroom mansion four days later, around 2:30 pm after receiving a call requesting a welfare check. They broke a rear window to gain entry into the house.
After entering, they found both Kaye and Deluca shot in the head. Investigators witnessed blood near the front door before forcing their way in through the window, according to TMZ.
Neighbors reported seeing someone—possibly armed—jumping a fence along the upscale, tree-lined street in the exclusive California neighborhood. Neighbor Naomi Sadoun, 69, said she often saw the couple walking together in the area, sometimes accompanied by their dog, and remembered them as "lovely people."
She added that concerned relatives arrived at the Encino property on White Oak Avenue the previous evening but were kept outside by police.
A Star Is Gone
After news of the heartbreaking deaths broke, American Idol released a statement describing Kaye as " a cornerstone of the Idol family." "We are devastated to hear of Robin and her dear husband, Tom's, passing," a spokesperson told Daily Mail.
Robin Kaye X
"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."
Kaye worked as the music supervisor for "American Idol" for the past 15 seasons, contributing to around 300 episodes, according to her IMDb profile.
In her illustrious career, she won multiple Guild of Music Supervisors Awards for her exceptional work on the show. Her impressive résumé also includes work on popular shows such as "Lip Sync Battle", "Hollywood Game Night", and "Worn Stories."
Kaye also worked for the NAACP Image Awards, "The Singing Bee", "Miss USA", "Miss Universe", "American Inventor", "The Dance Scene", "Dance Your A* Off*", "Your Chance to Dance", "Adventures of Power", and "Crashed."
Her husband was a musician whose most recent album, Street Rock, was released in 2022.
According to his website, Deluca's first album, the critically acclaimed cult classic "Down To The Wire", was released by Epic Records in 1986.
Public records show that the happy couple bought their Encino home in January 2023.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
20-07-2025
- Straits Times
Driver charged after ploughing into Los Angeles nightclub crowd, injuring 30
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Thirty people were injured after a driver ploughed his car into a crowd outside The Vermont Hollywood nightclub on July 19. LOS ANGELES - A driver was charged with assault after ploughing into a crowd outside a Hollywood nightclub early on July 19, police said, injuring 30 people, with bystanders attacking and shooting the driver before he was detained by authorities. The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Fernando Ramirez, was charged on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) spokeswoman Rosario Cervantes told AFP. Ramirez had been 'undergoing surgery' at a local hospital after suffering a gunshot wound from the incident. 'He is not free to leave, he is in the custody of Los Angeles Police Department,' LAPD Commander Lillian Carranza told local news station KCAL. Ramirez had been kicked out of The Vermont Hollywood nightclub in East Hollywood before he deliberately rammed his vehicle into the crowd, US media reported. Based on reviewing a video of the incident, 'when he hit bystanders, it was an intentional act', the Los Angeles Times quoted LAPD Captain Ben Fernandes as saying. The crowd pulled Ramirez out of the car, reportedly a Nissan Versa sedan, and attacked him in the chaos that followed the car ramming, which took place around 2am (5pm, Singapore time), police detailed. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Singapore HSA extends hotline hours, launches new platform to report vaping offences Singapore Tampines regional centre set to get more homes, offices and public amenities Multimedia How to make the most out of small homes in Singapore World Diplomats dismissed: Inside the overhaul reshaping Trump's foreign policy Life US tech CEO Andy Byron resigns after viral Coldplay 'kiss cam' video Opinion I thought I was a 'chill' parent. Then came P1 registration Singapore 'God and government are the only things beyond our control,' says Group CEO Authorities were still searching for a gunman who shot and wounded the driver before fleeing on foot, Ms Cervantes said. Footage posted on social media showed panicked people running outside the club and victims sprawled on a blood-stained sidewalk, while others sobbed nearby. 'When officers arrived, they found the driver being assaulted by bystanders and determined he had sustained a gunshot wound,' a police statement said. More than 100 firefighters responded to the scene in East Hollywood. 'We have 30 victims, 18 females and 12 males between the ages of the mid-twenties to early thirties,' Ms Carranza said. Seven were in critical condition and six were in serious condition, authorities said. Ten suffered minor injuries while seven left the hospital against medical advice. 'Heartbreaking tragedy' Many clubgoers were outside when the car ploughed into the crowd, a taco truck and a valet stand. 'They were all standing in line going into a nightclub. There was a taco cart out there, so they were ... getting some food, waiting to go in. And there's also a valet line there,' Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Adam Van Gerpen told ABC News. 'The valet podium was taken out, the taco truck was taken out, and then a large number of people were impacted by the vehicle.' At dawn on July 19, a tow truck hauled away the car, its bumper torn off. Club employees power washed the sidewalk outside The Vermont Hollywood, which had been hosting a reggae and hip-hop event. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the incident 'a heartbreaking tragedy'. 'The hearts of Angelenos are with all of the victims impacted this morning – a full investigation into what happened is underway,' she said in a statement. The Vermont Hollywood club said on social media it was 'deeply saddened by the tragic incident'. The area of the car ramming is near Hollywood landmarks including Sunset Boulevard and the Walk of Fame – a sidewalk emblazoned with stars commemorating movie industry figures. AFP
CNA
19-07-2025
- CNA
Car ploughs into Los Angeles nightclub crowd, injuring 30
LOS ANGELES: A car ploughed into a crowd outside a Hollywood nightclub early Saturday (Jul 19), police said, injuring 30 people, with bystanders attacking and shooting the driver before he was detained by authorities. The suspect was "undergoing surgery" and in stable condition, Lillian Carranza from the Los Angeles Police Department said. "He is not free to leave, he is in the custody of Los Angeles Police Department," Carranza told local news station KCAL, adding that police were looking into charges including attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon. The driver was pulled out of the car by the crowd and attacked in the chaos that followed the car ramming, which took place at around 2am, according to police. Authorities were searching for a gunman who shot and wounded the driver before fleeing on foot. Footage posted on social media showed panicked people running outside the club and victims sprawled on a blood-stained sidewalk, while others sobbed nearby. The driver of the car, reportedly a Nissan Versa sedan, was pulled from the vehicle by the crowd, handcuffed and brutally beaten, a video on social media showed. "When officers arrived, they found the driver being assaulted by bystanders and determined he had sustained a gunshot wound," a police statement said. More than 100 firefighters responded to the scene in East Hollywood. "We have 30 victims, 18 females and 12 males between the ages of mid-20s to early 30s," Carranza said. Seven were in critical condition and six were in serious condition, authorities said. Ten suffered minor injuries while seven left the hospital against medical advice. "HEARTBREAKING TRAGEDY" Many clubgoers were outside when the car ploughed into the crowd, a taco truck and a valet stand. "They were all standing in line going into a nightclub. There was a taco cart out there, so they were ... getting some food, waiting to go in. And there's also a valet line there," Los Angeles Fire Department Captain Adam Van Gerpen told ABC News. "The valet podium was taken out, the taco truck was taken out, and then a large number of people were impacted by the vehicle." At dawn on Saturday, a tow truck hauled away the car, its bumper torn off. Club employees power-washed the sidewalk outside The Vermont Hollywood, which had been hosting a reggae and hip-hop event. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called the incident "a heartbreaking tragedy". "The hearts of Angelenos are with all of the victims impacted this morning – a full investigation into what happened is underway," she said in a statement. The Vermont Hollywood club said on social media it was "deeply saddened by the tragic incident." The area of the car ramming is near Hollywood landmarks, including Sunset Boulevard and the Walk of Fame – a sidewalk emblazoned with stars commemorating movie industry figures.
International Business Times
16-07-2025
- International Business Times
Robin Kaye: 'American Idol' Boss Had 'Felt Threatened by Somebody' and Planned to Hire Private Security Days Before Being Murdered Along with Husband
The "American Idol" executive who was shot dead along with her husband in their lavish Los Angeles home had recently looked into hiring private security, because the couple "felt threatened by somebody." Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca, both 70, were killed during a suspected break-in at their Encino home late last week, according to police. Authorities arrested 22-year-old Raymond Boodarian on Tuesday, a day after police officers found the bodies of the couple during a welfare check at their home. In the weeks leading up to the tragedy, Kaye had reportedly contacted a private security company due to growing concerns about her safety, according to NBC Los Angeles. Anticipating Danger Before Murder Robin Kaye X "She felt threatened by somebody because of somebody around their home or around their neighborhood who felt suspicious," said Kris Herzog, owner of the Bodyguard Group of Beverly Hills. The couple ultimately did not go through with hiring the security firm and it remains unclear whether their home had been targeted before. The property, which was purchased for nearly $4.5 million in 2023, stood out as one of the largest and most fortified homes in the area, featuring high walls topped with spikes. Robin Kaye with husband Thomas Deluca Instagram According to neighbors who spoke to NBC Los Angeles, the upscale neighborhood has been a repeated target for burglars over the years. Investigators believe Boordarian was in the middle of robbing Kaye's home on July 10 while the couple was out. Detectives say the suspect had likely been inside for about 30 minutes before the couple came back and caught him in the act. He didn't break in but instead accessed the house through an unlocked entry point, before shooting dead both Kaye and her husband when they confronted him. Robin Kaye X Boodarian allegedly shot both victims during a confrontation after they caught him in the middle of the burglary On the day the couple died, the LAPD received two reports of a potential break-in. However, when officers arrived, they were unable to enter the property due to the home's heavy security, according to ABC7. With no visible signs of a break-in and no warnings from a police helicopter surveying the area, officers saw no immediate threat and eventually left the scene. Officers returned to the six-bedroom mansion four days later, around 2:30 pm after receiving a call requesting a welfare check. They broke a rear window to gain entry into the house. After entering, they found both Kaye and Deluca shot in the head. Investigators witnessed blood near the front door before forcing their way in through the window, according to TMZ. Neighbors reported seeing someone—possibly armed—jumping a fence along the upscale, tree-lined street in the exclusive California neighborhood. Neighbor Naomi Sadoun, 69, said she often saw the couple walking together in the area, sometimes accompanied by their dog, and remembered them as "lovely people." She added that concerned relatives arrived at the Encino property on White Oak Avenue the previous evening but were kept outside by police. A Star Is Gone After news of the heartbreaking deaths broke, American Idol released a statement describing Kaye as " a cornerstone of the Idol family." "We are devastated to hear of Robin and her dear husband, Tom's, passing," a spokesperson told Daily Mail. Robin Kaye X "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." Kaye worked as the music supervisor for "American Idol" for the past 15 seasons, contributing to around 300 episodes, according to her IMDb profile. In her illustrious career, she won multiple Guild of Music Supervisors Awards for her exceptional work on the show. Her impressive résumé also includes work on popular shows such as "Lip Sync Battle", "Hollywood Game Night", and "Worn Stories." Kaye also worked for the NAACP Image Awards, "The Singing Bee", "Miss USA", "Miss Universe", "American Inventor", "The Dance Scene", "Dance Your A* Off*", "Your Chance to Dance", "Adventures of Power", and "Crashed." Her husband was a musician whose most recent album, Street Rock, was released in 2022. According to his website, Deluca's first album, the critically acclaimed cult classic "Down To The Wire", was released by Epic Records in 1986. Public records show that the happy couple bought their Encino home in January 2023.
