Latest news with #Encino
CBS News
8 hours ago
- CBS News
Armed security patrols hit streets of Encino in midst of troubling crime wave
Encino homeowners are taking action to protect themselves in the midst of a troubling crime wave that has seen burglaries, robberies and murder arrive in their neighborhood last week when "American Idol" executive Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas Deluca were found shot to death inside of their home. On Monday night, just hours after neighbors joined law enforcement and other city leaders to address the rampant crime, two more homes were targeted by attempted burglars, including one belonging to former "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star Teddi Mellencamp. After almost two years of living on edge, some residents say they've reached a tipping point. "This was the sleepiest, friendliest, everybody knew everyone neighborhood and we left our doors open, things in the car," said one woman. Related: "American Idol" executive and husband killed with their own gun, LA County DA says Now, things couldn't be more different. Home security signs are just as ubiquitous as flowers in one's front yard, and high-tech cameras can be seen on nearly every home. Some neighbors have joined forces to pay for armed security patrols, run neighborhood watch groups and develop complex security plans. "Everybody here now has to build gates that are eight-feet tall, 10-feet tall. All the cameras, we have private security seven days a week, we also have two flock cameras recording the license plate of every car that comes down our street," said one woman who lives in the neighborhood. Homeowners say even that amount of defense doesn't appear to be enough, causing them to resort to desperate measures, especially after the double-killing last week. They're demanding more action from Los Angeles police, despite law enforcement claiming that violent crime numbers are actually down. Related: Suspect in killings of "American Idol" executive Robin Kaye and her husband charged with murder, burglary "I think the problem is there aren't enough police to deter the criminal activity that we're seeing," said Richard Mirisch, a board member on the Encino Property Owners Association. On Wednesday, LAPD officials announced that there would be extra patrols in the area, including flyovers by department aircraft and mounted patrols. They also said that detectives are working to target organized burglary crews.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
The bloodcurdling words screamed over 911 call as American Idol producer Robin Kaye and husband were murdered
A 911 caller was heard begging 'please don't shoot me' during the home invasion that ended with the fatal shooting of an American Idol producer and her husband. Robin Kaye, a longtime music supervisor on the hit singing competition show, and her husband Thomas Deluca, both 70, were found dead in their $5million gated home in Los Angeles ' ritzy Encino neighborhood on July 14. Raymond Boodarian, an Encino resident, was later arrested 'without incident' after having allegedly called police and provided authorities with his name. Investigators believe Boodarian, 22, was burglarizing the residence July 10 while the couple was away and shot them when they suddenly returned. Police received two burglary calls at the couple's home the day they were killed, according to a search warrant affidavit obtained by the Los Angeles Times. The first call came in shortly after 4pm in which a neighbor reported that an unknown man was trying to break into the residence. Police received a second call roughly 40 minutes later from someone inside the property claiming to be a resident. The caller alleged that someone had broken in and could be heard begging another person not to shoot them. The caller, whose identity is not clear, later advised dispatch that officer response was unnecessary, the affidavit claims. Additional attempts to reach the caller were unsuccessful. The search warrant does not specify if the call was made from one of the victims or if it came from Boodarian pretending to be a resident. LA County DA Nathan Hochman revealed during a town hall Monday the suspect used his personal cellphone to call police after the incident, which ultimately led to him being tracked down. 'Mr. Boodarian got caught because he used his cellphone to contact police concerning this situation,' Hochman told the meeting, NBC 4 reports. 'He actually identified himself.' Boodarian had already been inside the couple's home for about 30 minutes on July 10 when Kaye and Deluca unexpectedly arrived home. CCTV footage obtained by investigators allegedly shows the suspect entering the home in an attempted burglary. He did not force entry and instead found an open way to get inside. He allegedly shot the couple dead with their own firearm during a struggle when they caught him in the act. The couple's bodies were discovered in the $5million mansion four days later after officers carried out a welfare check. Boodraian was arrested on July 15 and charged with two counts of murder two days later. He also faces burglary charges. His arraignment is scheduled for August 20. The suspect has at least three prior arrests including charges of battery, threatening to commit a crime with intent to terrorize, and exhibiting a deadly weapon. Fingerprints from his previous arrests also helped investigators identify him as a suspect in the grisly killings of Kaye and Deluca. Officers responded to the residence on the day of their slayings, but were unable to get inside the couple's high-security property which is guarded with an 8-foot spiked wall and surveillance cameras. Cops circled the perimeter and had a helicopter swoop over the property, but were unable to gain access via the ground. Officers saw no visible signs of forced entry and the chopper flying overhead did not alert officers to any dangers, so they left the scene. Police sources allege Boodarian was likely inside the property as officers responded to the residence on July 10. Boodarian is believed to have entered through a single unlocked door while his alleged victims were out grocery shopping. It is unclear if he pulled the door shut behind him, but he is then said to have laid in wait inside until they returned. They returned to the six-bedroom estate four days later at 2.30pm following a call for a welfare check, shattering a back window to gain access to the home. When they entered, they discovered Kaye and Deluca both shot in the head. He then used his personal cellphone to call police after the incident and even provided authorities with his name, which ultimately led to him being tracked down Kaye was with American Idol for more than 15 years and was working on the upcoming season at the time of her death. Over the years, she won several Guild of Music Supervisors Awards for her work on the show. She also worked for other well-known shows, including Lip Sync Battle, Hollywood Game Night, and Worn Stories. Kaye 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 and Adventures of Power and Crashed. During the 7th Annual Guild of Music Supervisors Awards in Hollywood in 2017, Kaye spoke about her career path, which she said was often unappreciated. 'It's one of those parts of the business that people don't even know it exists,' Kaye said. 'It's a very important part of films and TV. Pretty much everything in the entertainment industry has music in it and people just think that it's there.' Her husband was a musician who last released an album called Street Rock in 2022. His first 'acclaimed cult favorite debut' album, 'Down To The Wire,' was released by Epic Records in 1986, Deluca's website detailed. Deluca penned songs for popular hit makers, including Kid Rock, the band Molly Hatchet and Meredith Brooks. The couple purchased the home in January 2023, according to public records. It was previously owned by late rapper Juice WRLD who died in 2019 from an overdose, neighbors told KTLA. The home was also reportedly used a rental property before being sold to the couple.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Teddi Mellencamp's LA mansion targeted in attempted burglary amid stage four cancer battle
Teddi Mellencamp has suffered another setback, as an attempted burglary occurred at her Encino home while she continues her battle with stage four cancer. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, 44, was first diagnosed with melanoma in 2022 and revealed in April that the cancer had advanced to stage four, having metastasized to her lungs and brain—a progression her doctors initially failed to detect. Following the discovery of tumors in her brain and lungs, she began a series of intensive treatments, including surgery, radiation, and immunotherapy. Amid her ongoing health battle, Mellencamp is also navigating personal upheaval, including a recent breakup and her divorce from estranged husband Edwin Arroyave, with whom she shares three children. On Monday, two individuals attempted to enter the Encino, CA property she shares with Arroyave, according to TMZ. The home's security system immediately alerted those inside to the intrusion attempt, and no injuries were reported, per the insider. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ that police responded to a burglary call and rushed to the scene. By the time officers arrived, the suspects had already fled. Authorities believe the individuals had just burglarized a neighboring home before attempting to break into Teddi's property. In August 2020, Teddi bought the impressive 8,550-square-foot estate for $6.5 million. Listed through Mauricio Umansky's The Agency, the home features seven bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a home theater, a basketball court, and numerous luxury amenities. This residence sits farther from Beverly Hills compared to her previous Hollywood Hills property, which she purchased in 2018 for $4.07 million. The attempted burglary follows Teddi's revelation in a conversation with former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills co-star Kyle Richards about why she never requested the scans that might have allowed doctors to detect the cancer's spread sooner. 'When you go to a doctor, you just assume that's it. I'm doing what I'm supposed to do,' she confessed in an interview with Kyle for Glamour. 'At first, I didn't even really do the research on melanoma because I didn't want to know all of the bad things. But there's a difference between self-diagnosing yourself and being an advocate for your own health,' she argued. 'I never really thought about it because I was like, I go to a doctor every three months. Why wouldn't they get me checked?' Teddi recalled. Her advice for others is 'that you've got to plan ahead of time. You don't need to wait until you're sick to do things like life insurance. Have those hard conversations with your family, because you never know when it's going to come.' She urged fans further to 'trust your gut instinct. There was a long time that I wasn't feeling well and didn't go to the doctor. I thought I had migraines, I thought I was going through menopause. I had self-diagnosed myself with 500 things.' Her recent post follows news that Teddi ended her relationship with boyfriend Ricci Rea, recognizing that her current health challenges leave her without the energy to maintain a romantic relationship. Last month, exclusively spotted her sharing a close moment with a new boyfriend, which she later confirmed publicly. Meanwhile, her estranged husband Edwin has remained a source of support during her health battle, though the couple has made it clear that their divorce proceedings are ongoing.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
American Idol boss and husband were shot with their own gun as it's revealed 911 call came from killer's cellphone
The alleged killer of American Idol boss Robin Kaye and her husband used the couple's own gun to cut them down in cold blood at their home, it has emerged. Authorities also believe Raymond Boodarian, 22, called 911 from his cell phone during a violent break-in at the couple's Encino, California, property on July 10. The bodies of Kaye, a music supervisor on the hit show, and Thomas Deluca, both 70, were not discovered by officers from the Los Angeles Police Department until four days later on July 14 after worried relatives requested a welfare check. They were found in different rooms and pronounced dead at the scene after being shot multiple times, including to the head. The DA's office told the Daily Mail: 'The District Attorney's Office can confirm that the suspect placed a 911 call and that the firearm involved in the homicide was registered to the victim.' Investigators believe Boodarian allegedly scaled a wall to get onto the property and entered the home through an unlocked door 30 minutes after the pair arrived home from grocery shopping. New details about the brutal slayings were revealed by Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman during a local public safety meeting on Monday evening and on Tuesday by LAPD. Hundreds of worried residents in the wealthy neighborhood where the murders occurred attended the event. It follows a number of burglaries in the area where celebrities including Machine Gun Kelly, Michael B. Jordan and Matt LeBlanc have homes. Hochman said a firearm recovered from Boodarian's rented residence in nearby Reseda came from the victims' home. 'It was a gun that he had recovered from the actual house,' he told the audience, according to ABC News. 'It was Robin and Tom's gun. It wasn't his gun. Which is exceptionally tragic.' Hochman added: 'The government owes you one thing and that's safety. 'Robin and Tom didn't experience safety that night. Safety failed them.' Boodarian was arrested the day after the murders were discovered. He has been charged with two counts of murder and a count of residential burglary, with the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders and murder during the commission of a burglary. He has not yet entered a plea and is currently being held at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in downtown Los Angeles without bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 20. 'Mr. Boodarian got caught because he used his cellphone to contact police concerning this situation,' explained Hochman during Monday's meeting. 'Police were able to ping the cellphone, find out where he lived, go to his residence and arrest him.' Police had previously said they received two separate 911 calls on the day of the break-in. According to the Los Angeles Times, a neighbor called 911 at 4pm on July 10 to report that a man was attempting to break into Kaye and Deluca's $4.5 million gated mansion on White Oak Avenue. About 40 minutes later, a call was placed to emergency services from inside the couple's property and the dispatcher was told that someone had broken in and the they could here the caller say: 'Please don't shoot me!' The caller then told the operator that a police response was not required. Follow-up attempts to reach the caller by phone were unsuccessful. Shocking details are contained in a search warrant affidavit filed by the the San Fernando Valley homicide unit, reported the Times. The warrant does not specify if the caller was Boodarian pretending to be one of the victims or actually from Kaye or her husband. Police sent officers to inspect the property on the day of the murders, aided by a helicopter, but they left after failing to gain access. 'Officers arrived on scene and conducted a check of the surrounding area and attempted to visually check the residence through the security gate, LAPD spokesperson Jennifer Forkish said in a statement. 'They attempted entry at two access points but both were locked and secured. The home was secured with surrounding walls.' Forkish added that the police helicopter 'visually checked the location and advised there was no visible activity or evidence of break in. 'After taking additional steps to contact the persons reporting and residents at the location, officers cleared from the scene.' According to LAPD Deputy Chief Marla Ciuffetelli, also at Monday's meeting, the department is conducting an assessment of its response to the murders. 'We're always striving to try to respond better, Ciuffetelli said. 'We're taking a very close look at the response. I'm not saying that there was any mistakes made, but we're making sure that in similar circumstances, that we respond appropriately. LAPD Capt. Michael Bland said that patrols in Encino are being increased. This is not something we take lightly,' he said. Court records show that Boodarian was jailed last year on suspicion of threat, weapons, and battery charges. But in December a judge dismissed the cases following a mental health evaluation. Court records show he was placed in a conservatorship, which puts another adult in charge of major decisions in a person's life if they've been diagnosed with a severe mental disorder. A neighbor, who did not want to be named, told the Daily Mail she would occasionally see Boodarian roaming the complex 'looking really, really disturbed.' Otherwise, she kept her distance. She described how he would sometimes have an 'episode' and appear 'ready to break the walls.' 'It feels like he's gonna break right through the wall and is coming into my place.' She added: 'The cops have been here in the past. The mother's called and said "I can't control him."' The neighbor claimed that on at least one occasion, Boodarian had to be strapped to a stretcher and removed from the property. Court records show that Boodarian was jailed last year on suspicion of threat, weapons, and battery charges before the alleged break-in into the slain couple's home (pictured) She said: 'They're always repairing the unit inside. I don't know if he bangs his head or if he throws things, I don't know, but it's usually really loud. 'He can get really violent. And I don't know if he's throwing furniture or if he's banging with his fist on the wall, but he has actually broken the drywall.' The neighbor alleged that on one occasion he 'broke a couple of his mom's ribs,' though she did not elaborate on the alleged incident.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Teddi Mellencamp's Los Angeles home targeted in burglary while she was there with kids and husband
Teddi Mellencamp's Los Angeles home targeted in burglary while she was there with kids and husband Teddi Mellencamp's Los Angeles home targeted in burglary while she was there with kids and husband The Los Angeles home of former 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star Teddi Mellencamp was targeted in a burglary while she was there with her estranged husband and their children. Mellencamp and her husband Edwin Arroyave, who have paused divorce proceedings during her stage 4 melanoma cancer treatment, were home with their four children when three intruders tried to break into the Encino home through a side door Monday night, NBC News Los Angeles reported. 'A little shocked still. It's definitely a little shocking," Arroyave told the local outlet. "Three individuals basically jumped the gate and, luckily, the cameras detected people jumping. So, we knew, right away." The intruders were in the home for roughly 20 seconds and never made contact with the homeowners. Arroyave said while police responded quickly the intruders were gone by the time they arrived. ADVERTISEMENT 'Luckily, nothing happened, they just ran out,' Arroyave said. The Los Angeles home of former 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star Teddi Mellencamp was targeted in a burglary while she was there with her estranged husband and their children (Getty) Just minutes before Mellencamp's home was broken into, there was a report of a possible burglary at another Encino home two and a half miles away. Police said, per the local outlet, the homeowners were not at the house but were able to call 911 after they saw the intruders on their security cameras. The reported break-ins come less than two weeks after American Idol executive Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca, were fatally shot in their Encino home around the same time a neighbor called 911 to report seeing a man scaling a wall that surrounds their house. Kaye and Deluca had returned home to find suspect Raymond Boodarian, 22. Boodarian has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree burglary. The reported break-ins come less than two weeks after American Idol executive Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca, were fatally shot in their Encino home (Facebook) Mellencamp is not the first real housewife to be the target of a break-in. ADVERTISEMENT 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' star Dorit Kemsley was the victim of an armed robbery at her Encino home in October 2021. Kemsely said she was held at gunpoint by three intruders as her children were sleeping. She had an estimated $1 million worth of jewelry and handbags stolen. 'When they came into my bedroom, when they had the gun to my head, I thought, 'This is it, this is how I'm going to die,'' Kemsley said on Season 12 of the Bravo show. Kemsley's co-star Kyle Richards also had a break-in at her Encino home in 2017. 'After we were burglarized, it probably took me at least six months to feel safe in my home again,' Kyle said on season 12.
