Latest news with #ThomasDeLuca
Fox News
3 days ago
- Fox News
‘American Idol' exec murder: Timeline shows police left home minutes before fatal shooting
"American Idol" exec Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas DeLuca, narrowly missed a police presence outside their home on the day they were shot and killed by an intruder. Kaye and DeLuca were found dead inside their home July 14 when the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) conducted a welfare check. A friend of the couple had contacted authorities after not hearing from Kaye or DeLuca for days. The police were given access to get inside the gate by the friend, and they found signs of trouble outside. Officers broke a window to enter, and they discovered the couple shot to death. Officers were called to the Encino home twice July 10, but NBC4 Los Angeles reported they had cleared the scene 25 minutes before Kaye and DeLuca pulled into their driveway. Here's a timeline of the double homicide: Robin Kaye and Thomas DeLuca attended a neighborhood safety meeting the night before the couple were killed, according to NBC4 Los Angeles. "I had a chance to connect with Robin and Tom, sitting at the same table, for about two hours," Capt. Mike Bland admitted during a July 21 safety meeting, according to the outlet. At the second meeting, which occurred after Kaye and DeLuca were murdered, officers promised to increase patrolling in Encino-area neighborhoods. A neighbor of Kaye and DeLuca called 911 after seeing someone climb the fence to gain access to the couple's property. The LAPD dispatched a helicopter and patrol cars. The LAPD flight operator called dispatch to see if the person reporting the attempted break-in still had eyes on the suspect. The LAPD dispatch said it didn't have any evidence of a forced break-in and gave the all clear. The officers then left the property, although it's unclear exactly what time the officers departed. Fox News Digital has reached out to the LAPD. Robin Kaye and Thomas DeLuca returned home about 25 minutes after the police had left. A second 911 call came through to the LAPD. The caller could be heard saying "someone broke into my office," and "don't shoot me," NBC4 Los Angeles reported. According to detectives, GPS coordinates placed the caller inside Kaye and DeLuca's home. WATCH: 'AMERICAN IDOL' EXEC MOVED TO ENCINO NEIGHBORHOOD 'TO BE SAFE' BEFORE DOUBLE HOMICIDE, FAMILY FRIEND SAYS The LAPD responded to the Encino home after receiving two calls about a burglary. At the time, officers saw no signs of forced entry. "The house is fortified. It has 7, 8-foot-high walls with metal spikes that are welded onto the tips of the walls there. The vehicle gate was closed, also spiked. They had no means of entering via gate code like they did on the date of the welfare check," LAPD Lt. Guy Golan previously told Fox News Digital about the July 10 response. "They did request a flyover by our airship, which did happen," he added. "There were no signs of forced entry during this flyover. And, again, that the suspect entered the property without force and entry. So, there were no signs of burglary. And regarding what evidence there was in the front porch, it was not visible by air due to the foyer having a kind of a cover over it there at the front of the house. So, the airship was not able to see what the officers observed during the welfare check." Kaye and DeLuca were found dead inside their home after a friend called police for a welfare check. Investigators believe the suspect scaled a fence to gain access to the home and was able to enter through an unlocked door. Golan previously told Fox News Digital police believe the suspect was inside the house for about 30 minutes when the victims returned home, and a violent struggle took place. Kaye and Deluca died of their injuries, and the suspect fled on foot. A suspect, identified as 22-year-old Raymond Boodarian, was arrested in the double homicide. WATCH: LAPD LT. GUY GOLAN PROVIDES UPDATE ON THE MURDERS OF AN 'AMERICAN IDOL' EXECUTIVE AND HER HUSBAND Boodarian was charged July 17 with the murders of Kaye and DeLuca and appeared for the first time in a Southern California court. The 22-year-old was charged with two counts of murder and one count of first-degree burglary. Special circumstances were also filed with respect to the murders, Deputy District Attorney Hilary Williams said outside the Van Nuys courthouse. Boodarian remained hidden behind a door in the courtroom during the hearing. He could face life without the possibility of parole or death, according to Williams. WATCH: 'AMERICAN IDOL' EXEC MURDER SUSPECT CHARGED IN DOUBLE HOMICIDE On Monday, July 21, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman revealed new details during a town hall meeting. Hochman said Boodarian gave his name when he called 911 July 10. This call led detectives to track him down after the discovery of the deceased July 14. He also alleged Boodarian shot the couple with their gun. "As this remains an active investigation and pending court matter, we are unable to share additional details at this time," a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office told Fox News Digital. Encino residents gathered at a town hall meeting to discuss concerns over rising crime in the area. "This murder could have been avoided," Heather Michaels from the Encino Neighborhood Council said, according to Fox11. "The community feels unsafe. They are frightened. A lot of the elderly don't even want to come out of their homes." Authorities noted they have increased patrolling in the Encino area between 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
American Idol boss and her husband were in safety meeting with LAPD chief hours before their murder
American Idol music supervisor Robin Kaye and her musician husband attended a meeting with Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell hours before they were murdered in cold blood. The Daily Mail can reveal that the couple were at a Community-Police Advisory Board briefing on July 9 where senior LAPD officers - including McDonnell - faced residents concerned by the increase in violent crime in the upscale Encino neighborhood. The cops offered advice on how members of the community could protect themselves after a surge in break-ins and other lawlessness. The following day, Kaye and her husband Thomas DeLuca were shot execution-style in the head in their $4.5million home. They were gunned down by the callous intruder who used the victims' own weapon that they had for self-defense. Despite a 4pm call by a neighbor to 911 to report an intruder at the property on the same day, their bodies were not discovered at the gated mansion on White Oak Avenue until four days later on July 14 after frantic family members requested a welfare check. Suspect Raymond Boodarian was arrested by lawmen, with weapons drawn, the following day at the nearby rented Reseda townhome he shared with his mother and sister. The 22-year-old has been charged with two counts of murder and other offenses in relation to the deaths. The savage murders have horrified residents of LA, especially those who live in the same community where celebrities such as Machine Gun Kelly, Michael B. Jordan and Matt LeBlanc have homes. 'We just couldn't be more saddened and shocked at what has occurred in the neighborhood,' Rob Glushon, President of the Encino Property Owners Association, told the Daily Mail exclusively. Kaye, he said, regularly attended the association's monthly community zoom meetings on crime and other local issues and praised her as 'someone who wasn't just complaining about things, but was trying to do something about it.' He lauded her as a 'good neighbor' who 'believed in the mantra, if you see something, say something. 'When it comes to neighborhood protection, it actually doesn't start with the police - it starts with neighbors watching out for each other.' Glushon confirmed that Kaye and her husband, both aged 70, had attended the C-PAB branch meeting with the chief of police which was held at the local West Valley LAPD station in Reseda. A source, who met the couple for the first time at the meeting and sat at the same table with them for two hours, told the Daily Mail he was stunned to hear of their murders the following day. 'It's incredible,' he said. 'Beyond tragic. I could tell they were a lovely couple. They spoke movingly about their concerns about crime but also how much they loved the area.' With chilling happenstance, the event location at the police station was just half a mile north from Boodarian's home and the site of his arrest. Glushon also spoke of Kaye's fear after a previous break-in in May when an intruder entered the home when the couple was home but fled. He said 'she was concerned over what she had experienced, which was pretty scary.' 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. Prosecutors allege he placed a call to emergency services on his cell phone during the break-in at about 4.40pm. The dispatcher was told that someone had broken in and they could hear the caller say: 'Please don't shoot me!' The unidentified caller then told the operator that a police response was not required. Follow-up attempts to reach the caller by phone were unsuccessful. Police units and a helicopter surveyed the location but reported seeing no signs of a break-in or foul play. A spokesperson for the Los Angeles District Attorney confirmed to the Daily Mail 'that the suspect placed a 911 call and that the firearm involved in the homicide was registered to the victim.' Jennifer Forkish of the LAPD added: 'The first call came from a neighboring resident who reported a potential burglary in progress but was unable to be reached during attempts to follow up. 'The second call came later from an individual claiming to be a resident inside the location. The caller eventually advised that police response was not necessary and follow-up attempts to reach the caller were unsuccessful.' She added that responding units from West Valley Division and LAPD Air Support Division responded to both calls. 'Officers arrived on scene and conducted a check of the surrounding area and attempted to visually check the residence through the security gate. 'They attempted entry at two access points but both were locked and secured. The home was secured with surrounding walls. The Air Ship 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.' Despite assurances by law enforcement that crime has dropped in the Encino area following a 'huge uptick' break-ins last year, Glushon is not convinced. 'They will tell you that Encino is one of the safest areas in the city to live in,' he commented. 'They will tell you that crime in the West Valley and Encino is down from last year. They will say that burglaries in particular and any kind of home invasion is down. 'That's what they say. That's what the statistics say. 'We did get increased police resources and the burglaries went back to normal but now we have some homes being hit more than once in the same week.' Residents, especially now following the deaths of Kaye and Deluca, are scared. 'If you walk our neighborhood a majority of people do not feel safe,' explained Glushon. 'Compared with other cities and populations, we have the fewest number of police officers per capita. 'We are so deficient compared to Chicago, New York and other cities.' Boodarian is yet to enter a plea. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 20. He is currently being held without bail at the Twin Towers Correction Facility in downtown LA.
Fox News
7 days ago
- Fox News
'American Idol' exec murder suspect allegedly used couple's own gun in grisly killings
NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! The suspect in the grisly murders of an "American Idol" music executive and her husband allegedly shot the couple with their own gun and then called 911 himself. Initial reports claimed the suspect was burglarizing the couple's home on July 10 while nobody was there. Raymond Boodarian, 22, allegedly shot Robin Kaye and Thomas DeLuca when they suddenly returned. During a town hall meeting Monday, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman revealed the new details. Hochman alleged Boodarian gave his name when he called 911 on July 10, ABC7 reported. These calls led detectives to track him down after the discovery of the deceased on July 14. 'AMERICAN IDOL' EXEC SUSPECT CHARGED IN DOUBLE HOMICIDE Fox News Digital has reached out to the Los Angeles DA's office for comment. Kaye and DeLuca were found dead inside their home on July 14 as the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) conducted a welfare check. A friend of the couple had contacted authorities after not hearing from Kaye or DeLuca for days. The police were given access to get inside the gate by the friend, where they found signs of trouble outside. Officers broke a window to enter, where they discovered that the couple had been shot to death. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS On July 10, the LAPD responded to the Encino home after receiving two calls about a burglary. At the time, officers saw no signs of forced entry. "The house is fortified. It has seven, eight-foot-high walls with metal spikes that are welded onto the tips of the walls there. The vehicle gate was closed, also spiked. They had no means of entering via gate code like they did on the date of the welfare check," LAPD Lt. Guy Golan told Fox News Digital about the July 10 response. "They did request a flyover by our airship, which did happen," he added. "There were no signs of forced entry during this flyover. And again, that the suspect entered the property without force and entry. So there were no signs of burglary. And regarding what evidence there was in the front porch, it was not visible by air due to the foyer having a kind of a cover over it there at the front of the house. So the airship was not able to see what the officers observed during the welfare check." WATCH: 'AMERICAN IDOL' EXEC MURDER SUSPECT CHARGED IN DOUBLE HOMICIDE CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Boodarian now faces two counts of murder and one count of first-degree burglary. He could face life without the possibility of parole, or death, according to Deputy District Attorney Hilary Williams. Encino residents gathered at the town hall meeting on Monday to discuss concerns over rising crime in the area. "This murder could have been avoided," Heather Michaels from the Encino Neighborhood Council said, according to Fox11. "The community feels unsafe. They are frightened. A lot of the elderly don't even want to come out of their homes." Authorities noted they have increased patrolling across the Encino area from 7p.m. to 7a.m. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Tragedy Hits ‘American Idol': Exec Robin Kaye & Husband Killed; 22-Year-Old Shooter Arrested
Tragedy struck the entertainment world as American Idol music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas DeLuca, were found shot dead in their Encino home. The couple, both 70, were discovered during a welfare check by LAPD officers, who found them with fatal gunshot wounds. Kaye, hailed by American Idol as a 'cornerstone' of the show since 2009, was also known for her work on Miss USA, Lip Sync Battle, and other major productions. Police have arrested 22-year-old Raymond Boodarian, who they say broke into the home while the couple was away on July 10. Authorities believe he fatally shot the couple after they unexpectedly returned during the burglary. Boodarian fled on foot but was later taken into custody. Read More
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘American Idol' Executive Robin Kaye And Husband Found Brutally Murdered In Home
A tragic and shocking double homicide has rocked the entertainment industry after "" executive and her husband, Thomas Deluca, were found murdered in their Encino, California, mansion. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the couple, both 70, were discovered fatally shot in the head inside their $5 million home on Monday. Authorities were initially called to perform a welfare check after family and neighbors hadn't heard from the pair in several days. When officers arrived at the couple's six-bedroom Encino property, they reportedly spotted blood near the front entrance and were forced to break a window to enter the home, where they then made a gruesome discovery. According to law enforcement sources cited by TMZ, Robin Kaye and Thomas DeLuca were found shot in the head, each in a different room of the house. "We didn't see or hear anything. My renter called 911 on Thursday because she saw somebody hopping the fence," neighbor Amee Faggen said, per ABC. "And I have no idea if that was related or not. They came and left, the helicopters and police came." Just days prior, on Thursday, police had already been called to the residence after neighbors reported a possible break-in. Witnesses claimed they saw someone hopping a fence and expressed concern that the individual may have been armed. A police helicopter was dispatched to survey the area, but no suspect was located at the time, and officers found no signs of forced entry. While it's still unclear whether the two incidents are connected, authorities have launched a full investigation and are treating the case as a double homicide. Investigators are currently reviewing surveillance footage from the area. At this time, no arrests have been made, and police say the home did not appear to be ransacked, suggesting burglary may not have been the motive. Kaye served as the music supervisor for "American Idol" for 15 seasons and was highly respected in the industry. Her work earned her multiple Guild of Music Supervisors Awards, and her extensive credits include popular shows such as "Lip Sync Battle," "Hollywood Game Night," "Worn Stories," and numerous televised specials like "The NAACP Image Awards," Miss USA," Miss Universe," and "Dance Your A-- Off." In a haunting twist of fate, one of Kaye's final Instagram posts captured a moment with another music industry legend, just weeks before tragedy struck. The post, which has since garnered renewed attention, shows Kaye posing alongside two individuals, including Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson. While the photo is devoid of a caption or comments, it now serves as a poignant snapshot of two iconic figures whose deaths came just weeks apart. Wilson, who passed away last month at age 82 due to respiratory arrest, was a towering figure in American music history. Since its debut in 2002, "American Idol" has become one of the most influential talent competitions in television history. The show has launched the careers of global superstars like Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, and Jennifer Hudson, and helped redefine the music industry by giving everyday people a shot at stardom. Known for its rotating panel of high-profile judges and memorable live performances, American Idol has remained a cultural touchstone through its many seasons and revivals. Kaye played a crucial behind-the-scenes role in shaping the show's musical identity. As the longtime music supervisor, she was instrumental in curating performances, selecting songs, and helping contestants showcase their vocal abilities to millions of viewers each week. Her contributions to "American Idol" helped elevate the show's reputation for discovering and developing real musical talent, cementing her legacy in the entertainment industry. "American Idol" or anyone attached to the show has yet to release a statement.
