Latest news with #Boodarian
Newsweek
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
'American Idol' Exec, Husband Killings—Police Issue Update on Suspect
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Police have shared new details about the man accused of killing American Idol music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca. The couple, both 70 years old, were found dead in their Encino, California home on July 14. Newsweek contacted the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office via email for comment on Wednesday. The Context Kaye had been a longtime employee of American Idol and famously obtained permission from Led Zeppelin for contestant Adam Lambert to perform "Whole Lotta Love" in 2009, per The Hollywood Reporter. "We always were talking about Led Zeppelin because everybody knew that we couldn't do Led Zeppelin," Kaye said at the time. "I think Adam brought it up and I said, 'No, you can't do it.' When we started really seeing how talented Adam was, I had a feeling they would consider him. I couldn't have asked them just in general 'let us do it this year.' They wouldn't have said yes, but it made sense with Adam." She added: "It's always worth asking. I never take a 'no' from anybody as a permanent 'no.' This business changes too much and situations change." "American Idol" music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca, are seen smiling in a photo together. "American Idol" music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca, are seen smiling in a photo together. Robin Kaye/Facebook What To Know Suspect Raymond Boodarian allegedly used Kaye and Deluca's own gun to shoot them inside their home before calling 911 on his own cellphone, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said, People reported. Even so, it took four days for their bodies to be discovered. According to a news release, a radio call about a possible burglary was made on July 10 at around 4 p.m. local time. Although "there were no signs of forced entry or trouble," it is believed Boodarian accessed the property through an unlocked door while the couple was at a grocery store. The pair returned home when Boodarian was inside their residence, and a "confrontation ensued," which resulted in their deaths. Boodarian was arrested on July 15 and has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree burglary. Local jail records obtained by Newsweek show a man of the same name and description with previous misdemeanors from 2023 and 2024. During a public safety meeting hosted by the Encino Neighborhood Council on Monday, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said, per NBC News: "Mr. Boodarian got caught because he used his cellphone to contact police concerning the situation, actually identified himself by name. Police were able to ping the cellphone, find out where he lived, go to his residence and arrest him." He added of the weapon found at the scene: "It was Robyn and Tom's gun. It wasn't [Boodarian's] gun. It was exceptionally tragic." What People Are Saying An American Idol spokesperson previously said in a statement to Newsweek: "We are devastated to hear of Robin and her dear husband, Tom's, passing. 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." Former American Idol judge Randy Jackson wrote on Instagram on July 16: "Rest in peace, Robin. She was a dear friend to me and to so many—judges, executives, contestants, publishers, writers, producers, and artists alike. Robin consistently went the extra mile, meticulously ensuring songs were placed and cleared for the show. She was truly one of a kind. Forever loved and deeply appreciated." What Happens Next Boodarian is currently being held without bail, and his next court hearing is set for August 20.
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Man charged in the killings of an 'American Idol' exec and her husband called 911 afterward, DA says
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The man accused of killing an 'American Idol' executive and her husband used the couple's gun to kill them and later called the police, authorities allege. Los Angeles police previously said they responded to a 911 call about a burglary that afternoon, July 10, but left after finding 'no signs of forced entry or trouble.' Officers found the bodies of Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca four days later at their home in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles while carrying out a welfare check. They had been shot to death. During a town hall meeting Monday, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman told concerned residents that the man charged in the killings, Raymond Boodarian, made the initial 911 call, ABC7 reported. He said Boodarian used a gun registered to one of the victims in the attack, which authorities believe happened when they arrived home unexpectedly while he was burglarizing the place. Boodarian, 22, was arrested the day after the bodies were found. His lawyer, Brad Siegel, didn't immediately respond to an Associated Press voicemail Tuesday seeking comment. Kaye had been with 'American Idol,' the hit singing competition TV series, for more than 15 years and was working on the upcoming season at the time of her death. She had also worked in the music departments of several other productions, including 'The Singing Bee,' 'Hollywood Game Night,' 'Lip Sync Battle,' and several Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Associated Press
Man charged in the killings of an 'American Idol' exec and her husband called 911 afterward, DA says
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The man accused of killing an 'American Idol' executive and her husband used the couple's gun to kill them and later called the police, authorities allege. Los Angeles police previously said they responded to a 911 call about a burglary that afternoon, July 10, but left after finding 'no signs of forced entry or trouble.' Officers found the bodies of Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca four days later at their home in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles while carrying out a welfare check. They had been shot to death. During a town hall meeting Monday, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman told concerned residents that the man charged in the killings, Raymond Boodarian, made the initial 911 call, ABC7 reported. He said Boodarian used a gun registered to one of the victims in the attack, which authorities believe happened when they arrived home unexpectedly while he was burglarizing the place. Boodarian, 22, was arrested the day after the bodies were found. His lawyer, Brad Siegel, didn't immediately respond to an Associated Press voicemail Tuesday seeking comment. Kaye had been with 'American Idol,' the hit singing competition TV series, for more than 15 years and was working on the upcoming season at the time of her death. She had also worked in the music departments of several other productions, including 'The Singing Bee,' 'Hollywood Game Night,' 'Lip Sync Battle,' and several Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants.
UPI
2 days ago
- UPI
Suspect accused of using victims' gun in 'American Idol' murders
July 22 (UPI) -- Suspect Raymond Boodarian allegedly used a firearm owned by victims Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca to shoot and kill the couple inside their Encino, Calif., home on July 10. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman on Monday night said Boodarian, 22, used a gun owned by Kaye and Deluca to shoot and kill the couple and then called the police. "Mr. Boodarian got caught because he used his cell phone to contact police concerning the situation [and] actually identified himself by name," Hochman told attendees during a special meeting of the Encino Neighborhood Council. "Police were able to ping the cell phone, find out where he lived, go to his residence and arrest him." Hochman said police found the gun used to kill the couple at the crime scene. "The gun that was actually used in the murders wasn't [Boodarian's] gun," Hochman told meeting attendees. "It was a gun that he recovered from the actual house," he added. "It was Robin's and Tom's gun." More than 100 Encino residents attended an Encino Neighborhood Council meeting to discuss the matter on Monday night, which Hochman addressed. The residents were concerned that Boodarian was released from jail last year despite being suspected of battery, making threats and brandishing a weapon, ENC President Josh Sautter told NBC News. A judge dismissed the case following a mental health evaluation of Boodarian. Kaye and Deluca, both age 70, returned home on the evening of July 10 while Boodarian allegedly was inside to burglarize it, Hochman said. Local police discovered the victims' bodies while conducting a welfare check four days later on July 14. Los Angeles Police arrested Boodarian on July 15 and said he is an Encino resident. Boodarian is charged with two counts of murder during a robbery, one count of burglary, intentional use of a firearm and committing multiple murders. He is being held without bail and has an arraignment hearing scheduled on Aug. 20 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, during which he could enter a plea. Kaye was a music supervisor on the popular "American Idol" television show, and Deluca was a musician.
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
LA junkie charged with killing ‘American Idol' boss Robin Kaye and her husband allegedly used couple's gun in double murder
The maniac accused of murdering 'American Idol' executive Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas Deluca used the couple's own gun to kill them — and then called police on himself, according to prosecutors. Raymond Boodarian, 22, allegedly broke into the couple's $4.5 million Encino mansion on July 10 and found their firearm as he rummaged about, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said during a public meeting at the neighborhood's community center Monday. When the couple, who are both 70, came home from grocery shopping and walked in on the burglary, Boodarian allegedly turned their own gun on them and fired. Advertisement 3 Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas Deluca, both 70, were shot to death at home on July 10. Facebook 'It was Robyn and Tom's gun,' Hochman said at the meeting, which was attended by more than 100 concerned residents, NBC News reported. 'It wasn't his gun. It was exceptionally tragic.' Boodarian then called police with his own cell phone after the killing and gave his name, which Hochman said ultimately led to police tracking him down and arresting him a day after the bodies were found. Advertisement 'Mr. Boodarian got caught because he used his cell phone to contact police concerning the situation, actually identified himself by name,' Hochman said. 'Police were able to ping the cell phone, find out where he lived, go to his residence and arrest him.' But it remains unclear when Boodarian made that call to police, or exactly what he said in it. 3 Raymond Boodarian, 22, was arrested at his home two days after the 70-year-old couple's bodies were found. TMZ Officers responded to Kaye and Deluca's home on the day of the killing after neighbors reported seeing somebody jump the fence. But nothing was apparently wrong as they looked into the property from the street, so they left. Advertisement It wasn't until four days later when they returned to the home for a welfare check that they found the bodies — with a trail of blood winding to the home's front door, and a back door smashed open. Inside, Kaye was found dead in the pantry and Deluca in a bathroom, according to PEOPLE. Boodarian was arrested the next day at his own home, located about 15 minutes away from the crime scene. 3 The $4.5 million mansion where Kaye and Deluca were murdered is 15 minutes from Boodarian's home. BACKGRID Advertisement And the arrest wasn't his first for violent behavior. He was arrested three times between November 2023 and June 2024 for allegations of battery and threatening family members with a knife. But all the charges were dropped over mental incompetency after he served just six months in custody, and he was turned loose. His neighbors also told The Post that he was a nuisance on their street, and that he regularly wandered about high on drugs and menacing residents. Encino locals expressed alarm that he'd been freed after such a record of arrests — especially since their neighborhood has been plagued by an uptick in crime in recent years. 'We're having phenomenal numbers on crime reduction,' LAPD Deputy Chief Marla Ciuffetelli said, according to ABC7 Los Angeles. 'That being said, when two wonderful people end up dead in their own home, those crime statistics fall kind of flat.'
