Latest news with #RobinKaye
Fox News
20 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
‘American Idol' exec moved to LA neighborhood 'to be safe' before double homicide: family friend
ENCINO, Calif. – "American Idol" executive Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca, were found dead inside their Los Angeles mansion on Monday — a property with a dark past and a recent history of break-ins. The couple "moved to Encino because they wanted to be safe" and had no known enemies, a close family friend told Fox News Digital. During an emotional interview, their longtime friend — who asked to remain unnamed — explained that just weeks before their murder, the couple's home was broken into. Kaye and Deluca increased their security, hoping to prevent it from happening again. "They added spikes to the top of the fence… They had spikes on the other side of the fence, and obviously updated their video surveillance as well. They had video surveillance already." When Fox News Digital asked what Kaye and Deluca had previously said about the first break-in attempt, the friend said they suspected the person wouldn't "be back" after they ramped up their security. "Their dog woke them up in the middle of the night... That's what ran them off. I think they actually broke a glass… but I think they said they broke a glass and the dog started barking, and the people ran off." "They wanted to be safe… They added spikes to the top of the fence… and obviously updated their video surveillance as well." He added that the couple were "two of the nicest people you'll ever meet." WATCH: 'AMERICAN IDOL' EXEC MOVED TO NEIGHBORHOOD 'TO BE SAFE' BEFORE DOUBLE HOMICIDE, FAMILY FRIEND SAYS "Nothing negative about them whatsoever," the close family friend described the couple. He shared that he spoke with Kaye and Deluca nearly a week before their harrowing double homicide. The family friend told Fox News Digital of fond memories of the couple, and spoke of how talented they were. "They were living life to the fullest. They travel a lot. They have some great animals. They have a dog. They have an amazing bird that does tricks. They have a turtle that they found at their first house they bought when they moved to LA, and they've taken their turtle with them every place," he said. "Very talented people too. Robin has excelled in her job. Tom's a great songwriter, producer in his own right. And they're just really wonderful people." The Los Angeles mansion, which the couple purchased in 2023, previously belonged to rapper Juice WRLD. WATCH: LAPD LIEUTENANT GUY GOLAN SAYS THE MOTIVE IS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN AFTER ROBIN KAYE AND HER HUSBAND WERE FOUND MURDERED IN THEIR LA HOME The rapper died of an accidental overdose in 2019 after reportedly ingesting Percocet pills in an attempt to hide them, while federal agents searched his private jet at a Chicago airport. After his death, the Encino property was rented out before eventually being sold to Kaye and Deluca in 2023. Their deaths come amid a troubling string of high-profile break-ins in the area. In May, actor Anthony Anderson's home — also in Encino — was broken into by three men while he attended a charity fundraiser in Palm Springs. Police said at the time no arrests had been made in connection to that case, according to ABC News. Last August, another family in Encino fell victim to the wave of burglaries sweeping through the San Fernando Valley. Investigators said at the time that there were at least 15 break-ins in the area over the past month, according to FOX 11. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Police Department is continuing their investigation into the harrowing murders of Kaye and Deluca. LAPD Lieutenant Guy Golan provided an update to Fox News Digital on the next steps in the investigation after the suspect, 22-year-old Raymond Boodarian, was arrested for double homicide — crimes that at this point in the investigation appear to be random. "He was arrested from his place of residence. Over near the 19,000 block of Van Owen Street. He was arrested without incident," Golan told Fox News Digital. "He did not provide any statements at this time, and investigators plan on filing charges for murder against him." At the home of the murder suspect, a family spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "Sorry for everything that has happened. And sorry for the couple that lost their lives." Golan explained that his team is now putting the case together to present it to the district attorney's office for further consideration, but at this time, "there's no motive." He pointed out that the suspect was identified through surveillance video, as well as forensic evidence that was at the scene that police had "expedited analysis" on. WATCH: SECUREIT HOMES TECHNICIAN DETAILS WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN AN ESTIMATE FOR ROBIN KAYE AND TOM DELUCA'S HOME LAPD officials said the double homicide of Kaye and Deluca, who were found with multiple gunshot wounds, appeared to be a random act of violence. Kaye and Deluca, were found dead inside their home after officers responded to a call around 2:30 p.m. on July 14 for a welfare check in the 4700 block of White Oak Avenue in Encino. Both victims were 70. It is believed the murders may have occurred on July 10 after the investigation revealed the LAPD had received two calls that day reporting a possible burglary suspect at the house around 4 p.m., according to police.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Suspect arrested after ‘American Idol' executive, her husband shot to death: Police
LOS ANGELES (WJW) – Law enforcement arrested a suspect in the of killing an 'American Idol' music supervisor and her husband in their California home. Raymond Boodarian, a 22-year-old Encino man, was arrested on Tuesday by the Los Angeles Police Department's Operations-Valley Bureau Homicide unit, investigators announced in a news release. On Monday afternoon, officers with the police department's West Valley Division went to an upscale home in the 4700 block of White Oak Avenue to check on 70-year-old Robin Kaye and her husband, 70-year-old Thomas Deluca. A 911 caller requested the wellness check after not hearing from them for several days. According to Los Angeles police, when they arrived, officers found Kaye and Deluca shot to death. Police detectives began interviewing friends and family and reviewing multiple surveillance videos. Through the investigation, detectives learned that a radio call went out for a possible burglary suspect at the home on July 10. 'While there were no signs of forced entry or trouble at the location during that investigation, it is now believed that the suspect had gained entry into the residence through an unlocked door,' the police department said in the release. Investigators believe that, when the couple returned home, the suspect was already inside 'and a confrontation ensued.' Kaye and Deluca died from multiple gunshot wounds and the suspect got away on foot, the police department said. Detectives later identified the suspect as Boodarian, who was taken into custody without incident. Los Angeles police said the double-homicide remains under investigation at this time. Kaye was best known for serving as a music supervisor on 'American Idol,' but she also did work on television series such as 'The Singing Bee,' 'Miss Universe' and 'Lip Sync Battle,' according to IMDB. In a statement sent to People, 'American Idol' said they are 'devastated to hear of Robin and her dear husband, Tom's, passing.' The statement went on to call Kaye a 'cornerstone of the Idol family since 2009' and 'truly loved and respected by all who came in contact with her.' As previously reported by KTLA, the home was formerly owned by the late rapper Juice WRLD, who died in 2019. Records indicate that Kaye and Deluca bought the home in 2023, the outlet reported. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
TMZ: Victims of Encino double homicide are ‘American Idol' executive, her husband
Officials with the Los Angeles Police Department confirm that an arrest has been made in connection with an 'American Idol' music supervisor and her husband, who were found shot to death in an upscale Encino home on Monday afternoon. TMZ first reported that Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca, were the victims late Tuesday morning. Los Angeles Police Department officials did not confirm their identities. LAPD did state that officers were called to do a welfare check at the home, located in the 4700 block of White Oak Avenue, and upon arriving, they found the man and woman with gunshot wounds to the head. They were both pronounced dead at the scene. A motive for the fatal slaying is not known and no information on a suspect or suspects has been released. Speaking to KTLA on Tuesday, multiple neighbors said there was an attempted break-in at the same residence. One woman told KTLA 5's Carlos Herrera that a renter on her property called police on Thursday night to report someone climbing the property's fence. 'My renter saw someone hopping the fence back on Thursday and she called 911,' the woman, Amee Faggen, said. 'But we [haven't] heard anything since then, so we have no idea if it's even related or not.' 'It's frightening, obviously, and we don't have any more information,' she said. The home is known on the internet for being formerly owned by the late rapper Juice WRLD, who died in 2019. According to neighbors, the home was used as a rental property for a period of time; public records indicate it was sold to its current owners, Thomas Deluca and Robin Kaye, in 2023. KTLA has reached out to the Los Angeles Police Department to confirm the identities of the decedents. This is a developing story. Stay with KTLA for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Arrest made in deadly shooting of ‘American Idol' executive, her husband in Encino
A 22-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of an 'American Idol' executive and her husband in Encino, officials with the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed. The couple, identified by police as Robin Kaye, 70, and Thomas Deluca, 70, were discovered deceased with multiple gunshot wounds, including to the head, on July 14 only after officers responded to the upscale residence in the 4700 block White Oak Avenue for a welfare check at around 2:30 p.m., according to an LAPD news release. During the investigation, detectives learned that a prior radio call for a possible burglary at the residence had been made on July 10 at around 4 p.m. Speaking with KTLA, neighbor Amee Faggen confirmed that a renter on her property made a 911 call that day after spotting someone climbing the property's fence. Police said there were no signs of forced entry or trouble at the residence during that investigation, though they now believe the suspect, identified as Encino resident Raymond Boodarian, entered the home through an unlocked door. 'He was there for approximately half of an hour,' LAPD Lt. Guy Golan said at a news conference. 'When the homeowners returned back to their residence, a violent struggle ensued between them and the suspect, who was already inside their home, which resulted in the victims tragically losing their lives.' The 22-year-old, according to police, fled the area on foot after the deadly confrontation. LAPD, with the assistance of the FBI's Fugitive Task Force, arrested Boodarian today, though no information about where he was taken into custody was provided. Kaye was an award winning music producer and part of the 'American Idol' family since 2009, and had also worked on Miss Universe, the NAACP Image Awards and other high-profile shows. Arrest made in macabre 'human flesh' teddy bear prank in Southern California A spokesperson for 'American Idol' released a statement to KTLA saying: '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 into contact with her. Robin will remain in our hearts forever and we share our deepest sympathies with her family and friends during this difficult time.' Guy Cohen, a security expert, had worked with the couple only a few months ago after Kaye and Deluca were victims of an earlier home invasion. 'We consulted with them just a couple of months ago and to think that maybe we could've prevented this from happening is just heartbreaking,' he told KTLA. While police have not yet identified a motive, investigators are attempting to determine whether Boodarian had any connection to the couple and if he was involved in any of the past calls for service at the residence. The investigation into the double homicide remains ongoing, and anyone with information is urged to contact LAPD's Valley Homicide Division at 818-374-9550. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘American Idol' Music Supervisor Robin Kaye & Husband Found Dead in Their Home, Suspect Arrested (UPDATED)
UPDATE (July 15): An arrest has been made in the murders of Robin Kaye — who worked as a music supervisor on American Idol for 15 seasons — and her husband, Thomas Deluca, who were found dead in their Encino, Calif., home on Monday (July 14). A representative for the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to Billboard that Raymond Boodarian, 22, had been arrested for a double murder. Like the victims, he lived in Encino, a suburb of Los Angeles. More from Billboard Gone But Not Forgotten: Musicians We Lost in 2025 Tomorrowland 2025 Mainstage Destroyed by Fire Ahead of Festival Alison Krauss & Union Station, Billy Strings Lead 2025 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards Nominees In a press conference held by the LAPD late Tuesday (July 15) afternoon, Lt. Guy Golan said it appeared, according to surveillance video from the home's exterior, that the suspect had jumped a fence at Kaye and Deluca's residence on Thursday (July 10) and was in their home for about 30 minutes before the pair walked in on him. The detective said there was a 'violent struggle' and the homeowners were 'ruthlessly shot multiple times,' but added there was no surveillance video from inside the house. At this point, there is no known motive, and it appears to have been a random attack. No weapon has been recovered. Boodarian was arrested without incident, according to the Los Angeles Times. PREVIOUSLY: Robin Kaye, who worked as a music supervisor on American Idol for 15 seasons, and her husband Thomas Deluca were found dead in their Los Angeles home on Monday (July 14), according to reports from Deadline and TMZ. Kaye and Deluca, both 70, were reportedly found dead in separate rooms of their home from apparent gunshot wounds. The reports state that authorities discovered the bodies while doing a welfare check on the household Monday. TMZ also claims that police entered Kaye's house by smashing a window after spotting blood at the entrance. Four days prior, police had been called to the same residence to check out reports of an unidentified suspect that neighbors had seen trying to gain entry, according to the outlet. In a statement shared with Billboard, an American Idol spokesperson said, '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,' the statement continued. 'Robin will remain in our hearts forever and we share our deepest sympathy with her family and friends during this difficult time.' According to her IMDb page, Kaye had experience in multiple areas of the music industry before she made the leap to music supervision. After working for Waylon Jennings in Nashville and joining MTM Records as vp of artist development and broadcast media, she spent some time in Chicago before moving to L.A. Kaye also worked in the film and TV licensing department at MCA-Universal Records and oversaw music licensing for PolyGram Records. In 2000, she founded her own company, SyncroniCity, which handles music supervision for shows such as Idol. The other programs on Kaye's resume are Lip Sync Battle, Hollywood Game Night, NAACP Image Awards, The Singing Bee, Miss USA, Miss Universe, American Inventor, Q'Viva , The Dance Scene, Dance Your Ass Off, Your Chance To Dance, Adventures of Power and Crashed. Featuring judges Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood and Lionel Richie, Idol wrapped its 23rd season in May. The show first premiered in 2002, running for 15 seasons before it went on hiatus in 2016. The series was resurrected in 2018 with Bryan, Richie and Katy Perry — who has since been replaced by Underwood — on board. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
