Murder Charges Filed In 'American Idol' Couple’s Death, New Details Emerge About Security Fears

VAN NUYS, CA — A 22-year-old man was charged Thursday with murdering an "American Idol" music supervisor and her husband inside the couple's upscale Encino home.

Raymond Boodarian of Encino was charged with two counts of murder stemming from the deaths of Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca, both 70, along with one count of residential burglary with a person present.

The murder charges include the special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder during the commission of a burglary, as well as firearm allegations. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office will decide later whether to seek the death penalty against Boodarian.

Boodarian appeared briefly in a Van Nuys courtroom Thursday afternoon, but his arraignment was postponed until Aug. 20. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Michael Kellogg ordered that Boodarian be held without bail.

The victims' bodies were found at about 2:30 p.m. Monday in the 4700 block of White Oak Place, south of Ventura Boulevard, during a welfare check prompted by a call from an acquaintance who had not heard from the couple in several days, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The victims were found inside the home with multiple gunshot wounds.

An "American Idol" representative confirmed the deaths in a statement, 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 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."

On Tuesday afternoon, the LAPD confirmed the arrest of Boodarian, who is suspected of killing the pair last Thursday when the couple returned home and discovered the intruder inside. Police said they identified Boodarian through the use of surveillance video from the couple's home.

A neighbor told reporters that a renter at her property called 911 last July 10 after seeing somebody jump over the fence around the home.

According to NBC4, Kaye had contacted the Bodyguard Group, a Beverly Hills private security company, at some point in the weeks before the killings.

"She felt threatened by somebody because of somebody around their home or around their neighborhood who felt suspicious," the firm's owner, Kris Herzog, told the station.

It wasn't immediately clear whether the couple's home had been targeted prior to the fatal incident.

Detectives suspect that Boodarian was burglarizing the house while the couple was away on July 10 and stayed for about 30 minutes before they returned and found him.

According to the LAPD, officers responded around 4 p.m. Thursday to the home in response to the report of someone jumping the fence, but found no immediate signs of an intruder or a burglary.

Police said Tuesday that surveillance video suggests the suspect entered the residence through an unlocked door, and the victims returned home and found the intruder inside.

"A violent struggle ensued between them and the suspect," LAPD homicide investigator Lt. Guy Golan said.

LAPD officials said an investigation would be conducted into the initial police response to the home July 10 and why officers did not detect an intruder in the home.

As music supervisor, Kaye was responsible for securing licensing for songs performed by contestants on "American Idol." She began working on the show in 2009.

"Robin was a joy to work with," former "Idol" executive producer Nigel Lythgoe told The Hollywood Reporter. "If there was a piece of music that she couldn't get permission to use she would have numerous other ideas to offer the contestant."

Former executive producer Ken Warwick echoed Lythgoe's praise.

"Robin was a pleasure to work with," Warwick told THR. "She always kept a cool head in a job that was difficult and manic. She never ceased to deliver and no matter what the stress of a weekly live television show, and she always had a friendly and pleasant demeanor. My heart goes out to her family, she will be truly missed."

By Terri Vermeulen Keith, City News Service