Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this article:
- An American Idol music supervisor and her husband, both 70, were killed at their home.
- Authorities have arrested and charged a 22-year-old suspect, who hasn’t publicly commented.
- The investigation is still underway, but authorities have outlined what might have fueled these seemingly random homicides.
For 15 seasons, contestants on American Idol could count on one person to help them on their journey to become the next musical star: music supervisor Robin Kaye. It was her job to secure song rights so that hopeful artists like Iam Tongi and Benson Boone could showcase their talents as they sought to become the TV show’s next winner, securing a recording contract and hefty payday in the process.
“She was a true master of music clearance—thoughtful, persistent, and deeply respected in her field,” Season 9 contestant Didi Benami told The Hollywood Reporter. “I’ll never forget that she got [Fleetwood Mac’s] ‘Rhiannon’ cleared for me—a song that had never been approved on American Idol before.”
The previous season Kaye pulled off a similar feat. She notably convinced Led Zeppelin to agree to Adam Lambert covering their hit song “Whole Lotta Love.” None of the band’s music had been featured on the reality competition show before, but Kaye wasn’t deterred.
“I said, ‘This is the time to consider it. If you’re ever going to try it, this is the time,’” the longtime Idol crew member said in 2009, according to The Hollywood Reporter. “I don’t know if [lead singer] Robert Plant knew, but his manager did because his kids were big Adam fans. They watched the show in England.” Kaye’s negotiations worked, allowing Lambert to step out of his musical theater background to give a raucous rendition of the classic rock song.
Kaye was a support system for many on the show, frequently offering her encouragement and acting as a kind, calming presence during the high-stakes competition. “I credit so much of my growth on the show to [Robin],” Season 14’s Rayvon Owen told The Hollywood Reporter. “She pushed me, motivated me, and helped shape me into the artist I am today. She was a real advocate, especially for artists like me who didn’t always fit the typical mold.”
On Monday, Kaye and her husband, musician Thomas DeLuca, were found dead in their Los Angeles home. Both 70-year-olds had been shot multiple times. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed charges against the suspect, 22-year-old Raymond Boodarian, on Thursday, as authorities continue to search for any connection between the couple and Boodarian.
Exactly what prompted the murders of the beloved music supervisor and her spouse by an apparent stranger is still under investigation, but authorities have begun to piece together the evidence.
Officers found the bodies of Kaye and DeLuca in separate rooms of their $4.5-million home in Los Angeles’ Encino neighborhood during a welfare check. Authorities now believe they died four days earlier after returning home to find a suspected burglar inside the house.
“It was discovered that a prior radio call had been generated for a possible burglary suspect at the residence on July 10, 2025, around 4:00 p.m.,” the LAPD shared in a statement, according to The Los Angeles Times. Although the property had security cameras and a large wall, police say Boodarian entered the home through an unlocked door.
When the couple arrived, police say “a confrontation ensued, which resulted in the suspect taking their lives.” Boodarian is then believed to have fled on foot.
ABC7 Los Angeles reports security cameras inside the home helped lead to Boodarian’s arrest on Tuesday. Police recovered a handgun from his home and are waiting on forensic analysis to confirm whether it’s the murder weapon.
The 22-year-old suspect reportedly has a history of alleged criminal offenses, some violent, though the charges were dismissed after hearings that determined he was mentally incompetent. Boodarian now faces two counts of murder and one count of first-degree residential burglary with special circumstances, meaning he could face a more severe punishment if convicted. Neither Boodarian nor his public defender have publicly commented on the case.
For now, it seems Kaye—who also worked behind the scenes on the shows The Singing Bee, Lip Sync Battle, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer—and DeLuca were victims of a random act of violence. Regardless of whether a burglary was at the heart of the killings, the American Idol community is mourning their deaths.
“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,” according to a statement from the show. “Robin will remain in our hearts forever, and we share our deepest sympathy with her family and friends during this difficult time.”
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect the charges against Boodarian and additional information about the investigation.
Adrienne directs the daily news operation and content production for Biography.com. She joined the staff in October 2022 and most recently worked as an editor for Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, and Bicycling. Adrienne has served as editor-in-chief of two regional print magazines, and her work has won several awards, including the Best Explanatory Journalism award from the Alliance of Area Business Publishers. Her current working theory is that people are the point of life, and she’s fascinated by everyone who (and every system that) creates our societal norms. When she’s not behind the news desk, find her hiking, working on her latest cocktail project, or eating mint chocolate chip ice cream.
