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.
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 www.lacrimestoppers.org.
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