Robin Kaye: ‘American Idol’ Boss Had ‘Felt Threatened by Somebody’ and Planned to Hire Private Security Days Before Being Murdered Along with Husband

The “American Idol” executive who was shot dead along with her husband in their lavish Los Angeles home had recently looked into hiring private security, because the couple “felt threatened by somebody.” Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca, both 70, were killed during a suspected break-in at their Encino home late last week, according to police.

Authorities arrested 22-year-old Raymond Boodarian on Tuesday, a day after police officers found the bodies of the couple during a welfare check at their home. In the weeks leading up to the tragedy, Kaye had reportedly contacted a private security company due to growing concerns about her safety, according to NBC Los Angeles.

Anticipating Danger Before Murder

“She felt threatened by somebody because of somebody around their home or around their neighborhood who felt suspicious,” said Kris Herzog, owner of the Bodyguard Group of Beverly Hills.

The couple ultimately did not go through with hiring the security firm and it remains unclear whether their home had been targeted before. The property, which was purchased for nearly $4.5 million in 2023, stood out as one of the largest and most fortified homes in the area, featuring high walls topped with spikes.

According to neighbors who spoke to NBC Los Angeles, the upscale neighborhood has been a repeated target for burglars over the years. Investigators believe Boordarian was in the middle of robbing Kaye’s home on July 10 while the couple was out.

Detectives say the suspect had likely been inside for about 30 minutes before the couple came back and caught him in the act.

He didn’t break in but instead accessed the house through an unlocked entry point, before shooting dead both Kaye and her husband when they confronted him.

Boodarian allegedly shot both victims during a confrontation after they caught him in the middle of the burglary

On the day the couple died, the LAPD received two reports of a potential break-in. However, when officers arrived, they were unable to enter the property due to the home’s heavy security, according to ABC7.

With no visible signs of a break-in and no warnings from a police helicopter surveying the area, officers saw no immediate threat and eventually left the scene. Officers returned to the six-bedroom mansion four days later, around 2:30 pm after receiving a call requesting a welfare check. They broke a rear window to gain entry into the house.

After entering, they found both Kaye and Deluca shot in the head. Investigators witnessed blood near the front door before forcing their way in through the window, according to TMZ.

Neighbors reported seeing someone—possibly armed—jumping a fence along the upscale, tree-lined street in the exclusive California neighborhood. Neighbor Naomi Sadoun, 69, said she often saw the couple walking together in the area, sometimes accompanied by their dog, and remembered them as “lovely people.”

She added that concerned relatives arrived at the Encino property on White Oak Avenue the previous evening but were kept outside by police.

A Star Is Gone

After news of the heartbreaking deaths broke, American Idol released a statement describing Kaye as ” a cornerstone of the Idol family.” “We are devastated to hear of Robin and her dear husband, Tom’s, passing,” a spokesperson told Daily Mail.

“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.”

Kaye worked as the music supervisor for “American Idol” for the past 15 seasons, contributing to around 300 episodes, according to her IMDb profile.

In her illustrious career, she won multiple Guild of Music Supervisors Awards for her exceptional work on the show. Her impressive résumé also includes work on popular shows such as “Lip Sync Battle”, “Hollywood Game Night”, and “Worn Stories.”

Kaye also worked for the NAACP Image Awards, “The Singing Bee”, “Miss USA”, “Miss Universe”, “American Inventor”, “The Dance Scene”, “Dance Your A* Off*”, “Your Chance to Dance”, “Adventures of Power”, and “Crashed.”

Her husband was a musician whose most recent album, Street Rock, was released in 2022.

According to his website, Deluca’s first album, the critically acclaimed cult classic “Down To The Wire”, was released by Epic Records in 1986.

Public records show that the happy couple bought their Encino home in January 2023.