Introduction to the Case
The man accused of killing “American Idol” music supervisor Robin Kaye and her rock musician husband, Tom DeLuca, in their home in Encino allegedly called 911 after the crime, the county’s top prosecutor said, yet it still took four more days to discover their bodies. Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman said the couple was shot with their own gun. The new details in the slayings of Kaye and DeLuca were revealed during a Monday town hall meeting in Encino, where hundreds of residents gathered to express frustration about a string of recent break-ins plaguing the area.
Background of the Incident
Investigators believe Kaye and DeLuca walked in on Raymond Boodarian, 22, burglarizing their $4.5-million Encino home on White Oak Avenue on July 10, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Police allege Boodarian entered the home — which is heavily secured, with a large wall and security cameras — through an unlocked door. After the couple returned home, “a confrontation ensued” and the suspect shot them, police said.
Initial Police Response
A search warrant affidavit filed by members of the San Fernando Valley homicide unit said that police responded to two burglary calls at the address the day the couple was killed. Police filed the warrant to review Ring doorbell camera footage from a neighboring home that they hoped captured the break-in or the killings. The first call came in shortly after 4 p.m. on July 10, when a neighbor reported an unidentified man trying to break into the couple’s home, according to the warrant. About 40 minutes later, police received a second call from someone in the couple’s home claiming to be a resident reporting that a suspect had broken in.
Details of the 911 Calls
The 911 operator could hear the caller saying, “Please don’t shoot me,” to someone, the warrant said. The caller eventually advised that police response was not necessary and follow-up attempts to reach the caller were unsuccessful, said LAPD Communications Director Jennifer Forkish. The warrant does not make it clear if the second call to police was from one of the two victims or Boodarian representing himself as a resident. Hochman said on Monday that at one point during the incident the suspect called 911 and identified himself to police.
Police Investigation and Arrest
Authorities sent officers and a helicopter to the house in response to the calls, which were linked based on the address, Forkish said, but they weren’t able to access the home and left. Kaye and DeLuca, who were both 70, were found dead inside the home four days later when officers returned to the property for a welfare check after a neighbor called police concerned that they hadn’t seen or heard from them for a few days. The couple, whose bodies were found in separate rooms, according to law enforcement sources, had multiple gunshot wounds. Hochman said in the case of Kaye and DeLuca, investigators were eventually able to track Boodarian’s location by pinging his cellphone.
Similar Cases and Concerns
It’s the third time in recent months that LAPD officers have gone to a location in the San Fernando Valley after receiving a 911 call and left, only to return later to a homicide. Menashe Hidra’s body was found April 26 inside his fifth-floor Valley Village apartment after an assailant broke into a neighboring unit, jumped from the balcony to Hidra’s unit and attacked him, investigators said. The same day that Hidra’s body was discovered, police found the body of Aleksandre Modebadze, who was beaten to death inside his Woodland Hills home.
Conclusion
The case of Robin Kaye and Tom DeLuca’s murder raises questions about the initial police response and the handling of 911 calls. The revelation that the suspect called 911 from the victims’ home and the police were unable to access the property has sparked concern among the community. The Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Nathan Hochman emphasized that the government owes the community safety, and in this case, safety failed the couple.
FAQs
- Q: Who are the victims in the case?
A: The victims are Robin Kaye, a music supervisor for “American Idol,” and her husband Tom DeLuca, a rock musician. - Q: Who is the suspect in the case?
A: The suspect is Raymond Boodarian, 22, who allegedly burglarized the couple’s home and shot them with their own gun. - Q: How did the police initially respond to the 911 calls?
A: The police responded to two burglary calls at the address but were unable to access the home and left after attempting to visually check the residence through the security gate. - Q: How were the bodies of the victims discovered?
A: The bodies of Kaye and DeLuca were found four days later when officers returned to the property for a welfare check after a neighbor called police concerned that they hadn’t seen or heard from them for a few days. - Q: What are the charges against the suspect?
A: Boodarian is charged with two counts of murder, burglary, and special allegations for multiple murders, personal discharge of a firearm, and murder while engaging in robbery.
