Robin Kaye, a longtime music supervisor for American Idol, and her husband, musician Thomas Deluca, were shot and killed inside their multimillion-dollar Los Angeles home in what police have confirmed as a double homicide.
Police were called to the couple’s residence on White Oak Avenue around 2:30 p.m. Monday for a welfare check. Once inside, officers discovered both Kaye and Deluca, each 70 years old, with multiple gunshot wounds. They were located in separate rooms. First responders from the Los Angeles Fire Department pronounced them dead at the scene.
The alleged shooter has been identified as 22-year-old Raymond Boodarian. According to investigators, Boodarian had broken into the home days earlier, and the couple reportedly walked in on him during the burglary. The situation turned violent as they confronted him, ending with both victims shot and killed.
LAPD detectives believe the murder took place on July 10. That afternoon, officers received two separate calls reporting suspicious activity at the address, including a possible burglary around 4:00 p.m.
At the time, there were no visible signs of forced entry, but surveillance footage later confirmed that the suspect entered through an unlocked door. He remained inside for about 30 minutes before the couple arrived and interrupted him.
American Idol released a statement mourning the loss: “We are heartbroken by the tragic passing of Robin and her beloved husband, Tom. Robin has been an integral part of the Idol family since 2009 and was deeply respected and loved by everyone who worked with her. She will always hold a place in our hearts. Our thoughts are with her family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.”
Who Was Robin Kaye?
Kaye was a veteran of the music television world, best known for her two-decade run on American Idol as part of its music production team from 2002 to 2023. Her work also shaped the sound of shows like Lip Sync Battle, The Singing Bee, and Q’Viva!: The Chosen.
She began her career in Nashville with Waylon Jennings before taking on a leadership role at MTM Records as VP of Artist Development and Broadcast Media. She later moved to Sound Management in Chicago, continuing as a VP and artist manager, and then joined the Film & TV Licensing division at MCA-Universal Records.
In 2000, Robin launched SyncroniCity, a company dedicated to music supervision for TV. Through it, Kaye worked on titles like Hollywood Game Night, Worn Stories, American Inventor, The NAACP Image Awards, and more.
She also worked on the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants.
Her Husband, Thomas Deluca, Was Also a Musician
Deluca was a Pittsburgh native raised in South Florida who built his music career from the ground up. He moved to Nashville in his early twenties and landed a publishing deal within two years. That early break laid the foundation for a long list of songwriting credits and a solo career of his own.
In the mid-1980s, the artist signed with Epic Records and recorded his debut album Down To The Wire in London. The project was produced by James Guthrie, known for his work with Pink Floyd.
A second record, Street Rock, came later, with most tracks produced by Deluca himself. The exception was “Satisfied Man,” handled by Terry Manning, a producer with credits that include ZZ Top and Lenny Kravitz.
Over the years, Deluca’s songs have been recorded by a wide range of artists. His credits include “Heart Over Mind” by Jennifer Rush, “Son of Detroit” by Kid Rock and David Allan Coe, “Are You Satisfied” by Jon Stevens, and “Down By The River” by Meredith Brooks.
Robin and Thomas Kept Their Marriage Fully Private—Did They Have Kids?
Robin and her hubby, Thomas, never shared much about their relationship. They were active on social media, but neither posted personal updates.
The only known photo of them together popped up on Thomas’s Facebook in 2020—a throwback from 2009, where they’re seen with Dolly Parton and music supervisor Bob Hunka.
No one really knows how long they’d been married or how they first met. And when it comes to children, there’s nothing to confirm they had any. If they did, that part of their life was never shared.
Their Net Worth
The late couple Robin and Thomas likely had a combined net worth between $7 million and $15 million.
Kaye’s long run in high-budget music television and Deluca’s songwriting royalties and publishing deals were the main sources behind their wealth.
