“American Idol” Music Supervisor And Husband Found Murdered In Los Angeles Home
on Jul 15, 2025
American Idol Supervisor Shot Dead
Robin Kaye, a renowned music supervisor who worked on American Idol for around 15 seasons and won multiple Guild of Music Supervisors Awards, was found shot to death in her home in Encino, Los Angeles, on Monday.
Kaye’s husband, Thomas Deluca, a musician and songwriter who wrote for singers including Kid Rock and Meredith Brooks, was also discovered dead.
The couple was found during a welfare check by the LAPD on Monday (July 14) after family and friends hadn’t heard from them in several days.
Police found a forced entry on the scene, with blood in the entryway and a smashed window. Surveillance footage is being reviewed, and the case is being treated as a homicide.
A few days before the murders, officers reportedly responded to a call regarding a suspicious person hopping the fence with a possible weapon. However, there is no known correlation between the incident and the homicides.
Who Is Robin Kaye?
According to her IMBD page, Kaye was a Music Supervisor for 288 episodes of American Idol from 2002 to 2023, making her one of the longest-serving behind-the-scenes figures in the show’s history.
She also worked on different shows, including the NAACP Image Awards, Miss USA, Miss Universe, Lip Sync Battle, Hollywood Game Night, Q’Viva , The Dance Scene, Dance Your Ass Off, and Your Chance To Dance.
Her biography states that Kaye began her career working for Waylon Jennings in Nashville, eventually joining MTM Records as Vice President of Artist Development.
In 2000, Robin Kaye founded her own music consulting and supervision company, SyncroniCity, marking a significant pivot in her career toward entrepreneurial and creative leadership in the music-for-television space.
The company initially operated as a representation and licensing firm, working with prominent artists and labels including Andrea Bocelli and Kenny Loggins.
SyncroniCity later shifted focus entirely to music supervision, becoming a go-to firm for music-heavy television productions, including American Idol.
American Idol Releases Statement Regarding Kaye’s Tragic Murder
A spokesperson for American Idol released a statement following Kaye’s passing, sending their sympathies to her loved ones.
“We are devastated to hear of Robin and her dear husband, Tom’s, passing,” an American Idol spokesperson said in a statement to Deadline. “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.”
Idol alums took to their personal social media to express their condolences and share the impact Kaye had on their lives. Several past contestants also spoke to The Hollywood Reporter to pay tribute to Kaye.
Suspect Arrested In Connection To Robin Kaye And Thomas Deluca’s Deaths
Later on Tuesday (July 15), the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed with PEOPLE that a suspect had been arrested.
PEOPLE reports that 22-year-old Encino resident Raymond Boodarian was placed under arrest in connection to Kaye and Deluca’s deaths. A multi-agency task force was assembled to carry out the arrest, which PEOPLE reports occured “without incident.“
Authorities who spoke to PEOPLE believe the pair may have walked in on the suspect in their home. It’s believed a confrontation ensued, unfortunately ending in Kaye and Deluca’s death.
Additionally, police said the crime appears to be random. At this time, there is no known connection between Kaye, Deluca, and the suspect. However, authorities are still working to determine if they had any prior connections to each other.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
