In July, a Los Angeles resident named Raymond Boodarian found himself entangled in grave allegations of murder and burglary, accused of the tragic slaying of a seasoned music supervisor for "American Idol" and her consort. This harrowing incident has taken a peculiar turn as Boodarian's case has been diverted to a local mental health court, following a judge's decision to postpone his arraignment on Wednesday. During this proceeding, Boodarian exhibited no responsiveness, seemingly lost in his own world, prompting Judge Martin L. Herscovitz to halt the session.
Boodarian's public defender disclosed to the court that he suffers from "severe mental health issues," an assertion supported by the judge's observations. As Boodarian sat in a caged-off area during his second court appearance, he appeared detached, gazing into the void. Clad in a "suicide gown," intended to safeguard against self-harm, the 22-year-old remained mute throughout the hearing, ignoring the judge's repeated attempts to engage him.
"Mr. Boodarian, can you hear me?" Judge Herscovitz queried, his voice echoing in vain. "Let the record reflect that he remains engrossed in his thoughts, unresponsive to the court's inquiries."
The chain of events unfolded in mid-July when Robin Kaye and her spouse, Thomas Deluca, both aged 70, were discovered deceased from gunshot wounds during a welfare check at their Encino residence. Kaye, a beloved figure known for her pivotal role as music supervisor on "American Idol" for 16 years, had been responsible for securing all musical content featured on the show.
Upon returning home, Kaye and Deluca unexpectedly encountered Boodarian within their premises. According to LAPD Lt. Guy Golan, Boodarian allegedly vaulted over the property's 8-foot-tall spiked fence and, during an ensuing struggle when confronted by the couple, opened fire, claiming their lives. Prior to their tragic demise, the LAPD had received two calls reporting a potential robbery involving a man scaling the secure fence. This formidable barrier initially hindered officers from accessing the couple's home on White Oak Avenue. Their bodies were discovered four days later during a follow-up welfare check.
Remarkably, the house showed no indications of forced entry. Authorities revealed that after scaling the fence, Boodarian gained entrance through an unlocked door. "The victims returned home to find the suspect within their residence, leading to a confrontation that culminated in their untimely deaths," stated an official release. "The victims succumbed to numerous gunshot wounds, while the suspect fled on foot."
Boodarian, reportedly accompanied by his father in court for moral support, as per Rolling Stone, was remanded into custody without bail and scheduled to appear before a mental health court on September 3. Judge Herscovitz emphasized that any arraignment pertaining to Boodarian's murder charges would transpire once deemed mentally competent.
Kaye's passing evoked an outpouring of affection and solidarity from the "American Idol" fraternity. Her impressive resume also included music supervision credits for shows like "Lip Sync Battle," films such as "After the Sunset," and "Q'Viva! The Chosen," among others. Commencing her career in artist management, Kaye later ventured into film and TV licensing at MCA-Universal Records before heading the music licensing division at PolyGram Records. In 2000, she founded her own company, SyncroniCity, representing luminaries like Andrea Bocelli, Kenny Loggins, Lang Lang, Donny Osmond, and Steven Bishop.
