Man accused in American Idol supervisor murder found incompetent, sent to Encino mental health court
Raymond Boodarian, accused in the July 2025 Encino slayings of music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas Deluca, has been declared mentally incompetent to stand trial and routed into Los Angeles mental health court.
Key takeaways
- Victims: Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca, both 70, were found shot to death in their Encino home.
- Defendant: 22-year-old Raymond Boodarian faces two murder counts, one residential burglary count and special allegations; he is held without bail.
- Competency: Medical examiners found Boodarian unable to assist in his defense; case moved to mental health court for evaluation and treatment.
- Next steps: Mental health court hearing scheduled for Sept. 3, 2025; treatment plans and competency restoration will be considered.
The killings and arrest
What prosecutors say: Authorities allege the incident began when someone scaled a fence and entered the Kaye-Deluca residence during what has been described as a burglary. Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca returned from a grocery trip and were shot; investigators believe the killings occurred on July 10, 2025 and the couple was found four days later during a welfare check.
Prosecutors say the firearm used in the slayings came from the couple’s home. The suspect, identified as 22-year-old Raymond Boodarian, reportedly used his cellphone to call police; officers located and arrested him at a residence without incident. He was booked on murder and burglary charges and is being held without bail.
News coverage of the scene and reporting from national outlets are available through ABC News and local television reporting from 6ABC.
Court proceedings and competency finding
At a scheduled arraignment, court staff and prosecutors said Boodarian appeared unresponsive and at times stared off during proceedings. He did not enter a plea. After medical evaluations, examiners concluded he is mentally incompetent to stand trial. A judge ordered the criminal case moved into Los Angeles mental health court, a track focused on treatment and competency restoration rather than immediate criminal adjudication.
Legal note: Under California law, defendants declared incompetent may be held for treatment and periodic reassessments until they can understand the charges and assist in their defense; these processes can span months or years.
Reporting on the competency ruling and related court updates is available from ABC7 Los Angeles.
Past contacts with the criminal justice system
Court records and reporting show Boodarian had prior misdemeanor encounters in 2023 and 2024, including allegations of brandishing a knife, criminal threats and battery against family members. Those earlier cases were dismissed after prior competency findings — a sequence now drawing public scrutiny and questions about whether more intervention was possible.
Broadcast segments and local interviews documenting earlier incidents and neighborhood reaction are available through local video reporting linked by media outlets and broadcasters.
Community reaction and police review
The Encino neighborhood has been shaken by the slayings. Relatives and neighbors interviewed in local reports said they were aware of Boodarian’s struggles and expressed surprise at the violence alleged. Law enforcement increased patrols after the bodies were found and community forums convened to discuss gaps in mental health intervention and public safety.
The Los Angeles Police Department has reportedly launched an internal review of its response after an earlier report of a possible burglary at the victims’ home on July 10 did not lead officers to enter the residence. Officials are assessing whether procedures for responding to burglary reports, welfare checks and prior domestic incidents should be changed.
Legal context and system challenges
California’s competency procedures are intended to ensure defendants can participate in their defense. When someone is declared incompetent, a criminal case is paused and the person may be sent to a psychiatric facility or court-supervised treatment. If competency cannot be restored, prosecutors face limits on pursuing criminal convictions.
Legal analysts and community leaders note the system can appear to cycle people through repeated evaluations and short interventions without long-term resolution — a dynamic that has spurred calls for reforms that better balance public safety and mental health care.
Victims’ profiles and public interest
Robin Kaye had worked as a music supervisor for “American Idol” since 2009 and was recognized in the industry for decades of work. The couple’s deaths drew national attention because of Kaye’s television ties and because the alleged crime occurred in a quiet, upscale Encino neighborhood.
Neighbors described the home as well secured; investigators said the suspect entered through an unlocked door after scaling a fence, focusing attention on home security and police response times to early reports.
Court date and next steps
Boodarian is scheduled for a mental health court hearing on Sept. 3, 2025. At that hearing, officials will review treatment plans and reassess competency to determine whether criminal proceedings can resume. Reporters have documented prior media coverage and community meetings linked to this case.
Implications for Hesperia, California
Though the incident occurred in Los Angeles, high-profile violent crimes can ripple into communities such as Hesperia. Local implications include:
- Economic: Homeowners and businesses may increase spending on security; insurers could reassess risk.
- Political: The case may intensify calls for tougher enforcement and stricter oversight of how mentally ill suspects are supervised.
- Social: Families and community groups may push for clearer protocols on repeat contacts with law enforcement and expanded local mental health resources.
- Practical: Local agencies can review response protocols for burglaries, welfare checks and domestic incidents, promote home-hardening measures and bolster neighborhood-watch efforts.
Reporting sources
This article draws on reporting and court records from multiple outlets: ABC News, ABC7 Los Angeles, 6ABC, and local broadcast segments available online.
Video reports and earlier local coverage are available through broadcast clips archived online, including material published on video platforms by local stations.
Note: All factual details and source links in this piece are preserved from original reporting and public court records.
