It was just another Thursday afternoon in July until it wasn't. A quiet, leafy street on White Oak Avenue in Encino turned into a crime scene that looks like something out of a prestige TV drama. But this was very real. Raymond Boodarian of Reseda, a 22-year-old who lived just a few miles away, is now at the center of a case that has left Los Angeles reeling. Honestly, it’s the kind of story that makes you double-check your locks twice before bed.
The victims weren't just anyone. Robin Kaye was a powerhouse music supervisor for American Idol, a woman who spent two decades shaping the sound of one of the biggest shows on television. Her husband, Thomas Deluca, was a respected rock musician. They were both 70. They were coming home from a grocery run. Simple. Normal. But when they walked through their door on July 10, 2025, police say Raymond Boodarian was already inside.
What Really Happened That Afternoon?
The timeline is kinda messy, which is often how real life works. Investigators believe Boodarian entered the $4.5 million estate through an unlocked door. The house was heavily fortified—eight-foot barriers, security cameras, the works—but a single oversight may have been all it took.
While the couple was out, a neighbor actually saw someone hopping the fence and called 911. Police showed up. They looked around. They didn't see signs of a break-in, and because the property was so secure, they couldn't just wander onto the grounds. They left.
Then came the weirdest part of the whole thing.
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A second 911 call was placed. This time, the caller was allegedly Raymond Boodarian himself, calling from his own cell phone while still inside the house. He reportedly used his real name and told the dispatcher, "Please don't shoot me," pretending to be the resident. Again, officers responded. Again, they found no forced entry. They left a second time.
A Confrontation in the Dark
Police believe that shortly after those failed welfare checks, Robin and Thomas returned. They weren't met with a quiet house. Instead, they walked into a nightmare.
- Kaye was found in the pantry.
- She was still putting away groceries.
- Deluca was found in the bathroom.
Authorities say the suspect didn't even bring a weapon. Instead, he allegedly found a firearm owned by the couple inside the home and used it against them. It was a confrontation that turned fatal in seconds. Multiple gunshot wounds to the head. It’s brutal to even think about.
Who is Raymond Boodarian of Reseda?
We don't know a ton about his personal life yet, but the details trickling out from the LAPD and the District Attorney’s office paint a picture of a young man with a thin criminal history—mostly misdemeanors. He lived in a townhouse in Reseda, about four miles from the Encino mansion.
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When the FBI and LAPD task forces finally caught up with him on July 15, they found him outside his home. He was shirtless. He didn't put up a fight. Basically, the high-tech stuff worked—facial recognition and doorbell footage from the neighborhood helped investigators track him down after the bodies were discovered four days after the shooting.
District Attorney Nathan Hochman has been pretty vocal about this one. He called the murders "deeply personal" and admitted the system failed the couple that day. There’s a lot of anger in the Valley right now. People want to know why those initial 911 calls didn't lead to a more thorough search.
The Legal Road Ahead
Boodarian is facing heavy charges. We’re talking two counts of murder and one count of residential burglary. Because of the "special circumstances"—multiple murders and a murder during a burglary—he could be looking at life without parole or even the death penalty.
He’s being held without bail. His arraignment was set for the Van Nuys Courthouse, and as of now, the motive is still a giant question mark. Police don't think he knew the couple. It wasn't a targeted hit or a gang thing. It appears to be a random, opportunistic burglary that went sideways in the worst possible way.
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Lessons From a Tragic Week
It’s easy to look at a case like this and feel a sense of hopelessness. How do you protect yourself if an eight-foot fence isn't enough? But there are practical takeaways that safety experts and the LAPD have been stressing to the community in the wake of this tragedy.
First off, security tech is only as good as the "human" side of the equation. If you have cameras, make sure they are linked to an active monitoring service that can provide real-time data to dispatchers. Second, the "unlocked door" factor is huge. It sounds simple, but in many high-end burglaries, intruders aren't smashing windows; they're testing handles.
If you are following the case of Raymond Boodarian of Reseda, keep an eye on the upcoming court dates at the Van Nuys Courthouse. The discovery process will likely reveal more about the 911 recordings and the forensic evidence found at the scene. For residents in the San Fernando Valley, the best move right now is to stay involved with local neighborhood councils and push for better response protocols regarding burglary calls.
Stay vigilant. Check your perimeter. And maybe, most importantly, look out for your neighbors.
Next Steps for Residents: Review your home security settings to ensure that your "unlocked door" alerts are active on your smartphone. You should also consider attending the next Encino or Reseda Neighborhood Council meeting to hear updates from the LAPD's West Valley Division regarding local patrol increases.