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American Idol Opens Season 24 With Tribute to Robin Kaye

The tribute coincides with the suspect’s continued psychiatric commitment after a court found him incompetent to stand trial.

Overview

  • An onscreen card at the Jan. 26 premiere read “Season 24 of American Idol: Dedicated to Robin Kaye” with the message “We’ll save you a seat.”
  • Kaye, the show’s longtime music supervisor, and her husband Tom DeLuca were killed on July 10, 2025, and found four days later; both died from multiple gunshot wounds, police said.
  • Raymond Boodarian, 22, faces two counts of murder and one count of first‑degree residential burglary with special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder during a burglary.
  • After competency hearings, a judge ordered Boodarian to a state hospital; records show he was placed in a forensic psychiatric facility in San Bernardino County on Jan. 13, with a status hearing set for March 19.
  • Investigators say surveillance showed a violent struggle, the assailant entered through an unlocked door, the victims were shot with their own gun, and there was no known prior connection to the couple.