A man accused of the fatal shooting of the “American Idol” music director and her husband at their Los Angeles home will undergo a mental evaluation to assess his fitness to stand trial, as ruled by a judge on Wednesday.
Raymond Boudarian, 22, was supposed to plead in court but didn’t formally enter one. The judge has paused the criminal proceedings while a psychiatrist evaluates Boudarian’s mental state.
He faces two murder charges in the deaths of Robin Kay, a long-time producer for “American Idol,” and her husband Thomas Deluca, who were shot on July 10 when they unexpectedly returned home during a burglary.
A mental health judge will review the assessment and decide whether Boudarian will go to trial or be committed to a state hospital.
During the court appearance, Boudarian remained mostly hidden behind a partition and seemed, maybe, to avoid attention.
His attorney chose not to comment on the case, and the District Attorney’s Office also had no immediate statements.
Interestingly, Boudarian appeared in the same small Hollywood courthouse where another man, accused of stalking Jennifer Aniston, had been. It’s a bit unsettling, I suppose.
Police responded to 911 calls regarding a robbery at the couple’s home in Encino but found no signs of forced entry at the time, leaving without incident.
Unfortunately, just four days later, officers discovered the couple’s bodies during a welfare check at their home. Boudarian was arrested the following day.
According to District Attorney Nathan Hochman, investigators believe Boudarian shot the couple with their own firearms when they returned home unexpectedly while he was still there looting. He later called 911 himself, which, well, it seems… curious.
Kay had been a staple on “American Idol” for over 15 years and was involved in preparations for the show’s upcoming season at the time of her death. She also contributed to various other projects, including “The Singing Bee,” “Hollywood Game Night,” “Lip Sync Battle,” and beauty pageants like Miss USA and Miss Universe.
