On March 16, 1984, Gary Plauche shot and killed Jeff Doucet, the man who had kidnapped and sexually abused his 11-year-old son, Jody. The killing was captured on live television and shocked the nation.
Plauche had been waiting at the Baton Rouge airport for Doucet, who had just been extradited from California. When Doucet emerged from the airport, Plauche pulled out a gun and shot him once in the head. Doucet died instantly.
Plauche was initially charged with second-degree murder, but he pleaded no contest to manslaughter and was sentenced to seven years’ probation and 300 hours of community service. He served no prison time.
The case attracted widespread media attention, and there was much public debate about whether Plauche was justified in killing Doucet. Some people felt that he had acted out of understandable rage and that he should not be punished. Others argued that he had taken the law into his own hands and that he should be held accountable for his actions.
In the end, a jury of Plauche’s peers decided that he should not be imprisoned. They found that he had been provoked by Doucet’s actions and that he had not intended to kill him.
The case of Gary Plauche remains a controversial one. Some people believe that he was a hero who stood up for his son, while others believe that he was a murderer who took the law into his own hands. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide how they feel about Plauche’s actions.
Here are some additional details about the case:
- The gun that Plauche used was a .38-caliber revolver.
- The shooting was captured on live television by a local news crew.
- Plauche’s son, Jody, was not present at the time of the shooting.
- Plauche was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
- He pleaded no contest to manslaughter and was sentenced to seven years’ probation and 300 hours of community service.
- He served no prison time.
- The case attracted widespread media attention and there was much public debate about whether Plauche was justified in killing Doucet.
- A jury of Plauche’s peers found that he had been provoked by Doucet’s actions and that he had not intended to kill him.
- The case of Gary Plauche remains a controversial one. Some people believe that he was a hero who stood up for his son, while others believe that he was a murderer who took the law into his own hands. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide how they feel about Plauche’s actions.