León Gary Plauche was born on November 10, 1945, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This city remained his home throughout most of his life, where he built a family and made a name for himself. Gary Plauche attended Louisiana State University (LSU) and later joined the Air Force, where he achieved the rank of Master Sergeant. After retiring from the military, he transitioned to a career in business, working as a heavy equipment salesman. Additionally, Gary Plauche worked as a cameraman for a local TV station and served as a Little League baseball coach. He was an avid fan of LSU sports and the New Orleans Saints football team. In his free time, Gary Plauche enjoyed fishing and cooking.
Gary’s life took a romantic turn when he met June Sheridan in late 1969. At that time, June had just started her singing career, performing at local venues. The couple met in a bar, where they instantly connected. Within a month, they were married. Together, they had four children—three boys and one girl.
In 1983, Gary Plauche and June decided to enroll their three sons in a local martial arts school that focused on hapkido, a Korean discipline. This decision would later introduce them to a key figure in their lives, Jeff Doucet.
The Arrival of Jeff Doucet
Jeff Doucet, born on February 3, 1959, in Port Arthur, Texas, had a challenging upbringing, marked by instances of abuse. However, he was also a talented athlete and eventually joined the United States Marine Corps. Afterward, Jeff moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he lived with one of his brothers and worked as a martial arts instructor at the hapkido school. In addition, he made a living by installing carpets.
Despite living a relatively quiet life, Jeff was well-liked by the community. His dedication to teaching martial arts earned him admiration from both students and their parents. He frequently traveled with his students to competitions in other states, and families appreciated the positive impact his training had on their children. Among those families were Gary Plauche and June, whose boys excelled under Jeff’s guidance.
As Jeff grew closer to the Plauche family, he developed a particularly strong connection with their son Jody, who was born on April 27, 1972. Jody’s martial arts talent quickly became apparent, and he decided to focus entirely on hapkido, dropping his other sports like baseball and basketball. Jeff also became a trusted friend of Gary Plauche, to the point where Gary Plauche helped arrange a TV feature on Jeff’s martial arts school.
Beyond the gym, Jeff made efforts to build personal relationships with his students. He often took them on outings, such as trips to the movies or the park, and even taught them to drive. These activities helped solidify his trust within the community, and no one questioned his intentions.
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Strain in the Plauche Household
By mid-1983, Gary Plauche and June’s relationship was faltering. They were 39 and 35 years old, respectively, and had decided to separate. By August of that year, Gary Plauche had moved out of the house, and divorce seemed inevitable. June, who had given up her singing career, found herself in a controlling relationship with Gary. According to her lawyer, Gary’s jealousy had strained their marriage—he often accused her of seeking attention from others, even during innocent social events.
During this time, Jeff spent increasing amounts of time at the Plauche household. June, seeing him as a supportive friend, grew closer to him, and the two eventually entered a romantic relationship. However, despite Jeff’s outward friendliness, there were dark secrets that were slowly emerging.
By early 1984, Jeff Doucet found himself under investigation by the police for fraud and embezzlement. Some parents began questioning how Jeff managed his finances, given how much time he dedicated to the martial arts academy. Jeff had been selling sports gear and other products under the pretense of raising funds for national tournaments, but many buyers never received their orders. Additionally, Jeff had a habit of writing bad checks, further complicating his financial troubles.
A Shocking Turn of Events
Though his reputation remained largely intact, Jeff’s relationship with Jody and other students took a darker turn. What appeared to be friendly outings with the children were actually opportunities for Jeff to exploit them. The trust he had built with the community allowed him unrestricted access to Jody, especially as his relationship with June deepened.
On Sunday, February 19, 1984, the dynamics within the Plauche family and Jeff’s role in their lives reached a critical point, setting the stage for a series of events that would forever change their story.
One Sunday morning, Jeff Doucet arrived at June Plauche’s home with a simple request. He asked if he could borrow her car to take Jody, her son, to check out a carpet he was installing. June, not suspecting anything unusual, agreed but made sure to ask Jeff to bring Jody back early since he had school the next day. Little did she know, Jeff had a much darker plan in mind. He wasn’t interested in showing Jody any carpet—his real intention was to take the 11-year-old far away from home.
Jeff confided in Jody that he was in deep financial trouble, owing over $15,000, and needed to leave the state to avoid his problems. He convinced Jody to go with him. After leaving the Plauche home, Jeff went back to his own place to grab some essentials, including clothes and a sleeping bag. From there, they began their journey to Port Arthur, Texas, where Jeff’s mother lived.
As the hours passed without Jody returning home, June’s concern began to rise. She tried calling Jeff multiple times, but her calls went unanswered. Despite her growing anxiety, she held off on contacting the authorities right away.
Jeff and Jody spent two days at his mother’s house in Texas. Then, on February 21, they boarded a bus from Orange, Texas, bound for Los Angeles, California. Before they left, Jeff asked Jody if he was okay with the plan to go to California. Nervous and unsure, Jody said yes. To avoid being recognized, Jeff shaved off his beard and dyed Jody’s hair darker.
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A Long Journey to California
When they arrived in Los Angeles, Jeff borrowed money from a friend to pay for a night at the Hilton hotel. The next day, he tried to secure a more permanent place to stay in Canoga Park, but he had no luck. Eventually, Jeff and Jody took another bus to Anaheim, California. Back in Louisiana, June, after four days without hearing from her son, contacted her brother, who worked as a deputy sheriff. She reported Jody’s disappearance to the authorities, and the investigation was officially underway.
While the police were investigating, June decided to take action on her own. Knowing Jeff’s background and where his family lived, she convinced a friend to drive her to Port Arthur, hoping to find Jody. When they arrived at Jeff’s mother’s house, they were informed that Jeff and Jody had already left. With no leads, June called Gary Plauche and brought the FBI into the case.
For the next week, Jeff and Jody stayed near Disneyland, going on outings and even visiting the theme park. Jody spent long hours alone in their motel room while Jeff looked for work. Despite having opportunities to escape, Jody didn’t—Jeff’s psychological hold on him was strong. During this time, Jeff also sexually abused Jody multiple times.
Once June reported Jody’s disappearance, the FBI got involved and tapped the Plauche family’s phone, hoping Jeff would eventually reach out. A week after taking Jody, Jeff finally made contact. He gave June instructions for meeting him and warned her not to inform anyone. Following the FBI’s guidance, June played along while they traced the call. During the conversation, she even got to speak briefly with Jody.
What Jeff didn’t know was that the FBI had successfully traced the call, pinpointing his location just a few blocks from Disneyland. Still unaware, Jeff waited for June, unaware that the authorities were closing in.
The Arrest and Jody’s Rescue
On February 29, a team of FBI agents stormed the motel room where Jeff and Jody were staying. Jeff was arrested on the spot, and Jody was taken into protective custody. When first questioned, Jody denied that anything inappropriate had happened. However, later medical examinations confirmed that he had been sexually assaulted.
On March 1, 1984, Jody was reunited with his parents in Louisiana. After being taken into custody, Jeff eventually confessed to sexually abusing Jody and other children from his martial arts school. His confession, combined with the medical evidence, was enough to charge him with multiple offenses.
Throughout this harrowing ordeal, June’s health both physically and emotionally deteriorated. She lost eight pounds in just a week, overcome by worry for her missing son. Some speculated about her possible involvement with Jeff, but her close friends and family insisted that her distress was genuine.
June had trusted Jeff and never imagined the depths of his manipulation. The entire Plauche family was left stunned, grappling with the betrayal of someone they had once considered a close friend.
When Gary Plauche learned that his son, Jody, had been abused by Jeff Doucet, his reaction was one of pure horror and rage. According to those close to him, he felt that any parent in his situation would have wanted to do the same—eliminate the person who had hurt their child. Blinded by his desire for vengeance, Gary Plauche decided he would take justice into his own hands. Using connections from his past work at a TV station, he began gathering details about Jeff’s upcoming extradition to face charges in Louisiana.
Through the help of a reporter, Gary Plauche learned that Jeff was scheduled to arrive at Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport on Friday, March 16, 1984, on an American Airlines flight from Dallas. Early that morning, Gary Plauche went to the airport, wearing dark sunglasses and a cap to avoid being recognized. After checking the flight schedule, he sat in a café and waited.
As the time for Jeff’s arrival approached, Gary Plauche moved to the airport bar, where he had a drink to calm his nerves. When the flight finally landed, Gary positioned himself by the public telephones near the exit, where passengers would soon pass. He picked up a phone and called a friend, telling them what he was about to do. Despite the friend’s attempts to dissuade him, Gary Plauche remained determined.
The Moment of Revenge
Across the hall, a local TV crew was setting up to capture Jeff’s arrival. As Jeff stepped off the plane, handcuffed and escorted by officers, including Mike Barnett, the man who had informed the Plauches of Jody’s abuse, Gary Plauche was ready. He had planned everything carefully and had a clear view of Jeff as he approached, walking down the hallway. When Jeff was just a few feet away, Gary Plauche pulled out a gun and fired a single shot.
Jeff collapsed to the floor. In the chaos that followed, Mike Barnett immediately restrained Gary Plauche, demanding to know why he had done it. Another officer quickly seized the gun and attended to Jeff, who had been gravely injured by a shot near his right ear. Gary Plauche offered no resistance, surrendering the weapon and allowing himself to be handcuffed. Jeff was rushed to the hospital, where doctors worked tirelessly, but he slipped into a coma and died the following day due to significant blood loss.
Gary was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. His attorney and close friend, Foster Fox, quickly posted the $100,000 bail, allowing Gary to be released. Following his release, Gary was admitted to a psychiatric ward, claiming he had been temporarily insane at the time of the shooting. Foster Fox was determined to keep Gary out of prison, working hard to build a defense. The defense argued that Gary’s actions were the result of an emotional breakdown after learning about the abuse inflicted on his son.
Reports emerged that Jeff had told his lawyer, before being extradited, that June Plauche had agreed to meet him in California. Based on this, Jeff’s attorney tried to argue that Gary’s actions were motivated by jealousy. Public opinion was split—some believed Gary had acted out of rage over the alleged relationship between Jeff and June, while others saw Gary as a father who simply wanted justice for his son.
Initially charged with second-degree murder, Gary Plauche later accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to manslaughter. Foster confidently predicted that Gary would not spend any time in prison.
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The Courtroom Drama
In court, a medical report was presented that supported Gary’s defense of temporary insanity. It stated that Gary Plauche had experienced a psychotic break after learning of the abuse. Gary testified that he believed he had been receiving divine messages urging him to protect his family. After hearing what Jeff had done to Jody, Gary claimed he began having episodes where he felt compelled to take action to prevent further harm.
The court also heard from a specialist who evaluated Jody, and Jody himself recounted the months of abuse he endured at the hands of his coach. The judge, visibly moved by the case, acknowledged the emotional weight of the situation. He referred to the incident as a tragedy and determined that sentencing Gary Plauche to prison would serve no purpose. The judge ruled that Gary was unlikely to reoffend and posed no threat to society.
In the end, Gary Plauche was given a suspended seven-year sentence, five years of probation, and 300 hours of community service, which he completed by 1989.
The Aftermath
The ruling was met with mixed reactions. Jeff Doucet’s family criticized the sentence, arguing that justice had not been served. Many others echoed this sentiment, insisting that, regardless of his motivations, Gary had still committed a crime. On the other hand, a significant portion of the public rallied behind Gary Plauche, seeing him as a hero and a symbol of a father’s love for his son. Many sympathized with his pain and believed that he had done what any parent might have wished to do under similar circumstances.
Over the years, Gary Plauche was often asked if he regretted his actions. His response was always the same—he never regretted taking Jeff’s life, believing it was the right thing to do for himself, his son, and his family.
In 2011, Gary suffered a stroke that left him with limited mobility and required him to enter a care facility, where he spent the remaining years of his life.
Three years after the airport incident, on October 21, 2014, Gary Plauche passed away at the age of 68 following another stroke. His death marked the end of a life filled with deep emotional turmoil and public scrutiny. Despite his actions, Gary Plauche remained a complex figure, shaped by his immense love for his family and his willingness to take extreme measures to protect them.
Jody’s Struggles and Reconciliation with His Father
In the immediate aftermath of Jeff Doucet’s death, Jody Plauche struggled with conflicting emotions. While he wanted his abuser to face punishment, he hadn’t wanted him killed. This left Jody feeling resentment toward his father, causing a strain in their relationship. However, over time, Jody came to better understand why his father had taken such drastic action, and they eventually reconciled.
Jody later admitted that he had recorded the moment his father shot Jeff at the airport and had watched the footage multiple times. Despite the trauma of his childhood, Jody managed to move forward, overcoming the psychological scars left by his ordeal.
Jody chose a path of resilience and healing. He pursued higher education, graduating from Louisiana State University with concentrations in psychology, communications, and philosophy. In 1995, Jody began working in the field of violence prevention, using his own experiences to help others who had suffered abuse. His personal journey became one of survival and growth, making him a symbol of strength for those who had endured similar hardships.
In August 2019, Jody published Why, Gary, Why? The Jody Plauche Story, a book named after the words uttered by Mike Barnett at the airport when Gary Plauche shot Jeff. The book offers a detailed account of Jody’s experiences with Jeff Doucet, shining a light on the devastating effects of child abuse. Through his writing, Jody provides guidance to parents on how to spot the warning signs of potential predators, hoping to prevent other children from going through what he did.
Jody’s goal in sharing his story is not just to recount the past but to help others heal. He aims to educate parents and caregivers, empowering them to protect their children from similar harm. By openly discussing his trauma and providing resources, Jody hopes to inspire victims and their families to find a way to move past their tragedies, just as he did.
