Father’s Shocking On-Air Confession After Killing Son’s Karate Instructor Leaves Nation Stunned
Warning: This isn’t your usual feel-good story — it’s one that dives into the darkest corners of human behavior and parental devotion. Picture this: a dad, Gary Plauché, waiting at Baton Rouge Airport on March 16, 1984, ready to confront his son’s karate teacher — who wasn’t just a coach, but a trusted family member turned tormentor. When Jeffrey Doucet arrived, Gary took justice into his own hands, shooting the man on live TV. But what leads a father to such extremes? And what happens when the protector becomes the avenger? This chilling tale peels back the layers of abuse, heartbreak, and a vigilante’s grim sense of right and wrong. Buckle up, because this story will make you question just how far you’d go to defend your family.
Warning: This article contains discussion of child abuse which some readers may find distressing.
A father who shot his son’s karate teacher dead on live TV made a chilling comment afterwards.
On 16 March, 1984 Louisiana man Gary Plauché shocked people by shooting his children’s karate teacher, Jeffrey Doucet, at Baton Rouge Airport.
But Gary had a reason for lying in wait and shooting the man dead, he’d been sexually abusing his son, Jody Plauché.
Doucet, who was 25 at the time, had been hired as the Plauché children’s karate teacher in late 1982 and soon became a close member of the family, with Jody recalling that Doucet would even play board games with the family, according to an interview with PEOPLE.
Jody Plauché was assaulted by his karate teacher Jeffrey Doucet (WBRZ)
However, Doucet would soon begin molesting Jody, with the teacher constructing reasons to separate the youngster from the other children during classes in order to abuse him.
Recalling how Doucet would send the other children on snack runs while keeping him behind to work on karate kicks, Jody said: “He’d send them to the gas station down the street, which would take them 15, 20 minutes, maybe not even that long, 10 to 15 minutes, but he could get done what he needed to get done.”
The heartbreaking abuse would culminate in Doucet kidnapping Jody and taking him out-of-state to a motel in Anaheim, California, in 1984.
It was here that the sickening abuse would continue, with Doucet shaving his beard and forcing Jody to dye his hair in order to evade law enforcement.
However, police were able to track the pair down after Doucet allowed his hostage to make a phone call to his mother, tracing them to the motel.
Jeffrey Doucet would never face his day in court (Orange County Sheriff)
Jody was reunited with his parents, while Doucet was arrested and flown back to Louisiana to face trial for his charges of kidnapping and sexual assault.
But the abuser would never live to see his day in court, as Gary got to him first.
Gary lay in wait while Doucet’s plane arrived at Baton Rouge Airport, pretending to make a phone call while police hauled him through arrivals. It was at this point that Gary executed his revenge plan and shot Doucet in the head at close range.
The disgraced karate teacher would die a day later from his injuries.
Meanwhile, cameras from local news channel WBRZ caught the aftermath, with cops asking Gary why he’d shot and killed the man.
Gary would ultimately walk free after the killing (X/@jplauche)
“If he’d have done that to your family, you would’ve done the same thing too. You don’t know,” Gary chillingly responded.
Gary was later charged with second-degree murder, ultimately avoiding jail after it was determined that his son’s abuse had caused Gary to enter a temporary psychotic state.
He received a seven-year suspended sentence and 300 hours of community service after reaching a plea deal.
Gary, who later revealed that he did not regret killing Doucet, later passed away at the age of 68, while Jody has since written a book about his experience, titled Why Gary Why?: The Jody Plauché Story.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 10am-8pm Monday to Friday. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111, 24/7.
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