The man who killed the criminal who kidnapped and raped his son on TV

One of the most shocking crimes in recent American history was murder of jeff doucetRenowned martial arts expert who was shot and killed in front of television cameras at the airport in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1984.

Her perpetrator was the father of Jody Plauche, an 11-year-old boy whom Doucette had sexually abused. For about a year.

The horrific photos, captured by local television station WBRZ, quickly went viral at the time. And 40 years later, that video shows the exact moment a bullet grazes his head, yet generates controversy on social networks when it cyclically reappears.

To understand this shocking story, it is necessary to go back in time to that fateful 1984, and enter into the conspiracy of secrets, deceptions and horrors hidden behind the facade of success, which was revealed by respected karate instructor Jeff Doucette in his hometown of Baton Rouge. Was made in. ,

Jeff Doucet He was by no means unknown in the Baton Rouge community. opposite of this, Was a local celebrity with a TV show and all.

A war veteran and expert in various hand-to-hand fighting arts, he had become a kind of living myth due to his endless collection of trophies obtained in the most diverse competitions.

But there is no doubt that his greatest fame was due to his work directing Black Dragon Academy A prestigious school dedicated to the training of martial talents, located in Baton Rouge.

Parents from all over the area were eager to enroll their children in the institution. And the students, for their part, idolized this strong and charismatic instructor. He was nicknamed “The Sensei”.

One of them was Jody Plauche, who was only 11. Doucette laughed and said he was “the future great black dragon of all Louisiana” because of his extraordinary physical conditions and natural ability to make impossible kicks.

Encouraged by his idol, the boy immediately collected many trophies which he proudly displayed in his room, dreaming that one day he would become as famous as his “sempai”.

But the admiration that Jody and the other students felt for their instructor had a deep impact on the children’s parents, too.

Everyone saw Doucette as an impeccable role model. After all, he was a decorated war veteran who now dedicated his life to improving the lives of young people through martial discipline.

That’s why no one doubted when “Sensei” knocked on the Plauche family’s door one morning with an attractive offer.

As he excitedly told Jody’s parents, some important Hollywood producers had approached him, expressing interest in conducting a promotional shoot about kids’ karate. And his son was one of those selected to star in it along with other talents for their excellent performances in recent competitions.

The mother did not think twice and enthusiastically authorized Doucette to take the little boy to California for the casting and filming. It will only be a week and when they return they can give the rest of the family a big surprise by telling them how the film assignments went.

which no one doubted The real nightmare that was about to begin for the childAnd it will change everyone’s lives forever.

Far from introducing the boy to producers and fulfilling his promise of a possible artistic career in Hollywood, the only thing Jeff Doucette did during those 10 long days was give Plauche medicine to keep him asleep. Dying her blonde hair black to confuse the public. police, and They continued to sexually exploit her at every stage.

Thus they traveled hundreds of kilometers crossing different parts of the United States, avoiding highways and large cities, stopping only at roadside motels to spend the night.

Upon arriving in Los Angeles, during one of those stops, Doucette made the mistake that cost him his life. She allowed Jody to talk to her mother on the phone, So that suspicion could not be created about his long absence.

Mrs. Plauche noticed something strange in her son’s voice and immediately alerted the police. About communication. Thanks to tracking and triangulation, authorities were quickly able to determine that the call was made from a room at the Seven Palms Motel in downtown Anaheim.

A few minutes later they burst in armed, freed the angry younger Plauche and arrested Doucette, a scene immortalized by security cameras that was later leaked to the media.

When Jody’s father, Gary Plauche, was informed by authorities of the details of what happened to his son, he vowed to take revenge with his own hands. And he didn’t have to wait long to get his chance.

Was watching local news on March 16, 1984It turned out that Doucette would arrive in Baton Rouge in handcuffs that same night.Extradited from California to continue judicial process in his home state of Louisiana.

quickly He headed towards the airport and waited for his victim to appear. Hidden behind some telephone booths in the main room, he carried a .38 caliber revolver in his right boot. There were also WBRZ news cameras livestreaming the prisoner’s arrival.

The flight landed after 9 pm. As Doucette passed him with two police officers on his way to the exit, Gary jumped out, brandishing a gun. And before the astonished gaze of all present, his mind was blown by a well-aimed shot.

The photos taken by the above local media soon spread across all channels in the United States, causing great controversy.

Although some condemned Plauche’s criminal actions, many understood that his reaction was that of a deranged father when he learned that his little boy had experienced humiliation at the hands of the famous “Sensei”.

In fact, public opinion was largely in his favor, and he was hailed a hero for killing a child rapist. Even marches were organized to prevent him from going to jail.

And that’s what happened. Inexplicably, the justice sentenced him to only 7 years suspended, 5 years probation and 300 hours of time served. He will never go to jail for the murder that TV cameras showed to the entire country.

Jodi told The Mirror US This act was not seen as an evil act, he recently said that, at the end of the day, “the saddest thing” about what happened is that “an evil man did something to[his]father. Caused something bad to happen.” However, Jodie told The Mirror: “The only good thing about all this is that when people see that video, they see it as an act of love, not an act of hate.”

This resonant case set a strong legal precedent in the United States by setting jurisprudence on the character of the “justicier father”, who kills his son’s abuser with his own hands, typically receiving controversially lenient treatment from the Justice. Is.

But at the same time, the images of the crime and the circumstances that led to Plauche committing it forever enshrined in the popular imagination the idea of ​​the common man who would stop at “anything” to avenge the honor of his young child. What will the father do? ,

Thus, the myth of the kind of “moral hero” motivated by filial love began to be repeated in mass culture, celebrating violence as a supposed solution to the failures of the system.

Movies, TV series and songs have repeated that basic instinct over and over again, normalizing a primal instinct that is stronger than even logic or social morality.

That is why whenever the remembered video in which Gary Plauche kills his son’s rapist reappears cyclically on social networks, it gives rise to the same heated controversy again.

To what extent is it legitimate to take justice into one’s own hands when the legal system fails to protect the most vulnerable? Is it understandable that a father can cross the line of impunity despite causing such great harm to his loved one?

40 years after the fact, we are witnessing a renewed philosophical debate with arguments for and against, which is far from reaching a definitive conclusion.

While the courts continue to show unusual leniency towards “fathers of justice” who commit revenge killings, society remains divided in the face of this complex phenomenon that highlights the thin line between civilization and barbarism.