What is the most difficult and thankless job ever created? I would guess parenthood. But if you don’t have kids, then you may have to refer to your own childhood and all the grief you gave your parents.
When we become parents, we accept it as a true labor of love. Many of us will do anything necessary to give our kids a better life. Today, the worst downside of parenthood is sending our children into the world because we have to worry about bullies and predators.
So this brings up a question.
If someone harmed your child, how far would you go to get justice? Would you seek revenge or wait for the courts to punish the offender?
Sometime in 1984, a young father named Leon Gary Plauche faced this dilemma. He stood at a payphone in the Baton Rouge airport armed with a gun and a consequential decision he needed to address.
Gary was a married family man who loved his children. He was close to his athletic son Jody, who loved sports. Gary enjoyed coaching his boys and took pride in being a father. His wife June said Gary loved being known as “coach.” She said he took such great pride in being a good father.
For now, Gary stood in the airport thinking about Jeff Doucet—the man who had betrayed him. Doucet had become a fixture within the Plauche family. He taught Karate to Jody and his brother. After awhile, the Plauche family accepted Doucet as a trusted friend who spent much time with the family.
But unknown to Gary and his wife, Doucet had a secret. He was molesting Jody.
The trust between Doucet and the Plauche family ended after Doucet abducted Jody and took him to California. On February 29, authorities arrested Doucet and charged him with kidnapping Jody. Authorities returned Doucet to Louisiana to face charges.
On March 16, 1984, a television crew captured deputies escorting Doucet through the Baton Rouge airport. Gary Plauche waited for the predator.
Plauche, wearing sunglasses, spoke to a friend on a payphone. Once Plauche saw Doucet, he approached him and shot him once in the head. The lone shot killed Jeff Doucet, which was captured on film.
Plauche was arrested and indicted on second-degree murder charges. He plead no contest and served no prison time for killing the man who had kidnapped and sexually molested his son.
Plauche received five years’ probation and community service. He died on October 20, 2014. When asked if he had any regrets, Plauche replied, “If it had been your son who was sexually abused by a pervert, you would have done exactly the same thing I did if given my opportunity.”
I have watched the video several times and found it disturbing. However, I can understand how Gary Plauche must have felt. He loved his son. He may have worried that Doucet might one day return to get revenge against his family.
We live in a society that is expected to follow established laws. We think we have moved away from the 1800s when people settled their differences with gunfire. Although we like to think we are civilized, there are certain instances that will test us mentally and morally.
For instance, we can forgive someone who steals from us or backs into our car, but if someone harms our children, it can bring out our inner rage. Ask anyone if Gary Plauche was a hero or a killer and you will get different opinions.
But if I had the same opportunity as Gary Plauche to get revenge, I may have taken the same action.
Marc is a longtime resident of Clermont County and an avid reader. Contact him through his website at www.themarcabe.com or through Facebook: www.Facebook.com/themarcabe or his Twitter account @themarcabe. Marc also has a podcast called Catch my Killer where he interviews family members seeking justice for their murdered loved ones. You can listen at www.catchmykiller.com.