March 25, 2026
Gary Plauché: The Father Who Killed His Son’s Abuser on Live TV
On March 16, 1984, inside a Baton Rouge airport, a man stepped forward, raised a gun, and shot another man in the head, on live television.
That man was Gary Plauché.
The victim? The man accused of kidnapping and abusing his 11-year-old son.
But this case is more than a shocking moment caught on camera. It’s a story about trust, grooming, trauma, and the devastating reality of what happens when the system moves slower than a parent’s pain.
In this episode, we break down how a trusted karate instructor manipulated an entire family, how the abuse escalated, and the fifteen-day nightmare that ended in a California motel. We examine the psychological toll on both father and son, the legal case that followed, and the national debate that still divides people decades later.
Was Gary Plauché a criminal… or a father pushed past his breaking point?
And when justice feels out of reach—who decides what justice really looks like?
⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of child sexual abuse.
This is When Killers Get Caught where we examine the people, the psychology, and the moments behind the most extreme acts of violence… and what happens when the truth finally catches up.
Follow and join the conversation:📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caughtpodcast📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whenkillersgetcaught
Now Active: Subscription-Only Content on Spotify and Patreon. Have a case, story, or idea you’d like us to explore? Submit it to CaseCloserSubmissions@gmail.com and be part of the discussion.
Music featured in this podcast is used with permission from Myuu.https://spoti.fi/1Uda2ci
For advertising and sponsorship inquiries, please contact Brittany Ransom at caughtpodcast@gmail.com
1
00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:06,080
March 16th, 1984 and Rouge
Metropolitan Airport.
2
00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:10,440
The terminal hums with the
ordinary rolling suitcases,
3
00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:13,600
distant announcements, the low
murmur of travelers passing
4
00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:16,480
through.
Near a Bank of payphones, a man
5
00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:19,400
in a white baseball cap and
aviator sunglasses stands
6
00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:22,360
quietly.
Just a man on a phone making a
7
00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:25,120
call.
But he's waiting.
8
00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:31,080
It's 9:30 PM.
Moments later, a dark haired man
9
00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:33,320
in an orange sweater enters the
terminal, escorted by law
10
00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:36,000
enforcement, trailed by local
news cameras.
11
00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:39,080
Everything about this feels
routine, until it isn't.
12
00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:42,760
As the group passes, the man on
the phone turns and in one swift
13
00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:45,200
motion, he raises a gun and
pulls the trigger.
14
00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:47,760
A single shot echoes through the
terminal.
15
00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,760
Chaos erupts.
Officers tackle him almost
16
00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:52,840
instantly.
The cameras keep rolling as the
17
00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:55,040
voices shout over each other.
Gary.
18
00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:56,400
Why?
Why?
19
00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:00,360
Gary the shooter doesn't run.
He doesn't fight because
20
00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:02,720
everyone there already knows who
he is.
21
00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:09,040
His name is Gary Planchet, and
there has never been any doubt
22
00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:11,800
about what he did.
But for decades, one question
23
00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:15,320
has divided a country.
Was this murder or was it
24
00:01:15,320 --> 00:01:18,480
justice?
I'm Brittany Ransom and This is
25
00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,280
When Killers Get Caught, a
podcast where I examine the
26
00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:23,760
people, the psychology, and the
moments that lead to the most
27
00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,560
extreme acts of violence and
what happens when the truth
28
00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:29,560
finally catches up.
Before we go any further, I want
29
00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:32,360
to give a content warning.
This episode discusses child
30
00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:35,240
sexual abuse.
This is a story about a father,
31
00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:38,920
his son, and the moment a
private act of pain and rage
32
00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:44,600
became public.
Forever Before the headlines,
33
00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:47,520
before the footage, before that
moment in the airport, Gary
34
00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,280
Pochet was just a dad.
He lived with his family in
35
00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:53,600
Baton Rouge, LA, part of a solid
middle class life that from the
36
00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:57,120
outside looked pretty ordinary.
Gary was known as a hard working
37
00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,520
man, protective, involved, the
kind of dad who showed up
38
00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:01,720
despite his busy job and heavy
equipment sales.
39
00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:04,960
His wife, June, held the family
together in quieter ways,
40
00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:07,600
present, attentive, deeply
devoted to their children.
41
00:02:08,039 --> 00:02:10,600
Together they were raising a
full house, three boys and a
42
00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:15,800
girl, Jennifer, Gary Joseph, AKA
Jodi and Mikey, each with their
43
00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,160
own personalities, their own
routines, their own noise
44
00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:19,920
filling the home.
But like a lot of families,
45
00:02:19,920 --> 00:02:21,880
there was something that brought
them all together, something
46
00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:25,720
structured, something positive.
Karate, it wasn't just an after
47
00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:27,800
school activity, became part of
their world.
48
00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:31,200
Discipline, confidence, respect,
those were the values tied to
49
00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,040
it.
And for their son Jody, it was
50
00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:35,840
more than just a hobby.
He was deeply involved, spending
51
00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:37,920
long hours training, learning
and improving.
52
00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,440
And that's where the family met
Jeffrey Doucette.
53
00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:43,800
Doucette wasn't just an
instructor.
54
00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,800
He was some of the family
trusted, someone who had access,
55
00:02:46,920 --> 00:02:50,440
someone who overtime positioned
himself not just as a teacher,
56
00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:54,000
but as a mentor in Jodi's life.
And that's what made everything
57
00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,960
that came next so devastating.
Because nothing about the
58
00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,600
Porsche family suggested what
was about to unfold.
59
00:02:59,920 --> 00:03:02,520
There were no warning signs loud
enough, no moments that could
60
00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:05,400
have prepared them for how
quickly normal could collapse
61
00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:08,520
into something unthinkable.
At this moment, they were just a
62
00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:11,640
family, a father doing his best,
a mother holding things
63
00:03:11,640 --> 00:03:14,160
together, and a kid chasing
something he loved.
64
00:03:14,920 --> 00:03:18,160
And they had no idea how much
that trust would cost them.
65
00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:25,040
That word trust, it stood for
structure, familiarity, safety.
66
00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,400
And it's exactly what Jeff
Ducette used to cause harm.
67
00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:31,800
Ducette was embedded in the
plachet lives.
68
00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:34,960
He'd been every other child's
karate coach in the family
69
00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,960
before Jodi, but he took a
special liking to Jodi.
70
00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:41,400
He was a mentor to the 11 year
old, and the plus Shea family
71
00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:44,240
trusted him completely.
He spoke in the language of
72
00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:47,480
discipline, of encouragement, of
guidance, and he used that to
73
00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:50,440
get very close to Jody.
At first it just looked like
74
00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:53,200
attention.
Extra coaching, more time at
75
00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:55,880
practice, the kind of investment
any parent might feel grateful
76
00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,280
for.
But that attention slowly
77
00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:00,680
shifted into something else,
something isolating.
78
00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:03,520
Doucette began creating
opportunities to be alone with
79
00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:06,880
Jody, offering him rides,
inviting him over, inviting
80
00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:10,280
himself over to family events,
blurring the lines between
81
00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:12,440
teacher and something much more
personal.
82
00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,840
That's how grooming works, and
we know that it started when
83
00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:20,640
Jody was 10, sometime in 1983.
In his own autobiography, Jody
84
00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:25,080
explained that alone, Jeff
started to test boundaries with
85
00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:27,680
him.
He said Jeff would go.
86
00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:30,600
We need to stretch, so he'd be
touching around my legs.
87
00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,240
That way, if he grabbed my
private area, he could say it
88
00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:35,040
was an accident.
We were just trying to stretch.
89
00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:38,200
Or if we were driving in his
car, he put his hand in my lap
90
00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:39,840
and might go.
I didn't mean to.
91
00:04:39,840 --> 00:04:41,480
I didn't realize my hands were
there.
92
00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:44,920
That's that slow, gradual
seduction.
93
00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:48,400
After months of flirting with
crossing the line, Jeff did
94
00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:51,240
molest Jody.
By that point, Jody was already
95
00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:53,880
caught in something, though,
that he didn't fully understand.
96
00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:56,560
Jody said that he knew the
touching was wrong and that
97
00:04:56,560 --> 00:05:00,400
Jeff's insistence on trying to
give Jody oral sex was also
98
00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:04,080
wrong, but he still felt some
kind of emotional responsibility
99
00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:08,280
to his Big Brother Jeffrey.
He was caught between knowing
100
00:05:08,280 --> 00:05:11,440
you need to tell his parents.
His mom and dad had always
101
00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:14,760
talked to him about the bad
people who hurt children, but
102
00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:17,720
there was just this mental
block, Jody said.
103
00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:20,280
I knew that he was the one that
had something wrong with him,
104
00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:23,120
but he kept silent.
Like so many children too.
105
00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:27,040
From the outside, it might not
have seemed like this could get
106
00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:31,080
any worse, but it did.
By this point, Jeff wasn't just
107
00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:33,760
manipulating Jody, he was
manipulating the entire family.
108
00:05:34,280 --> 00:05:36,960
Because grooming doesn't just
happen to a child, it can happen
109
00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:40,200
to everyone around them too.
Jeff Doucette had spent an
110
00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:42,400
entire year building trust with
the cliches.
111
00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:44,800
He was reliable, helpful,
familiar.
112
00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:48,160
The kind of person who made
himself useful, offering rides,
113
00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,360
spending extra time, becoming
someone the family didn't even
114
00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:53,800
question.
He maintained a split life
115
00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:55,680
though.
See to the pushes, he was the
116
00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:59,200
perfect teacher and Big Brother.
But to Jodie, he shared intimate
117
00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:02,280
details about his life, how he
was in debt and trying to get
118
00:06:02,280 --> 00:06:05,120
money to pay it off, but if he
couldn't, he was going to leave
119
00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:07,520
town.
And he told Jodie ahead of time.
120
00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:10,120
If I have to leave, I'm going to
take you with me.
121
00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:13,400
Jodie didn't know when, but
after learning that detail, he
122
00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:16,280
said he almost told his parents,
but he was still too scared.
123
00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:20,720
And then on February 14th, 1984,
Jeff took it a step further.
124
00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:26,000
Jeff told June that he was going
to take Jodi on a short drive.
125
00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,240
He told Jodi they were going to
look at a carpet his brother was
126
00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:31,280
going to install in a new house
being built.
127
00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,280
And they did stop by his
brother's house, but they picked
128
00:06:34,280 --> 00:06:38,440
up sleeping bags and clothes.
And that's when Jeff told Jodi,
129
00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:41,520
we're going, I'm taking you,
we're going to California.
130
00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:45,520
The two drove from Gonzales, LA
to Port Arthur, TX and they
131
00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:48,920
stayed the night with Jeff's mom
back in Baton Rouge.
132
00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:51,680
There was an immediate panic.
Just confusion.
133
00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:55,320
A delay, a missed check in.
But that confusion then turned
134
00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:57,680
into something else.
They realized that something was
135
00:06:57,680 --> 00:06:59,720
wrong.
Calls to Jeff's home when
136
00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:03,360
unanswered plans didn't line up.
And then the realization really
137
00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:05,920
hit everyone.
Jodie's not coming home.
138
00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:08,640
What followed was every parent's
nightmare.
139
00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:12,440
Fear turned an urgency urgency
into desperation, and the Plus
140
00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:15,000
Shea family contacted
authorities and soon law
141
00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,440
enforcement was involved,
working to track down where Jeff
142
00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:20,040
had taken them.
Meanwhile, the following day,
143
00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,960
Jeff took Jodie to visit an
uncle to borrow money for a bus
144
00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:25,680
trip to California.
They left the following morning,
145
00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:29,000
but something wasn't sitting
right with Jeff's mother.
146
00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:32,200
She was a little suspicious.
She asked for the Plus Shea
147
00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:34,880
family phone number, and shortly
after, Jodie's mom received a
148
00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:37,280
phone call.
Jeff's mother told her that they
149
00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:40,440
had stayed the night at her home
in Port Arthur and that Jeff was
150
00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:43,200
supposed to be bringing Jodie
back to Baton Rouge the
151
00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:45,920
following day.
While the call brought some
152
00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:49,600
reassurance to the family, law
enforcement wasn't buying it.
153
00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:52,440
See, what the Plus Shea family
didn't know was that Jeff had a
154
00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:54,880
prior arrest for child
molestation.
155
00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,080
Police decided to keep that
detail from the Plus Shea's
156
00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:00,920
because they believed it would
only cause more panic in the
157
00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:03,600
moment.
But by now, Jeff had to know
158
00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,080
time was running out.
They first stopped in Los
159
00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:08,120
Angeles, then took another bus
to Anaheim.
160
00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,200
By the third day, Jeff dyed
Jodie's platinum blonde hair
161
00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:13,280
pitch black in an attempt to
disguise him.
162
00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:16,880
In California, Jodie spent most
of his time confined to a motel
163
00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:20,280
room, where the abuse continued
to escalate over the coming
164
00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:22,480
week.
All the while, Jeff was trying
165
00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:25,720
to stay one step ahead.
Then he made a mistake.
166
00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,800
He had Jodie place a collect
phone call to his mother,
167
00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:32,760
instructing him to say that they
were in New York City.
168
00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:34,960
But that just didn't make sense
to June.
169
00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:39,080
She already knew that they had
been in Texas, where Jeff's mom
170
00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,960
lived.
They were traveling W why would
171
00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:44,720
they then turn around and go all
the way to the east?
172
00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:48,560
So she started asking questions,
smart ones, she said.
173
00:08:48,560 --> 00:08:51,600
Jodie, do you have a coat?
Do you have warm clothes?
174
00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:53,840
February in New York is
freezing.
175
00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,760
The local sheriff, Mike Burnett,
was there listening closely and
176
00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:01,720
taking notes on the other line.
And then June asked the question
177
00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:05,480
that blew it all open.
She simply asked Jody what time
178
00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:10,840
is it and he answered truthfully
and it was 3 hours behind New
179
00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:13,200
York.
That's when they knew he was on
180
00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:15,880
the West Coast.
Jeff realized the mistake.
181
00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:18,440
It ended the call immediately,
but the damage was done.
182
00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:21,680
As the call ended, June asked
the operator who came on the
183
00:09:21,680 --> 00:09:24,120
line how much the phone charge
was.
184
00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:28,080
She said it was $23 and the call
had lasted 14 minutes.
185
00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:30,240
That's when Sheriff Burnett
stepped in.
186
00:09:30,680 --> 00:09:33,920
He said to the operator, we're
investigating A kidnapping and
187
00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:36,560
we need to know where that call
just came from.
188
00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:41,360
The operator traced it.
The Samoan Motel, Anaheim, CA,
189
00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:44,680
room 38.
Shortly after, Anaheim police
190
00:09:44,680 --> 00:09:47,520
raided the motel and Jody was
finally rescued.
191
00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:52,080
It was February 29th.
He had been gone a total of 15
192
00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:57,560
days. 15 days of fear, 15 days
of isolation, 15 days of abuse.
193
00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:01,080
And even though he was finally
safe, his story was far from
194
00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:03,200
over.
Unfortunately for Jody, the
195
00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:05,000
ordeal didn't end when he was
found.
196
00:10:05,560 --> 00:10:08,640
He was immediately pulled into a
process no child is prepared for
197
00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:12,640
interviews by authorities, taken
to a hospital for forensic
198
00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:16,040
exams, and then transferred to
the Albert Sutton Home for
199
00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:20,080
Abused and Neglected Children.
In the early hours of March 1st
200
00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:23,680
at 1:15 AM, eleven year old Jody
Pochet was finally put on a
201
00:10:23,680 --> 00:10:28,040
plane back to Louisiana home.
But even that homecoming was
202
00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:30,200
brief.
He was reunited with his mother
203
00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,760
for only a few moments, long
enough for her to try and wash
204
00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:35,840
the black dye out of his hair.
And then the Baton Rouge Police
205
00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:38,720
Department stepped in to
question him, but Jody refused
206
00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:41,280
to speak.
Later, he would explain why
207
00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,720
before everything unraveled, he
had made a promise to Jeff
208
00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:47,600
Doucette that he would never
tell on him.
209
00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:51,800
And even after everything, he
intended to keep his promise.
210
00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:54,040
But Jody also understood
something.
211
00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:56,600
He knew the doctors in
California had already conducted
212
00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:58,640
those exams.
He knew that there would be
213
00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:00,680
evidence.
So he made a decision.
214
00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,840
He would wait.
Wait until the truth came from
215
00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:06,120
somewhere else until the test
said it first.
216
00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:10,480
And then he would agree.
When that interview ended,
217
00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:12,800
investigators were left with the
conclusion that couldn't have
218
00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:17,360
been more wrong, they told June,
and either Jeff never touched
219
00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:20,880
him or Jody has been too deeply
manipulated to ever admit to
220
00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:24,200
what happened to him.
With Jody finally safe,
221
00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:25,720
attention turned to Jeff
Doucette.
222
00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:28,720
He was arrested in California
and charged, but he wouldn't
223
00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:31,880
stay there because the crimes of
kidnapping and abuse had ties
224
00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:35,000
back to Louisiana and the state
wanted him returned to face
225
00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:36,920
charges.
That process is called
226
00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:39,480
extradition, and it doesn't
happen overnight.
227
00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:42,200
There were hearings, paperwork,
legal coordination between
228
00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:44,160
California and Louisiana
authorities.
229
00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:46,680
Doucette was held in custody
while the courts approved his
230
00:11:46,680 --> 00:11:49,200
transfer, giving him time to
consult with attorneys and
231
00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:52,360
formally contest things, Though
in most cases like this, the
232
00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:56,120
outcome is often inevitable.
Still, though, it took time.
233
00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:59,080
Almost two weeks.
Two weeks where Duset sat and
234
00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:01,360
sell, waiting to be sent back to
Louisiana.
235
00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:04,880
And those two weeks, Gary Pochet
was left with something else
236
00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:07,320
entirely.
Time to think.
237
00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:11,440
Time to replay everything that
had happened over the past year.
238
00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:15,240
Things that have been done to
his son, what Jodi had endured.
239
00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:20,160
How he had trusted Jeff with the
most precious thing in his life,
240
00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,560
his children.
About a week after Jodi returned
241
00:12:23,560 --> 00:12:25,760
home, the results of the rape
kit came back.
242
00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:29,920
Sheriff Mike Bergenett sat down
with the Plesche family and
243
00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:32,760
delivered the confirmation no
parent ever wants to hear.
244
00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:36,400
Spermatozoa had been found on
the rectal slide.
245
00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:39,840
It was no longer a suspicion, no
longer a possibility.
246
00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:42,960
This was proof.
And with that proof, Jodi
247
00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:45,840
Plesche finally spoke,
corroborating not only what
248
00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:48,440
happened in California, but the
abuse that have been going on
249
00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:52,000
since 1983.
For Gary, that moment changed
250
00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:54,280
everything.
He wasn't just a father waiting
251
00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:56,720
for justice anymore.
He was a father sitting with
252
00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:00,600
undeniable truth, forced to face
exactly what had been done to
253
00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:02,840
his son.
The rage, the grief, the
254
00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:06,200
helplessness, and the knowledge
that the man responsible was
255
00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:10,080
still alive, still breathing,
and still protected by a system
256
00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:14,040
that expected him to wait.
Gary had put a Sergeant in the
257
00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:17,480
armed force.
Gary had put a Sergeant in the
258
00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:19,360
Air Force.
He had connections.
259
00:13:19,680 --> 00:13:22,440
He knew where law enforcement
and retired officers gathered,
260
00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:24,600
and he made a point to start
showing up.
261
00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:28,520
One night at a local bar
frequented by cops, he overheard
262
00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:30,040
something that caught his
attention.
263
00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:33,840
An employee from the local ABC
affiliate was talking about
264
00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:36,480
Jeff's extradition.
Gary listened.
265
00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:41,000
Then he moved closer and before
the night was over, he convinced
266
00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:43,480
the employee to share the
details when Jeff would be
267
00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:46,440
brought back to Baton Rouge and
how it was going to happen.
268
00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:50,840
With that information in hand,
Gary decided he would have his
269
00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:53,200
vengeance.
See, Gary wasn't just
270
00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:57,440
heartbroken, he was consumed,
Furious in a way he had never
271
00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:01,240
experienced before.
Blinded by this righteous anger,
272
00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:06,040
that night he put a 38 revolver
in his boot and he went to the
273
00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:09,760
airport to wait.
Stood by that pay phone block,
274
00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:14,240
blended in, called a friend and
watched as the local news crews
275
00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:17,520
began to gather cameras ready
for the arrival of the
276
00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:20,600
pedophile.
And then, just moments before it
277
00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:23,200
happened, Gary said quietly into
the phone.
278
00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,240
Here he comes.
You're about to hear a shot.
279
00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:31,080
And then Jeff walked past him.
Gary turned, raised the gun, and
280
00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:33,440
fired.
The bullet struck the right side
281
00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:36,120
of Jeff Doucette's face, and he
crumpled to the ground.
282
00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:39,120
Chaos erupted.
The officers rushed almost
283
00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:42,320
instantly, one of them even a
close friend of Gary.
284
00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:46,160
As that friend placed him under
arrest, he just asked why, Gary,
285
00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:49,400
why'd you do it?
And Gary's answer was simple.
286
00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:52,400
If somebody did it to your kid,
you'd do it too.
287
00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:56,600
Jeff Doucette died from his
injuries the following day, and
288
00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:58,440
a single moment captured on
camera.
289
00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:02,600
Everything changed in the
immediate aftermath.
290
00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:05,400
There was no special treatment.
Gary Pushay was arrested on the
291
00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:08,360
spot, taken into custody and
processed like anyone else.
292
00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:10,840
Booked, detained, brought before
a judge.
293
00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:13,760
The system moved forward exactly
as it was designed to.
294
00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:17,000
And inside, Gary sat in a cell,
just another man accused of
295
00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:20,200
murder.
But outside, ho ho, things were
296
00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:23,760
different.
Within hours, the footage of the
297
00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:27,080
murder was everywhere.
That shooting, captured on
298
00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:30,080
multiple cameras, was replayed
again and again.
299
00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:33,640
First local broadcast, the
national news, and eventually
300
00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,640
around the world.
Viewers watched in shock as an
301
00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:40,120
ordinary airport turned into a
killing in a matter of seconds.
302
00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:42,400
That moment, Gary stepped
forward.
303
00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:45,480
The gun raised one single shot.
It became one of the most
304
00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:48,400
recognizable clips in true crime
history.
305
00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:52,440
Long before viral videos and
social media, This was a moment
306
00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:55,200
that spread the old fashioned
way through television
307
00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:57,400
repetition and raw emotional
impact.
308
00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:00,480
And with every replay, the
reaction grew louder.
309
00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:04,600
Some were outraged a man had
been executed in public on
310
00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:07,600
camera.
But other people felt something
311
00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:10,680
different entirely.
Sympathy, empathy,
312
00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:13,600
understanding.
Because they didn't just see a
313
00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:20,080
shooter, they saw a father.
Support for Gary began to build
314
00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:23,400
almost immediately.
Calls flooded radio stations.
315
00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:26,520
People wrote letters.
Strangers spoke out not to deny
316
00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:29,680
what he had done, but to defend
why he had done it.
317
00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:33,280
And the media lend.
And the media leaned in.
318
00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:35,760
Debates erupted across the
country.
319
00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:39,320
Is this murder or is it justice?
The legal system would decide
320
00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:42,440
his fate, but in the court of
public opinion, the country had
321
00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:44,800
already decided Gary was
innocent.
322
00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:48,400
In the weeks after the shooting,
the focus shifted from what Gary
323
00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:50,600
had done to what would happen to
him.
324
00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:53,960
He was formally charged with
second degree murder.
325
00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:56,840
On paper, the case was pretty
straightforward.
326
00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:58,720
The ACT had been captured on
camera.
327
00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:00,720
There were witnesses.
There was no question about who
328
00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:03,640
pulled the trigger.
But this case was never going to
329
00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:06,599
ever be just about the facts.
From the beginning, Gary's
330
00:17:06,599 --> 00:17:09,800
defense centered on something
deeper than legality, his state
331
00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:12,400
of mind.
His attorneys argue that he was
332
00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:16,119
experiencing overwhelming
emotional distress, a breaking
333
00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:19,520
point brought on by the abuse of
his son, and learning exactly
334
00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:21,280
what happened after the rape
camp.
335
00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:25,079
They leaned into the concept of
temporary insanity, not much
336
00:17:25,079 --> 00:17:28,079
traditional sense of detachment
from reality, but as a man
337
00:17:28,079 --> 00:17:31,560
pushed beyond his psychological
limit, a father who just
338
00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:33,800
snapped.
And outside the courtroom, the
339
00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:35,640
public was forming its own
opinion, too.
340
00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:39,120
Support for Gary surged during
his trial.
341
00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:41,520
Many people just couldn't see a
criminal.
342
00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:44,640
They only saw a parent who had
been failed by a system, someone
343
00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:47,320
who acted out a kind of raw,
protective instinct.
344
00:17:47,360 --> 00:17:50,720
Why was Jeff Doucette even
allowed to work with children in
345
00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:54,360
the 1st place, considering he'd
already been arrested for child
346
00:17:54,360 --> 00:17:58,640
molestation in the past?
Other people, however, were
347
00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:01,720
deeply unsettled.
They kept saying, if this was
348
00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:03,960
justified, where do we draw the
line?
349
00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:09,200
The case became less about one
man and more about a national
350
00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:12,680
conversation.
When it finally came time for
351
00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:15,880
sentencing, the outcome
reflected that national tension.
352
00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:19,200
Gary Pochet did not receive
prison time.
353
00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:23,440
Instead, in November of 1984, he
was given a suspended 5 year
354
00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:28,200
sentence and placed on probation
for five years, along with 300
355
00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:30,840
hours of community service and
mandatory counseling.
356
00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:34,120
Gary completed his service by
the end of 1985.
357
00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:38,960
Legally, Gary was very guilty,
but in the eyes of many,
358
00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:41,720
especially his own community, he
had already been forgiven.
359
00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:45,400
The impact of what Gary did,
though, didn't end at the trial.
360
00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:49,720
That footage raw, immediate,
impossible to ignore.
361
00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:51,880
It did more than just document a
crime.
362
00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:54,400
It shaped how people felt about
it.
363
00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:57,560
Watching it unfold in real time
made it personal.
364
00:18:57,920 --> 00:18:59,840
Viewers weren't just hearing
about a case, they were
365
00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:01,680
witnessing a father's breaking
point.
366
00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:05,320
And that changed everything.
Long before social media, before
367
00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:09,600
shares and algorithms, this was
one of the earliest examples of
368
00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:12,680
true crime virality.
This clip was played over and
369
00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:16,440
over, embedded itself into
public consciousness, and with
370
00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:20,400
every replay, sympathy grew.
But it wasn't a faceless crime.
371
00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:22,400
This was a narrative people
understood.
372
00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:26,640
A child harmed, a system moving
too slowly, and a parent taking
373
00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,400
action.
For many, Gary Pochet didn't
374
00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:32,080
represent lawlessness.
He represented justice that the
375
00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:36,400
system didn't always deliver,
let alone deliver fast enough.
376
00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:39,040
And in that moment, something
shifted.
377
00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:42,520
The idea of the vigilante, of
taking justice into your own
378
00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:46,440
hands, became, for some, not
just understandable, but
379
00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:49,600
acceptable.
Even now, decades later, that
380
00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:52,600
footage still circulates, still
sparks debates, still divides
381
00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:56,080
people because it forces the
same uncomfortable question when
382
00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:59,320
the system fails, who gets to
decide what justice looks like
383
00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:02,120
psychologically?
This case, it's in a Gray area
384
00:20:02,120 --> 00:20:03,840
that makes people very
uncomfortable.
385
00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:07,200
Because Gary Pochet wasn't just
reacting to what had been done
386
00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:10,640
to his son, he was also
confronting what had been done
387
00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:13,600
to him.
Jeff didn't just groom Jody,
388
00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:15,840
remember?
He groomed the entire family,
389
00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:20,600
earn their trust, positioned
himself as safe and helpful, and
390
00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:25,680
Gary had allowed that access.
That realization was devastating
391
00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:28,600
for him as a parent.
The guilt, the second guessing,
392
00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:32,080
the quiet, relentless question,
how did I not see this?
393
00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:37,320
That kind of psychological wait
doesn't just sit quietly, it
394
00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:40,560
builds and layered with anger,
with grief and the need to
395
00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:44,760
protect the knowledge that that
protection came too late.
396
00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:48,480
Legally, cases like this are
often framed as crimes of
397
00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:51,880
passion and act driven by
overwhelming emotion rather than
398
00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:54,960
cold calculation.
But Gary's actions complicate
399
00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:57,680
that definition.
He didn't act in a sudden,
400
00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:01,160
chaotic moment.
He waited and planned and
401
00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:05,000
positioned himself in the
perfect place to take that shot.
402
00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:07,200
Which raises a difficult
question.
403
00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:10,360
Can something be both
premeditated and driven by
404
00:21:10,360 --> 00:21:13,760
emotional rupture?
Can a person plan an act and
405
00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:16,000
still be psychologically
overwhelmed when they carry it
406
00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:18,440
out?
That's where the line blurs.
407
00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:23,080
Because Gary wasn't detached.
He wasn't indifferent.
408
00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:27,280
He was consumed by the trauma,
the rage, and the love for his
409
00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:29,920
child.
And that's what makes this case
410
00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:32,160
difficult.
It doesn't really fit into right
411
00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:34,520
or wrong.
So the question becomes, what
412
00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:36,600
would you do if you were in
Gary's shoes?
413
00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:41,320
In the years that followed, life
didn't simply return to normal
414
00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:44,360
for the Cliche family.
After serving his probation,
415
00:21:44,360 --> 00:21:47,040
Gary stepped away from the
headlines, but not from the
416
00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:49,320
impact of what happened.
Over time.
417
00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:52,360
He began speaking publicly about
child abuse, using his story as
418
00:21:52,360 --> 00:21:55,920
a warning to other parents about
grooming, trust, and how easily
419
00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:58,280
predators can embed themselves
inside a family's life.
420
00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:01,880
He was never trying to justify
what he did, he just wanted to
421
00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:04,800
make sure that other families
might not have to face the same
422
00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:07,120
reality.
He lived the rest of his life
423
00:22:07,120 --> 00:22:10,280
largely out of the spotlight,
surrounded by family, carrying
424
00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:12,760
both the weight of his actions
and the love that drove them.
425
00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:19,160
And on October 21st, 2014, he
died after suffering a stroke.
426
00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:24,480
For some, he is remembered as a
man who crossed the line, for
427
00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:27,760
others as a father who did what
many only imagine.
428
00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:31,640
And then there's Jody.
Surviving something like this
429
00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:35,200
doesn't end with the headlines,
the trauma, the manipulation,
430
00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:37,640
the public attention.
It all leaves a lasting imprint.
431
00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:39,880
But Jody chose a different path
forward.
432
00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:42,240
Initially, he struggled with
Jeff's death.
433
00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:45,960
He was only 11 years old and his
feelings were complicated.
434
00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:48,720
Friends and family told him not
to watch the news or read the
435
00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:51,160
papers, but he did anyway, and
he grieved.
436
00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:54,680
I did not want Jeff killed.
I felt like he was going to go
437
00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:56,320
to jail, and that was enough for
me.
438
00:22:57,080 --> 00:23:00,040
Both June and Gary were careful
not to push him too quickly.
439
00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:03,160
He needed time to process
everything on his own terms, and
440
00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:06,480
part of that burden was unique.
Jody didn't just hear about what
441
00:23:06,480 --> 00:23:10,800
happened, he saw it.
Two days later, he watched his
442
00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:15,000
father shoot someone he once
trusted and loved on the 5:00
443
00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:17,680
news.
That kind of experience leaves
444
00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:19,800
layers.
Jody had to work through the
445
00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:22,920
cognitive dissonance of loving
his teacher but not the abuse,
446
00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:25,880
grieving the death of someone he
called a friend while knowing he
447
00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:29,520
deserved to go to prison, and
feeling anger toward his father
448
00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:32,520
for turning something so private
into something so public.
449
00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:36,240
Remember, Jodi was just 11 years
old.
450
00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:40,080
There had been so much coercive
control from Jeff that even
451
00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:43,840
before the kidnapping, Jodi had
started avoiding spending time
452
00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:46,880
with his own father because Jeff
would become jealous and get
453
00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:50,200
upset with him.
That's just so much for a child
454
00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:53,400
to carry.
But over time, Gary and Jodi
455
00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:56,440
failed.
But over time, Gary and Jodi
456
00:23:56,440 --> 00:23:59,400
found their way back to each
other, falling into a familiar
457
00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:03,800
rhythm by the following summer.
Today, Jodi is 67 years old.
458
00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:07,320
He's a sexual abuse awareness
activist, author, and former
459
00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:11,080
sexual assault counselor.
His entire adult life was
460
00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:14,640
dedicated to educating others
about grooming, abuse and the
461
00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:17,560
long term psychological effects
survivors carry.
462
00:24:18,120 --> 00:24:21,720
His voice has become a part of a
larger conversation, one focus
463
00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:25,480
not just on vengeance, but on
prevention and awareness.
464
00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:27,840
Because what happened to him
didn't just affect a moment in
465
00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:32,000
time, it reshaped his family.
And even now, decades later, the
466
00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:35,600
ripple effect remains.
That trauma, the healing, the
467
00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:38,920
memories, they don't disappear,
really, ever.
468
00:24:39,360 --> 00:24:43,320
They start to evolve.
And in 2026, this case still
469
00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:46,440
lives on, not because of what
happened in an airport, but
470
00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:49,600
because of what it revealed
about trust, trauma, and the
471
00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:53,680
complicated reality of justice.
Some stories end with a verdict.
472
00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:58,240
This one never really did.
And maybe the hardest part of
473
00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:02,080
this story isn't what happened,
but what it asks of you, because
474
00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:04,840
it forces you to sit with the
questions that don't have easy
475
00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:08,480
answers.
Is justice defined by the law or
476
00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:11,240
by emotion?
Should a person's intent matter
477
00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:14,880
more than the action itself?
And when the suffering of a
478
00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:18,280
victim is undeniable, does that
change how we should judge the
479
00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:21,080
crime or the punishment that
comes with it?
480
00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:24,320
It's easy to have principles in
theory.
481
00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:27,240
It's so much harder when those
principles are tested by
482
00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:30,480
something so personal.
So where do you draw the line?
483
00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:33,800
And if you were standing in
Gary's place, would you make a
484
00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:37,080
different choice?
In a single second, Gary
485
00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:40,120
Planchet became both a killer
and too many.
486
00:25:40,120 --> 00:25:44,120
A protector, a man who crossed
the line, a man who, in the eyes
487
00:25:44,120 --> 00:25:46,160
of some, never should have had
to.
488
00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:49,640
And maybe that's why the story
still lingers, because it
489
00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:53,680
doesn't give a clean ending.
There are no easy answers, just
490
00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:56,560
a moment, one decision that
forces you to confront what you
491
00:25:56,560 --> 00:26:00,480
believe about justice, about
love and about the limits of
492
00:26:00,480 --> 00:26:04,760
both.
The truth always leaves a trail,
493
00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:08,600
and sometimes it leads us
somewhere we're not prepared to
494
00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:11,400
go.
This has been when killers get
495
00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:13,600
caught.
I'm Brittany Ransom, You can
496
00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:16,880
find me on TikTok covering short
cases and I'm always open to fan
497
00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:19,000
submissions.
Send me an e-mail at
498
00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:23,480
caseclosersubmissions@gmail.com
and I'll see you all next week.
00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:06,080
March 16th, 1984 and Rouge
Metropolitan Airport.
2
00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:10,440
The terminal hums with the
ordinary rolling suitcases,
3
00:00:10,440 --> 00:00:13,600
distant announcements, the low
murmur of travelers passing
4
00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:16,480
through.
Near a Bank of payphones, a man
5
00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:19,400
in a white baseball cap and
aviator sunglasses stands
6
00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:22,360
quietly.
Just a man on a phone making a
7
00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:25,120
call.
But he's waiting.
8
00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:31,080
It's 9:30 PM.
Moments later, a dark haired man
9
00:00:31,080 --> 00:00:33,320
in an orange sweater enters the
terminal, escorted by law
10
00:00:33,320 --> 00:00:36,000
enforcement, trailed by local
news cameras.
11
00:00:36,480 --> 00:00:39,080
Everything about this feels
routine, until it isn't.
12
00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:42,760
As the group passes, the man on
the phone turns and in one swift
13
00:00:42,760 --> 00:00:45,200
motion, he raises a gun and
pulls the trigger.
14
00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:47,760
A single shot echoes through the
terminal.
15
00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,760
Chaos erupts.
Officers tackle him almost
16
00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:52,840
instantly.
The cameras keep rolling as the
17
00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:55,040
voices shout over each other.
Gary.
18
00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:56,400
Why?
Why?
19
00:00:56,400 --> 00:01:00,360
Gary the shooter doesn't run.
He doesn't fight because
20
00:01:00,360 --> 00:01:02,720
everyone there already knows who
he is.
21
00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:09,040
His name is Gary Planchet, and
there has never been any doubt
22
00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:11,800
about what he did.
But for decades, one question
23
00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:15,320
has divided a country.
Was this murder or was it
24
00:01:15,320 --> 00:01:18,480
justice?
I'm Brittany Ransom and This is
25
00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:21,280
When Killers Get Caught, a
podcast where I examine the
26
00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:23,760
people, the psychology, and the
moments that lead to the most
27
00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,560
extreme acts of violence and
what happens when the truth
28
00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:29,560
finally catches up.
Before we go any further, I want
29
00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:32,360
to give a content warning.
This episode discusses child
30
00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:35,240
sexual abuse.
This is a story about a father,
31
00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:38,920
his son, and the moment a
private act of pain and rage
32
00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:44,600
became public.
Forever Before the headlines,
33
00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:47,520
before the footage, before that
moment in the airport, Gary
34
00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,280
Pochet was just a dad.
He lived with his family in
35
00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:53,600
Baton Rouge, LA, part of a solid
middle class life that from the
36
00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:57,120
outside looked pretty ordinary.
Gary was known as a hard working
37
00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,520
man, protective, involved, the
kind of dad who showed up
38
00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:01,720
despite his busy job and heavy
equipment sales.
39
00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:04,960
His wife, June, held the family
together in quieter ways,
40
00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:07,600
present, attentive, deeply
devoted to their children.
41
00:02:08,039 --> 00:02:10,600
Together they were raising a
full house, three boys and a
42
00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:15,800
girl, Jennifer, Gary Joseph, AKA
Jodi and Mikey, each with their
43
00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,160
own personalities, their own
routines, their own noise
44
00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:19,920
filling the home.
But like a lot of families,
45
00:02:19,920 --> 00:02:21,880
there was something that brought
them all together, something
46
00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:25,720
structured, something positive.
Karate, it wasn't just an after
47
00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:27,800
school activity, became part of
their world.
48
00:02:28,040 --> 00:02:31,200
Discipline, confidence, respect,
those were the values tied to
49
00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,040
it.
And for their son Jody, it was
50
00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:35,840
more than just a hobby.
He was deeply involved, spending
51
00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:37,920
long hours training, learning
and improving.
52
00:02:38,360 --> 00:02:41,440
And that's where the family met
Jeffrey Doucette.
53
00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:43,800
Doucette wasn't just an
instructor.
54
00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:46,800
He was some of the family
trusted, someone who had access,
55
00:02:46,920 --> 00:02:50,440
someone who overtime positioned
himself not just as a teacher,
56
00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:54,000
but as a mentor in Jodi's life.
And that's what made everything
57
00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,960
that came next so devastating.
Because nothing about the
58
00:02:56,960 --> 00:02:59,600
Porsche family suggested what
was about to unfold.
59
00:02:59,920 --> 00:03:02,520
There were no warning signs loud
enough, no moments that could
60
00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:05,400
have prepared them for how
quickly normal could collapse
61
00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:08,520
into something unthinkable.
At this moment, they were just a
62
00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:11,640
family, a father doing his best,
a mother holding things
63
00:03:11,640 --> 00:03:14,160
together, and a kid chasing
something he loved.
64
00:03:14,920 --> 00:03:18,160
And they had no idea how much
that trust would cost them.
65
00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:25,040
That word trust, it stood for
structure, familiarity, safety.
66
00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,400
And it's exactly what Jeff
Ducette used to cause harm.
67
00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:31,800
Ducette was embedded in the
plachet lives.
68
00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:34,960
He'd been every other child's
karate coach in the family
69
00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,960
before Jodi, but he took a
special liking to Jodi.
70
00:03:38,280 --> 00:03:41,400
He was a mentor to the 11 year
old, and the plus Shea family
71
00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:44,240
trusted him completely.
He spoke in the language of
72
00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:47,480
discipline, of encouragement, of
guidance, and he used that to
73
00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:50,440
get very close to Jody.
At first it just looked like
74
00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:53,200
attention.
Extra coaching, more time at
75
00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:55,880
practice, the kind of investment
any parent might feel grateful
76
00:03:55,880 --> 00:03:58,280
for.
But that attention slowly
77
00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:00,680
shifted into something else,
something isolating.
78
00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:03,520
Doucette began creating
opportunities to be alone with
79
00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:06,880
Jody, offering him rides,
inviting him over, inviting
80
00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:10,280
himself over to family events,
blurring the lines between
81
00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:12,440
teacher and something much more
personal.
82
00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,840
That's how grooming works, and
we know that it started when
83
00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:20,640
Jody was 10, sometime in 1983.
In his own autobiography, Jody
84
00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:25,080
explained that alone, Jeff
started to test boundaries with
85
00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:27,680
him.
He said Jeff would go.
86
00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:30,600
We need to stretch, so he'd be
touching around my legs.
87
00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,240
That way, if he grabbed my
private area, he could say it
88
00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:35,040
was an accident.
We were just trying to stretch.
89
00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:38,200
Or if we were driving in his
car, he put his hand in my lap
90
00:04:38,200 --> 00:04:39,840
and might go.
I didn't mean to.
91
00:04:39,840 --> 00:04:41,480
I didn't realize my hands were
there.
92
00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:44,920
That's that slow, gradual
seduction.
93
00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:48,400
After months of flirting with
crossing the line, Jeff did
94
00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:51,240
molest Jody.
By that point, Jody was already
95
00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:53,880
caught in something, though,
that he didn't fully understand.
96
00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:56,560
Jody said that he knew the
touching was wrong and that
97
00:04:56,560 --> 00:05:00,400
Jeff's insistence on trying to
give Jody oral sex was also
98
00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:04,080
wrong, but he still felt some
kind of emotional responsibility
99
00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:08,280
to his Big Brother Jeffrey.
He was caught between knowing
100
00:05:08,280 --> 00:05:11,440
you need to tell his parents.
His mom and dad had always
101
00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:14,760
talked to him about the bad
people who hurt children, but
102
00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:17,720
there was just this mental
block, Jody said.
103
00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:20,280
I knew that he was the one that
had something wrong with him,
104
00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:23,120
but he kept silent.
Like so many children too.
105
00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:27,040
From the outside, it might not
have seemed like this could get
106
00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:31,080
any worse, but it did.
By this point, Jeff wasn't just
107
00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:33,760
manipulating Jody, he was
manipulating the entire family.
108
00:05:34,280 --> 00:05:36,960
Because grooming doesn't just
happen to a child, it can happen
109
00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:40,200
to everyone around them too.
Jeff Doucette had spent an
110
00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:42,400
entire year building trust with
the cliches.
111
00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:44,800
He was reliable, helpful,
familiar.
112
00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:48,160
The kind of person who made
himself useful, offering rides,
113
00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,360
spending extra time, becoming
someone the family didn't even
114
00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:53,800
question.
He maintained a split life
115
00:05:53,800 --> 00:05:55,680
though.
See to the pushes, he was the
116
00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:59,200
perfect teacher and Big Brother.
But to Jodie, he shared intimate
117
00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:02,280
details about his life, how he
was in debt and trying to get
118
00:06:02,280 --> 00:06:05,120
money to pay it off, but if he
couldn't, he was going to leave
119
00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:07,520
town.
And he told Jodie ahead of time.
120
00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:10,120
If I have to leave, I'm going to
take you with me.
121
00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:13,400
Jodie didn't know when, but
after learning that detail, he
122
00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:16,280
said he almost told his parents,
but he was still too scared.
123
00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:20,720
And then on February 14th, 1984,
Jeff took it a step further.
124
00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:26,000
Jeff told June that he was going
to take Jodi on a short drive.
125
00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,240
He told Jodi they were going to
look at a carpet his brother was
126
00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:31,280
going to install in a new house
being built.
127
00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,280
And they did stop by his
brother's house, but they picked
128
00:06:34,280 --> 00:06:38,440
up sleeping bags and clothes.
And that's when Jeff told Jodi,
129
00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:41,520
we're going, I'm taking you,
we're going to California.
130
00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:45,520
The two drove from Gonzales, LA
to Port Arthur, TX and they
131
00:06:45,520 --> 00:06:48,920
stayed the night with Jeff's mom
back in Baton Rouge.
132
00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:51,680
There was an immediate panic.
Just confusion.
133
00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:55,320
A delay, a missed check in.
But that confusion then turned
134
00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:57,680
into something else.
They realized that something was
135
00:06:57,680 --> 00:06:59,720
wrong.
Calls to Jeff's home when
136
00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:03,360
unanswered plans didn't line up.
And then the realization really
137
00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:05,920
hit everyone.
Jodie's not coming home.
138
00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:08,640
What followed was every parent's
nightmare.
139
00:07:09,000 --> 00:07:12,440
Fear turned an urgency urgency
into desperation, and the Plus
140
00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:15,000
Shea family contacted
authorities and soon law
141
00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,440
enforcement was involved,
working to track down where Jeff
142
00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:20,040
had taken them.
Meanwhile, the following day,
143
00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:22,960
Jeff took Jodie to visit an
uncle to borrow money for a bus
144
00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:25,680
trip to California.
They left the following morning,
145
00:07:26,120 --> 00:07:29,000
but something wasn't sitting
right with Jeff's mother.
146
00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:32,200
She was a little suspicious.
She asked for the Plus Shea
147
00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:34,880
family phone number, and shortly
after, Jodie's mom received a
148
00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:37,280
phone call.
Jeff's mother told her that they
149
00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:40,440
had stayed the night at her home
in Port Arthur and that Jeff was
150
00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:43,200
supposed to be bringing Jodie
back to Baton Rouge the
151
00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:45,920
following day.
While the call brought some
152
00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:49,600
reassurance to the family, law
enforcement wasn't buying it.
153
00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:52,440
See, what the Plus Shea family
didn't know was that Jeff had a
154
00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:54,880
prior arrest for child
molestation.
155
00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,080
Police decided to keep that
detail from the Plus Shea's
156
00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:00,920
because they believed it would
only cause more panic in the
157
00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:03,600
moment.
But by now, Jeff had to know
158
00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,080
time was running out.
They first stopped in Los
159
00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:08,120
Angeles, then took another bus
to Anaheim.
160
00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,200
By the third day, Jeff dyed
Jodie's platinum blonde hair
161
00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:13,280
pitch black in an attempt to
disguise him.
162
00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:16,880
In California, Jodie spent most
of his time confined to a motel
163
00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:20,280
room, where the abuse continued
to escalate over the coming
164
00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:22,480
week.
All the while, Jeff was trying
165
00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:25,720
to stay one step ahead.
Then he made a mistake.
166
00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,800
He had Jodie place a collect
phone call to his mother,
167
00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:32,760
instructing him to say that they
were in New York City.
168
00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:34,960
But that just didn't make sense
to June.
169
00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:39,080
She already knew that they had
been in Texas, where Jeff's mom
170
00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,960
lived.
They were traveling W why would
171
00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:44,720
they then turn around and go all
the way to the east?
172
00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:48,560
So she started asking questions,
smart ones, she said.
173
00:08:48,560 --> 00:08:51,600
Jodie, do you have a coat?
Do you have warm clothes?
174
00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:53,840
February in New York is
freezing.
175
00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:57,760
The local sheriff, Mike Burnett,
was there listening closely and
176
00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:01,720
taking notes on the other line.
And then June asked the question
177
00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:05,480
that blew it all open.
She simply asked Jody what time
178
00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:10,840
is it and he answered truthfully
and it was 3 hours behind New
179
00:09:10,840 --> 00:09:13,200
York.
That's when they knew he was on
180
00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:15,880
the West Coast.
Jeff realized the mistake.
181
00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:18,440
It ended the call immediately,
but the damage was done.
182
00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:21,680
As the call ended, June asked
the operator who came on the
183
00:09:21,680 --> 00:09:24,120
line how much the phone charge
was.
184
00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:28,080
She said it was $23 and the call
had lasted 14 minutes.
185
00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:30,240
That's when Sheriff Burnett
stepped in.
186
00:09:30,680 --> 00:09:33,920
He said to the operator, we're
investigating A kidnapping and
187
00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:36,560
we need to know where that call
just came from.
188
00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:41,360
The operator traced it.
The Samoan Motel, Anaheim, CA,
189
00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:44,680
room 38.
Shortly after, Anaheim police
190
00:09:44,680 --> 00:09:47,520
raided the motel and Jody was
finally rescued.
191
00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:52,080
It was February 29th.
He had been gone a total of 15
192
00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:57,560
days. 15 days of fear, 15 days
of isolation, 15 days of abuse.
193
00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:01,080
And even though he was finally
safe, his story was far from
194
00:10:01,080 --> 00:10:03,200
over.
Unfortunately for Jody, the
195
00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:05,000
ordeal didn't end when he was
found.
196
00:10:05,560 --> 00:10:08,640
He was immediately pulled into a
process no child is prepared for
197
00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:12,640
interviews by authorities, taken
to a hospital for forensic
198
00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:16,040
exams, and then transferred to
the Albert Sutton Home for
199
00:10:16,040 --> 00:10:20,080
Abused and Neglected Children.
In the early hours of March 1st
200
00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:23,680
at 1:15 AM, eleven year old Jody
Pochet was finally put on a
201
00:10:23,680 --> 00:10:28,040
plane back to Louisiana home.
But even that homecoming was
202
00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:30,200
brief.
He was reunited with his mother
203
00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:32,760
for only a few moments, long
enough for her to try and wash
204
00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:35,840
the black dye out of his hair.
And then the Baton Rouge Police
205
00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:38,720
Department stepped in to
question him, but Jody refused
206
00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:41,280
to speak.
Later, he would explain why
207
00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:44,720
before everything unraveled, he
had made a promise to Jeff
208
00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:47,600
Doucette that he would never
tell on him.
209
00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:51,800
And even after everything, he
intended to keep his promise.
210
00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:54,040
But Jody also understood
something.
211
00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:56,600
He knew the doctors in
California had already conducted
212
00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:58,640
those exams.
He knew that there would be
213
00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:00,680
evidence.
So he made a decision.
214
00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:03,840
He would wait.
Wait until the truth came from
215
00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:06,120
somewhere else until the test
said it first.
216
00:11:06,440 --> 00:11:10,480
And then he would agree.
When that interview ended,
217
00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:12,800
investigators were left with the
conclusion that couldn't have
218
00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:17,360
been more wrong, they told June,
and either Jeff never touched
219
00:11:17,360 --> 00:11:20,880
him or Jody has been too deeply
manipulated to ever admit to
220
00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:24,200
what happened to him.
With Jody finally safe,
221
00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:25,720
attention turned to Jeff
Doucette.
222
00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:28,720
He was arrested in California
and charged, but he wouldn't
223
00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:31,880
stay there because the crimes of
kidnapping and abuse had ties
224
00:11:31,880 --> 00:11:35,000
back to Louisiana and the state
wanted him returned to face
225
00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:36,920
charges.
That process is called
226
00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:39,480
extradition, and it doesn't
happen overnight.
227
00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:42,200
There were hearings, paperwork,
legal coordination between
228
00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:44,160
California and Louisiana
authorities.
229
00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:46,680
Doucette was held in custody
while the courts approved his
230
00:11:46,680 --> 00:11:49,200
transfer, giving him time to
consult with attorneys and
231
00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:52,360
formally contest things, Though
in most cases like this, the
232
00:11:52,360 --> 00:11:56,120
outcome is often inevitable.
Still, though, it took time.
233
00:11:56,360 --> 00:11:59,080
Almost two weeks.
Two weeks where Duset sat and
234
00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:01,360
sell, waiting to be sent back to
Louisiana.
235
00:12:01,760 --> 00:12:04,880
And those two weeks, Gary Pochet
was left with something else
236
00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:07,320
entirely.
Time to think.
237
00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:11,440
Time to replay everything that
had happened over the past year.
238
00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:15,240
Things that have been done to
his son, what Jodi had endured.
239
00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:20,160
How he had trusted Jeff with the
most precious thing in his life,
240
00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:23,560
his children.
About a week after Jodi returned
241
00:12:23,560 --> 00:12:25,760
home, the results of the rape
kit came back.
242
00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:29,920
Sheriff Mike Bergenett sat down
with the Plesche family and
243
00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:32,760
delivered the confirmation no
parent ever wants to hear.
244
00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:36,400
Spermatozoa had been found on
the rectal slide.
245
00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:39,840
It was no longer a suspicion, no
longer a possibility.
246
00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:42,960
This was proof.
And with that proof, Jodi
247
00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:45,840
Plesche finally spoke,
corroborating not only what
248
00:12:45,840 --> 00:12:48,440
happened in California, but the
abuse that have been going on
249
00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:52,000
since 1983.
For Gary, that moment changed
250
00:12:52,000 --> 00:12:54,280
everything.
He wasn't just a father waiting
251
00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:56,720
for justice anymore.
He was a father sitting with
252
00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:00,600
undeniable truth, forced to face
exactly what had been done to
253
00:13:00,600 --> 00:13:02,840
his son.
The rage, the grief, the
254
00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:06,200
helplessness, and the knowledge
that the man responsible was
255
00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:10,080
still alive, still breathing,
and still protected by a system
256
00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:14,040
that expected him to wait.
Gary had put a Sergeant in the
257
00:13:14,040 --> 00:13:17,480
armed force.
Gary had put a Sergeant in the
258
00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:19,360
Air Force.
He had connections.
259
00:13:19,680 --> 00:13:22,440
He knew where law enforcement
and retired officers gathered,
260
00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:24,600
and he made a point to start
showing up.
261
00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:28,520
One night at a local bar
frequented by cops, he overheard
262
00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:30,040
something that caught his
attention.
263
00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:33,840
An employee from the local ABC
affiliate was talking about
264
00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:36,480
Jeff's extradition.
Gary listened.
265
00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:41,000
Then he moved closer and before
the night was over, he convinced
266
00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:43,480
the employee to share the
details when Jeff would be
267
00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:46,440
brought back to Baton Rouge and
how it was going to happen.
268
00:13:47,080 --> 00:13:50,840
With that information in hand,
Gary decided he would have his
269
00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:53,200
vengeance.
See, Gary wasn't just
270
00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:57,440
heartbroken, he was consumed,
Furious in a way he had never
271
00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:01,240
experienced before.
Blinded by this righteous anger,
272
00:14:02,600 --> 00:14:06,040
that night he put a 38 revolver
in his boot and he went to the
273
00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:09,760
airport to wait.
Stood by that pay phone block,
274
00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:14,240
blended in, called a friend and
watched as the local news crews
275
00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:17,520
began to gather cameras ready
for the arrival of the
276
00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:20,600
pedophile.
And then, just moments before it
277
00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:23,200
happened, Gary said quietly into
the phone.
278
00:14:23,600 --> 00:14:26,240
Here he comes.
You're about to hear a shot.
279
00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:31,080
And then Jeff walked past him.
Gary turned, raised the gun, and
280
00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:33,440
fired.
The bullet struck the right side
281
00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:36,120
of Jeff Doucette's face, and he
crumpled to the ground.
282
00:14:36,400 --> 00:14:39,120
Chaos erupted.
The officers rushed almost
283
00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:42,320
instantly, one of them even a
close friend of Gary.
284
00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:46,160
As that friend placed him under
arrest, he just asked why, Gary,
285
00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:49,400
why'd you do it?
And Gary's answer was simple.
286
00:14:49,680 --> 00:14:52,400
If somebody did it to your kid,
you'd do it too.
287
00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:56,600
Jeff Doucette died from his
injuries the following day, and
288
00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:58,440
a single moment captured on
camera.
289
00:14:59,640 --> 00:15:02,600
Everything changed in the
immediate aftermath.
290
00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:05,400
There was no special treatment.
Gary Pushay was arrested on the
291
00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:08,360
spot, taken into custody and
processed like anyone else.
292
00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:10,840
Booked, detained, brought before
a judge.
293
00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:13,760
The system moved forward exactly
as it was designed to.
294
00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:17,000
And inside, Gary sat in a cell,
just another man accused of
295
00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:20,200
murder.
But outside, ho ho, things were
296
00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:23,760
different.
Within hours, the footage of the
297
00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:27,080
murder was everywhere.
That shooting, captured on
298
00:15:27,080 --> 00:15:30,080
multiple cameras, was replayed
again and again.
299
00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:33,640
First local broadcast, the
national news, and eventually
300
00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,640
around the world.
Viewers watched in shock as an
301
00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:40,120
ordinary airport turned into a
killing in a matter of seconds.
302
00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:42,400
That moment, Gary stepped
forward.
303
00:15:42,520 --> 00:15:45,480
The gun raised one single shot.
It became one of the most
304
00:15:45,480 --> 00:15:48,400
recognizable clips in true crime
history.
305
00:15:48,760 --> 00:15:52,440
Long before viral videos and
social media, This was a moment
306
00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:55,200
that spread the old fashioned
way through television
307
00:15:55,240 --> 00:15:57,400
repetition and raw emotional
impact.
308
00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:00,480
And with every replay, the
reaction grew louder.
309
00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:04,600
Some were outraged a man had
been executed in public on
310
00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:07,600
camera.
But other people felt something
311
00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:10,680
different entirely.
Sympathy, empathy,
312
00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:13,600
understanding.
Because they didn't just see a
313
00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:20,080
shooter, they saw a father.
Support for Gary began to build
314
00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:23,400
almost immediately.
Calls flooded radio stations.
315
00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:26,520
People wrote letters.
Strangers spoke out not to deny
316
00:16:26,520 --> 00:16:29,680
what he had done, but to defend
why he had done it.
317
00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:33,280
And the media lend.
And the media leaned in.
318
00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:35,760
Debates erupted across the
country.
319
00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:39,320
Is this murder or is it justice?
The legal system would decide
320
00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:42,440
his fate, but in the court of
public opinion, the country had
321
00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:44,800
already decided Gary was
innocent.
322
00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:48,400
In the weeks after the shooting,
the focus shifted from what Gary
323
00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:50,600
had done to what would happen to
him.
324
00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:53,960
He was formally charged with
second degree murder.
325
00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:56,840
On paper, the case was pretty
straightforward.
326
00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:58,720
The ACT had been captured on
camera.
327
00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:00,720
There were witnesses.
There was no question about who
328
00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:03,640
pulled the trigger.
But this case was never going to
329
00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:06,599
ever be just about the facts.
From the beginning, Gary's
330
00:17:06,599 --> 00:17:09,800
defense centered on something
deeper than legality, his state
331
00:17:09,800 --> 00:17:12,400
of mind.
His attorneys argue that he was
332
00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:16,119
experiencing overwhelming
emotional distress, a breaking
333
00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:19,520
point brought on by the abuse of
his son, and learning exactly
334
00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:21,280
what happened after the rape
camp.
335
00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:25,079
They leaned into the concept of
temporary insanity, not much
336
00:17:25,079 --> 00:17:28,079
traditional sense of detachment
from reality, but as a man
337
00:17:28,079 --> 00:17:31,560
pushed beyond his psychological
limit, a father who just
338
00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:33,800
snapped.
And outside the courtroom, the
339
00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:35,640
public was forming its own
opinion, too.
340
00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:39,120
Support for Gary surged during
his trial.
341
00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:41,520
Many people just couldn't see a
criminal.
342
00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:44,640
They only saw a parent who had
been failed by a system, someone
343
00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:47,320
who acted out a kind of raw,
protective instinct.
344
00:17:47,360 --> 00:17:50,720
Why was Jeff Doucette even
allowed to work with children in
345
00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:54,360
the 1st place, considering he'd
already been arrested for child
346
00:17:54,360 --> 00:17:58,640
molestation in the past?
Other people, however, were
347
00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:01,720
deeply unsettled.
They kept saying, if this was
348
00:18:01,720 --> 00:18:03,960
justified, where do we draw the
line?
349
00:18:06,160 --> 00:18:09,200
The case became less about one
man and more about a national
350
00:18:09,480 --> 00:18:12,680
conversation.
When it finally came time for
351
00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:15,880
sentencing, the outcome
reflected that national tension.
352
00:18:16,520 --> 00:18:19,200
Gary Pochet did not receive
prison time.
353
00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:23,440
Instead, in November of 1984, he
was given a suspended 5 year
354
00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:28,200
sentence and placed on probation
for five years, along with 300
355
00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:30,840
hours of community service and
mandatory counseling.
356
00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:34,120
Gary completed his service by
the end of 1985.
357
00:18:34,800 --> 00:18:38,960
Legally, Gary was very guilty,
but in the eyes of many,
358
00:18:38,960 --> 00:18:41,720
especially his own community, he
had already been forgiven.
359
00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:45,400
The impact of what Gary did,
though, didn't end at the trial.
360
00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:49,720
That footage raw, immediate,
impossible to ignore.
361
00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:51,880
It did more than just document a
crime.
362
00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:54,400
It shaped how people felt about
it.
363
00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:57,560
Watching it unfold in real time
made it personal.
364
00:18:57,920 --> 00:18:59,840
Viewers weren't just hearing
about a case, they were
365
00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:01,680
witnessing a father's breaking
point.
366
00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:05,320
And that changed everything.
Long before social media, before
367
00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:09,600
shares and algorithms, this was
one of the earliest examples of
368
00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:12,680
true crime virality.
This clip was played over and
369
00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:16,440
over, embedded itself into
public consciousness, and with
370
00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:20,400
every replay, sympathy grew.
But it wasn't a faceless crime.
371
00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:22,400
This was a narrative people
understood.
372
00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:26,640
A child harmed, a system moving
too slowly, and a parent taking
373
00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,400
action.
For many, Gary Pochet didn't
374
00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:32,080
represent lawlessness.
He represented justice that the
375
00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:36,400
system didn't always deliver,
let alone deliver fast enough.
376
00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:39,040
And in that moment, something
shifted.
377
00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:42,520
The idea of the vigilante, of
taking justice into your own
378
00:19:42,520 --> 00:19:46,440
hands, became, for some, not
just understandable, but
379
00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:49,600
acceptable.
Even now, decades later, that
380
00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:52,600
footage still circulates, still
sparks debates, still divides
381
00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:56,080
people because it forces the
same uncomfortable question when
382
00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:59,320
the system fails, who gets to
decide what justice looks like
383
00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:02,120
psychologically?
This case, it's in a Gray area
384
00:20:02,120 --> 00:20:03,840
that makes people very
uncomfortable.
385
00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:07,200
Because Gary Pochet wasn't just
reacting to what had been done
386
00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:10,640
to his son, he was also
confronting what had been done
387
00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:13,600
to him.
Jeff didn't just groom Jody,
388
00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:15,840
remember?
He groomed the entire family,
389
00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:20,600
earn their trust, positioned
himself as safe and helpful, and
390
00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:25,680
Gary had allowed that access.
That realization was devastating
391
00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:28,600
for him as a parent.
The guilt, the second guessing,
392
00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:32,080
the quiet, relentless question,
how did I not see this?
393
00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:37,320
That kind of psychological wait
doesn't just sit quietly, it
394
00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:40,560
builds and layered with anger,
with grief and the need to
395
00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:44,760
protect the knowledge that that
protection came too late.
396
00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:48,480
Legally, cases like this are
often framed as crimes of
397
00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:51,880
passion and act driven by
overwhelming emotion rather than
398
00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:54,960
cold calculation.
But Gary's actions complicate
399
00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:57,680
that definition.
He didn't act in a sudden,
400
00:20:57,680 --> 00:21:01,160
chaotic moment.
He waited and planned and
401
00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:05,000
positioned himself in the
perfect place to take that shot.
402
00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:07,200
Which raises a difficult
question.
403
00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:10,360
Can something be both
premeditated and driven by
404
00:21:10,360 --> 00:21:13,760
emotional rupture?
Can a person plan an act and
405
00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:16,000
still be psychologically
overwhelmed when they carry it
406
00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:18,440
out?
That's where the line blurs.
407
00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:23,080
Because Gary wasn't detached.
He wasn't indifferent.
408
00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:27,280
He was consumed by the trauma,
the rage, and the love for his
409
00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:29,920
child.
And that's what makes this case
410
00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:32,160
difficult.
It doesn't really fit into right
411
00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:34,520
or wrong.
So the question becomes, what
412
00:21:34,520 --> 00:21:36,600
would you do if you were in
Gary's shoes?
413
00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:41,320
In the years that followed, life
didn't simply return to normal
414
00:21:41,320 --> 00:21:44,360
for the Cliche family.
After serving his probation,
415
00:21:44,360 --> 00:21:47,040
Gary stepped away from the
headlines, but not from the
416
00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:49,320
impact of what happened.
Over time.
417
00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:52,360
He began speaking publicly about
child abuse, using his story as
418
00:21:52,360 --> 00:21:55,920
a warning to other parents about
grooming, trust, and how easily
419
00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:58,280
predators can embed themselves
inside a family's life.
420
00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:01,880
He was never trying to justify
what he did, he just wanted to
421
00:22:01,880 --> 00:22:04,800
make sure that other families
might not have to face the same
422
00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:07,120
reality.
He lived the rest of his life
423
00:22:07,120 --> 00:22:10,280
largely out of the spotlight,
surrounded by family, carrying
424
00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:12,760
both the weight of his actions
and the love that drove them.
425
00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:19,160
And on October 21st, 2014, he
died after suffering a stroke.
426
00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:24,480
For some, he is remembered as a
man who crossed the line, for
427
00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:27,760
others as a father who did what
many only imagine.
428
00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:31,640
And then there's Jody.
Surviving something like this
429
00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:35,200
doesn't end with the headlines,
the trauma, the manipulation,
430
00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:37,640
the public attention.
It all leaves a lasting imprint.
431
00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:39,880
But Jody chose a different path
forward.
432
00:22:40,160 --> 00:22:42,240
Initially, he struggled with
Jeff's death.
433
00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:45,960
He was only 11 years old and his
feelings were complicated.
434
00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:48,720
Friends and family told him not
to watch the news or read the
435
00:22:48,720 --> 00:22:51,160
papers, but he did anyway, and
he grieved.
436
00:22:51,680 --> 00:22:54,680
I did not want Jeff killed.
I felt like he was going to go
437
00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:56,320
to jail, and that was enough for
me.
438
00:22:57,080 --> 00:23:00,040
Both June and Gary were careful
not to push him too quickly.
439
00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:03,160
He needed time to process
everything on his own terms, and
440
00:23:03,160 --> 00:23:06,480
part of that burden was unique.
Jody didn't just hear about what
441
00:23:06,480 --> 00:23:10,800
happened, he saw it.
Two days later, he watched his
442
00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:15,000
father shoot someone he once
trusted and loved on the 5:00
443
00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:17,680
news.
That kind of experience leaves
444
00:23:17,680 --> 00:23:19,800
layers.
Jody had to work through the
445
00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:22,920
cognitive dissonance of loving
his teacher but not the abuse,
446
00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:25,880
grieving the death of someone he
called a friend while knowing he
447
00:23:25,880 --> 00:23:29,520
deserved to go to prison, and
feeling anger toward his father
448
00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:32,520
for turning something so private
into something so public.
449
00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:36,240
Remember, Jodi was just 11 years
old.
450
00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:40,080
There had been so much coercive
control from Jeff that even
451
00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:43,840
before the kidnapping, Jodi had
started avoiding spending time
452
00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:46,880
with his own father because Jeff
would become jealous and get
453
00:23:46,880 --> 00:23:50,200
upset with him.
That's just so much for a child
454
00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:53,400
to carry.
But over time, Gary and Jodi
455
00:23:53,400 --> 00:23:56,440
failed.
But over time, Gary and Jodi
456
00:23:56,440 --> 00:23:59,400
found their way back to each
other, falling into a familiar
457
00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:03,800
rhythm by the following summer.
Today, Jodi is 67 years old.
458
00:24:04,200 --> 00:24:07,320
He's a sexual abuse awareness
activist, author, and former
459
00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:11,080
sexual assault counselor.
His entire adult life was
460
00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:14,640
dedicated to educating others
about grooming, abuse and the
461
00:24:14,640 --> 00:24:17,560
long term psychological effects
survivors carry.
462
00:24:18,120 --> 00:24:21,720
His voice has become a part of a
larger conversation, one focus
463
00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:25,480
not just on vengeance, but on
prevention and awareness.
464
00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:27,840
Because what happened to him
didn't just affect a moment in
465
00:24:27,840 --> 00:24:32,000
time, it reshaped his family.
And even now, decades later, the
466
00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:35,600
ripple effect remains.
That trauma, the healing, the
467
00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:38,920
memories, they don't disappear,
really, ever.
468
00:24:39,360 --> 00:24:43,320
They start to evolve.
And in 2026, this case still
469
00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:46,440
lives on, not because of what
happened in an airport, but
470
00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:49,600
because of what it revealed
about trust, trauma, and the
471
00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:53,680
complicated reality of justice.
Some stories end with a verdict.
472
00:24:54,520 --> 00:24:58,240
This one never really did.
And maybe the hardest part of
473
00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:02,080
this story isn't what happened,
but what it asks of you, because
474
00:25:02,160 --> 00:25:04,840
it forces you to sit with the
questions that don't have easy
475
00:25:04,840 --> 00:25:08,480
answers.
Is justice defined by the law or
476
00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:11,240
by emotion?
Should a person's intent matter
477
00:25:11,240 --> 00:25:14,880
more than the action itself?
And when the suffering of a
478
00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:18,280
victim is undeniable, does that
change how we should judge the
479
00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:21,080
crime or the punishment that
comes with it?
480
00:25:22,160 --> 00:25:24,320
It's easy to have principles in
theory.
481
00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:27,240
It's so much harder when those
principles are tested by
482
00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:30,480
something so personal.
So where do you draw the line?
483
00:25:31,320 --> 00:25:33,800
And if you were standing in
Gary's place, would you make a
484
00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:37,080
different choice?
In a single second, Gary
485
00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:40,120
Planchet became both a killer
and too many.
486
00:25:40,120 --> 00:25:44,120
A protector, a man who crossed
the line, a man who, in the eyes
487
00:25:44,120 --> 00:25:46,160
of some, never should have had
to.
488
00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:49,640
And maybe that's why the story
still lingers, because it
489
00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:53,680
doesn't give a clean ending.
There are no easy answers, just
490
00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:56,560
a moment, one decision that
forces you to confront what you
491
00:25:56,560 --> 00:26:00,480
believe about justice, about
love and about the limits of
492
00:26:00,480 --> 00:26:04,760
both.
The truth always leaves a trail,
493
00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:08,600
and sometimes it leads us
somewhere we're not prepared to
494
00:26:08,600 --> 00:26:11,400
go.
This has been when killers get
495
00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:13,600
caught.
I'm Brittany Ransom, You can
496
00:26:13,600 --> 00:26:16,880
find me on TikTok covering short
cases and I'm always open to fan
497
00:26:16,880 --> 00:26:19,000
submissions.
Send me an e-mail at
498
00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:23,480
caseclosersubmissions@gmail.com
and I'll see you all next week.
