Vigilante Justice ~ Was it Justified???

 

This case really struck a cord with me, because I am not sure if I wouldn't have done the exact same thing. This story is about Jeff Doucet... and if you don't know his name, you will never forget it after this blurb is done...

I will have to take you back 30 years ago, to 1984. Jeff Doucet (can I just call him "Douchebag???), was a sexual predator that was sexually abusing and had kidnapped 11 year-old, Jody Plauche. Jody had endured a year of the abuse before Doucet abducted him. 

According to reports, Jeff Doucet had a troublesome childhood, He was born in 1959 in Port Arthur, Texas. Doucet even implied that he was sexually abused as a child. Is this a case of victim turned predator???

Jim Doucet began assaulting children in his early 20s; and he had the perfect way to get access to his victims because he was a karate instructor. Obviously parents trusted their children with him, like lambs to the slaughter. Doucet began to zone in on one particular child, 10 year old Jody Plauche.

Jody would later reveal how Jeff Doucet "groomed" him. I won't get into all the details but Jody explained how as his instructor, Jeff would suggest stretching together and he would touch Jody inappropriately; claiming it was a slip from helping him stretch. There were times, Jeff would place his hand on Jody's leg when they were out driving, apologizing if Jody would give him a look.

The grooming turned into seducing and the naive 11 year old had no idea what sinister plot Jeff Doucet had in store for him. On February 19, 1984, the karate instructor came to the Plauche's house, telling Jody's mother, June Plauche, that they were simply going out for a short drive. Jeff took this opportunity to kidnap Jody from Louisiana to California.

Once in California, Doucet dyed Jody's hair black and began to rape him; claiming to the outside world that Jody was his son. Fortunately for Jody, Mr. Doucet was writing bad cheques and the police were following the trail... as the police closed in on the duo, Jeff Doucet allowed Jody to call his mother and the call was traced to a motel in Anaheim. Jody was rescued and Jeff Doucet was arrested and flown back to Louisiana. They planned on charging him and forcing him to face the consequences for his crimes; but that was to never be...

His justice came by the name of Gary Plauche (Jody's father)...

Gary Plauche was beyond furious about what this scumbag had done to his son and he had a plan of his own. Gary found out what time Jeff Doucet and his law enforcement escort would be arriving at the Baton Rouge and he went to greet the pedophile himself...

Gary waited very calmly for the arrival, little did anyone know, he had a .38 in one of his boots. On March 16, 1984, Gary called a friend at one of the booths and told him that he was about to hear a shot... the media was there to record Jeff Doucet's arrival. Gary reached into his boot and shot Jeff Doucet right in the head. Of course, the police needed to arrest Gary, and the officer who cuffed him, was a friend of his; asking Gary why he would do this. Gary looked at him and said, I think what we all would have said..."IF SOMEBODY DID IT TO YOUR KID, YOU WOULD DO IT TOO!!!"

This caused a media frenzy, as many people considered Gary a hero, while others felt he shouldn't have taken the law into his own hands. THankfully, the judge on the case, was compassionate to Gary, who only spent a weekend in jail, plus 300 hours of community service. 

What Gary had done to Jeff Doucet was a problem for his son, Jody, who only wanted Jeff to serve prison time, not die. June and Gary Plauche allowed Jody to heal in his own ways and time; he eventually forgave his father saying, "IT'S NOT RIGHT TO TAKE SOMEONE'S LIFE. BUT WHEN THAT SOMEONE IS A BAD PERSON, IT DOESN'T BOTHER YOU MUCH IN THE LONG RUN!!!"

Spoken like a real victim who became a survivor and ultimately is a warrior in life!!! 

If you would like to know more about this case, there is a book written with the title... "The Jody Plauche Story: WHY GARY WHY"

What are your thoughts on this case? Do you think justice was served, or do you feel Gary should have faced prison time for his actions??? 

I, personally, agree 100% with the courts. Maybe if the system got stricter with all the pedophiles and child abusers, our world wouldn't be such a mess now. I know it sounds terrible, but for monsters like this, they should automatically get the death penalty... and not spend 20, 30+ years on death row. Just rid the world of this kind of vermin!!! But as always, this is my two cents.

~Phoenix