On March 16, 1984, Gary Plauché waited at the airport for Jeff Doucet, who had kidnapped his son, Jody — then shot him dead as cameras rolled.
The series of events that would change Plauché’s life forever was set in motion on Feb. 19, 1984, when, his 11-year-old son Jody’s karate instructor picked him up to go for a ride. Jeff Doucet, a 25-year-old with a large beard, promised Jody Plauché’s mom, June, that they’d be back in 15 minutes.June Plauché didn’t doubt Doucet: She had no reason to. He instructed three of their four children in karate, and was trusted in the community. Doucet enjoyed spending time with the boys, and they enjoyed spending time with him.

“He’s all of our best friend,” Jody Plauché told his school newspaper a year earlier. According to June, her son quit football and basketball to spend as much time at Doucet’s dojo as possible.

Little did she know that Jeff Doucet wasn’t taking Jody on a ride around the neighborhood. By nighttime, the two were on a bus heading to the West Coast. On the way, Doucet shaved his beard and dyed Jody’s blond hair to black. He hoped to pass Jody off as his own son while also hiding from law enforcement that would soon track them down.