On a spring day in 1991, a camping trip in Montgomery County, Arkansas, turned tragic, ending in the death of 61-year-old Glen Harold Gay. The events of May 4th, near the Ouachita River, would later unravel a story of family conflict and violence that had simmered for years. Glen was with his son, Randy William Gay, and Randy's wife, Janice Cochran, on what should have been a peaceful outing.
An argument erupted between father and son while they were fishing.
The disagreement escalated, and Randy returned to their campsite, retrieved a shotgun, and fatally shot his father in the head. Following the shooting, Randy and Janice moved Glen's body, first by boat and then by vehicle, before ultimately disposing of it.
Initially, when questioned by authorities about Glen's whereabouts, both Randy and Janice denied any knowledge. However, they later turned themselves in to the police. Janice's story changed; she first claimed to have shot Glen in self-defense but later confessed that Randy was the one who had pulled the trigger. It was Randy who eventually led law enforcement to his father's body.
Following their confessions, both Randy William Gay and Janice Cochran were arrested. Janice was convicted of manslaughter and served eight months in prison. Randy was convicted of second-degree murder for the death of his father and received a 20-year prison sentence. He was paroled in 2000. This was not Randy's first conviction for a violent crime; he had previously been convicted of second-degree murder in the 1978 killing of his father-in-law.
