Catherine Townsend

And right away, people were asking questions about his wife, April Mae Janice, and where she was at the time of the murder. Because according to Doug's friend April, Doug and his wife April were estranged at the time of his death. They were not living together and they hadn't been living together for a long time.

And right away, people were asking questions about his wife, April Mae Janice, and where she was at the time of the murder. Because according to Doug's friend April, Doug and his wife April were estranged at the time of his death. They were not living together and they hadn't been living together for a long time.

April first moved into a mobile home that was just up the hill from Doug's houseboat while he stayed on the water. But later, she moved into her own place in mini Louisiana, right across the bridge. Exactly when April relocated and what the story was there is something we're going to be diving into in future episodes.

April first moved into a mobile home that was just up the hill from Doug's houseboat while he stayed on the water. But later, she moved into her own place in mini Louisiana, right across the bridge. Exactly when April relocated and what the story was there is something we're going to be diving into in future episodes.

At the same time, there were rumors that witnesses had seen a vehicle rapidly speeding away from the houseboat, basically right before it blew up. We talked to Doug's friend April about some of the irregularities at the crime scene.

At the same time, there were rumors that witnesses had seen a vehicle rapidly speeding away from the houseboat, basically right before it blew up. We talked to Doug's friend April about some of the irregularities at the crime scene.

This has been a difficult case. We have done multiple FOIA requests, but the case file is not public information since this is still an active investigation. But that answered one important question for me. I knew Doug was shot in the head. Now we found out he was shot in the back of the head. This was definitely a murder case. Doug had been shot execution style.

This has been a difficult case. We have done multiple FOIA requests, but the case file is not public information since this is still an active investigation. But that answered one important question for me. I knew Doug was shot in the head. Now we found out he was shot in the back of the head. This was definitely a murder case. Doug had been shot execution style.

But who would have wanted to kill Doug Janis, a man who everyone seemed to love in that neighborhood? We need to find more information about what Doug was doing on that houseboat and also about his wife, about his relationship with his wife, April. We also need to find these witnesses who said they saw a car speeding away from the blazing houseboat.

But who would have wanted to kill Doug Janis, a man who everyone seemed to love in that neighborhood? We need to find more information about what Doug was doing on that houseboat and also about his wife, about his relationship with his wife, April. We also need to find these witnesses who said they saw a car speeding away from the blazing houseboat.

But even without the case file, we did get a few facts. the pathologist found two bullets lodged in Doug's brain and ruled the manner of death a homicide. So as we wait for more official police and forensic information to come, we need to ask, who was Doug Janus? Everyone has secret parts of themselves they don't want others to see.

But even without the case file, we did get a few facts. the pathologist found two bullets lodged in Doug's brain and ruled the manner of death a homicide. So as we wait for more official police and forensic information to come, we need to ask, who was Doug Janus? Everyone has secret parts of themselves they don't want others to see.

And in a murder case, often those hidden dark sides become public. When it comes to Doug Janis' murder, I can't remember a case I've ever investigated where it seems like the victim is so loved and so hated at the same time. Most of the news articles about Doug are really positive. But at the same time, I notice they're pretty vague.

And in a murder case, often those hidden dark sides become public. When it comes to Doug Janis' murder, I can't remember a case I've ever investigated where it seems like the victim is so loved and so hated at the same time. Most of the news articles about Doug are really positive. But at the same time, I notice they're pretty vague.

For example, the local news station KJAS.com had an article that read, quote, So they painted a picture of Doug Janus as being this nice guy who was living out his golden years on a houseboat that he built himself. In all of the photos I can find of Doug, he has a huge smile on his face. Doug was fit. He spent a lot of time fishing.

For example, the local news station KJAS.com had an article that read, quote, So they painted a picture of Doug Janus as being this nice guy who was living out his golden years on a houseboat that he built himself. In all of the photos I can find of Doug, he has a huge smile on his face. Doug was fit. He spent a lot of time fishing.

He also got a scuba diving certification and was a pretty avid diver for years in the Texas Gulf Coast area. Doug was always on the water. He was obsessed with the houseboat that he had designed and built himself. He loved showing his boat off to friends and family.

He also got a scuba diving certification and was a pretty avid diver for years in the Texas Gulf Coast area. Doug was always on the water. He was obsessed with the houseboat that he had designed and built himself. He loved showing his boat off to friends and family.

I'm going to take a step back for a minute because you can't unravel what happened to Doug Janus without talking about the area where it happened. this infamous houseboat that sat on the Toledo Bend Reservoir. This reservoir is on the Sabine River. It sits on the border between Texas and Louisiana. It is a super rural area, and the people who live there are kind of an eclectic combination.

I'm going to take a step back for a minute because you can't unravel what happened to Doug Janus without talking about the area where it happened. this infamous houseboat that sat on the Toledo Bend Reservoir. This reservoir is on the Sabine River. It sits on the border between Texas and Louisiana. It is a super rural area, and the people who live there are kind of an eclectic combination.