Douglas Michael Janis, a 64-year-old commercial catfisherman, was found dead on his houseboat on Toledo Bend Lake on December 13, 2020. His death was first thought to be an accidental propane leak, but an autopsy found two bullets in the back of his head, establishing homicide. Janis was described as hardworking and outgoing and well known in the lake community.

His much younger estranged wife, April Mae Janis, became the prime suspect after a witness reported seeing her leaving the scene around the time of the killing. April was the sole beneficiary of a $100,000 life insurance policy on Doug, a detail noted as a possible motive. Investigators have also noted a 21-year-old unsolved fatal shooting of April’s mother, Anna Thompson, who was likewise shot in the back of the head.

The case remains unsolved and has drawn scrutiny over the initial conclusion of an accidental death and the subsequent handling of evidence. Does anyone have information about the Janises, their life on Toledo Bend Lake, or the earlier death of Anna Thompson?