Indicted at last

Josh Gouker

In a prior blog I examined the case against 16 year old Josh Young of Louisville, Kentucky. Josh was 15 years old when he was originally charged with murdering his 14 year old step-brother, Trey Zwicker. In the beginning there was little information explaining why the teenager was indicted for murder. After reading the discovery files released by the prosecution, I had even more questions than answers.

Over 2,000 people signed my petition asking that Josh be tried in juvenile court.  I also asked that the police conduct a comprehensive investigation into Josh’s father, Josh Gouker, and his potential involvement in the murder.

It appears that the police had doubts of their own because today the media announced that Gouker was indicted on murder, evidence tampering charges, and others. Despite the investigation’s turn in Gouker’s direction, Josh Young is still facing murder charges. The police now contend that the two planned the murder together.

But did they? Did the younger of the two Josh’s really play a primary role in the murder of his step-brother as his own father claims? The younger Josh was by the majority of accounts good friends with Trey. He has maintained his innocence since the very beginning.

Or was it Gouker who planned and carried out this crime? I think it speaks volumes that as soon as the heat was turned up on Gouker he fled the state and turned his son into the police. Even Gouker’s own mother has expressed the belief her son, Josh’s father, was the real perpetrator.

If Gouker really did only plan the murder, as he has apparently claimed, why turn in the one person who could point the finger right back in his direction? This would hold especially true if Gouker’s claim that Josh was the main perpetrator were true. The only way Gouker’s behavior seems reasonable or logical is if he was trying to take the attention off himself and the extent of his own guilt.

However, this has been a case that has defied logic and reason from the very beginning.

I firmly believe there is at least one person out there who knows the true extent of Gouker’s involvement in his step-son’s murder. The question is will that person have the courage to come forward and tell the police what they know?

Only time will tell.

The problem is that time is running short. Josh Young could spend the rest of his life in prison, unless a jury sees through the web of deceit his father has weaved since this whole thing began.

If you, or someone you know, has information about this crime it is imperative you come forward. Contact Pete Schuler (Josh Young’s public defender) or Detective Scott Russ from the Louisville Police Department if you have information that could help.

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