Set in 1927 in the sweltering, tradition-bound bayou town of Morgan City, Louisiana, Ada and the Doc tells the haunting true story of Ada LeBoeuf, a housewife trapped in an abusive marriage, who becomes embroiled in one of the South’s most infamous murder trials. The film opens with the discovery of a man’s mutilated body in Lake Palourde, identified as Jim LeBoeuf—Ada’s husband and the town’s power plant superintendent—whose corpse has been savaged by the local wildlife, recognizable only by a deformed thumb.

Through a mix of present-day interrogations, courtroom drama, and richly layered flashbacks, the narrative reconstructs the events leading up to the murder. Ada, once a devoted wife and mother of three, suffers quietly under the thumb of her domineering and violent husband. As the isolation deepens and the abuse escalates, Ada finds solace in the company of Dr. Thomas Dreher, the town physician and a longtime friend of the family. Their emotional connection deepens into an alleged romantic affair, whispered about by gossipy neighbors in a town where appearances are everything.

Suspicion ignites when an anonymous letter about Ada’s affair reaches both Mrs. Dreher and Jim. Confrontation at home turns physical and traumatic, leaving Ada cornered. Meanwhile, Dr. Dreher confides in his right-hand man, James Beadle, a shady trapper with questionable morals, who allegedly volunteers to “take care of” Jim.

On the night of July 6, 1927, Jim is lured out to the lake under the pretense of a boat ride; two shotgun blasts leave him dead. His body is weighed down with iron and dumped, but not far enough. The next morning, trappers discover the corpse, setting the stage for a criminal investigation that would grip the state.

As Sheriff Pecot begins questioning, Ada first denies involvement, but cracks under pressure. Dreher confesses that Beadle committed the murder, but acknowledges his role in orchestrating it. All three are arrested. Public opinion quickly turns venomous, especially toward Ada. In a deeply patriarchal community, her role as a woman who strayed from her marriage overshadows the abuse she endured.

The courtroom scenes are tense and theatrical, reflecting the real-life media circus the trial became. Ada, Dreher, and Beadle are tried together. While Beadle relishes the attention, Dreher grows withdrawn, and Ada—stoic in her mourning dress—becomes the center of public scorn. Despite weak evidence and clear prejudice, all three are convicted.

Ultimately, Ada LeBoeuf is sentenced to death, making her the first woman ever executed by the state of Louisiana under the strict orders of infamous Governor Huey P. Long. Her final moments are quiet, mournful, and deeply tragic—an indictment not only of her actions, but of the society that failed her at every turn.