Man Who Robbed Paula Deen at Gunpoint Found Dead in Brooklyn

Eugene Thomas King Jr. was convicted for the 1987 bank robbery that traumatized the celebrity chef.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Eugene Thomas King Jr., the convicted bank robber who once held celebrity chef Paula Deen at gunpoint during a 1987 robbery, has been found dead in his Brooklyn apartment. King, who later publicly apologized to Deen for the traumatic incident, had largely disappeared from public view in recent years. Deen, now 80, has continued focusing on family and business, recently sharing pride in her sons and grandchildren on Instagram.

Why it matters

The robbery of Paula Deen, then a bank teller, was a traumatic event that remained largely private for decades until it unexpectedly reentered the public conversation in 2013. King's death now closes another chapter in Deen's life, as she has moved forward with her culinary empire and family.

The details

According to family sources, Eugene Thomas King Jr. was found dead on Thursday, February 26 inside his Brooklyn apartment. The cause of death has not yet been confirmed by authorities. King was the convicted bank robber who targeted Deen in 1987 when she was working as a bank teller, pressing a gun to her temple during the incident. He was later convicted in connection with the crime.

  • The robbery occurred in 1987, decades before Deen became a household name.
  • In 2013, King gave an interview to Inside Edition where he acknowledged the robbery and publicly apologized to Deen.
  • King was found dead on Thursday, February 26, 2026 inside his Brooklyn apartment.

The players

Eugene Thomas King Jr.

The convicted bank robber who once held Paula Deen at gunpoint during a 1987 robbery.

Paula Deen

The celebrity chef who was working as a bank teller when she was held at gunpoint by King during a 1987 robbery.

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What they’re saying

“I'm just so proud of the wonderful husbands and fathers they are, and for being such devoted and loving sons to their old mama. I'm the luckiest mother in the world!”

— Paula Deen (Instagram)

“I publicly apologize to Paula Deen for the fear I caused her during the robbery. I regret my actions that day.”

— Eugene Thomas King Jr., Convicted Bank Robber (Inside Edition)

The takeaway

The death of Eugene Thomas King Jr. closes another chapter in Paula Deen's life, as she has moved forward with her culinary empire and family in the decades since the traumatic 1987 bank robbery. While the incident remained largely private for years, it unexpectedly reentered the public conversation in 2013 when King publicly apologized to Deen, highlighting the lasting impact of such events.