The Chad Doerman case has sent shockwaves through Ohio and beyond. In June 2023, 32-year-old Chad Doerman allegedly lined up his three young sons - just 3, 4, and 7 years old - and shot and killed them with a rifle. This article delves into the details surrounding this horrific event, the legal proceedings that followed, and the community's response.
The Day of the Tragedy
The events leading up to the murders paint a picture of a seemingly normal day that took a dark turn. The following day, June 11, Chad took the boys fishing. Again, this seemed like a normal day. Chad went to a Kroger at 9.42am that day. He walked to the vitamin section and then to the Little Clinic counter. Chad left the Little Clinic after a few minutes.
According to a bill of particulars filed in Clermont County, the incident began when Doerman returned home from work and started walking around with a Bible in a manner that was scaring the children. His then wife, the mother of the three boys, told him that she did not like what he was doing, and she and their sons then took a nap with him, according to the court document.
After some time, Doerman got out of bed to grab a rifle from a gun safe and shot Hunter twice, Clermont County Prosecutor Mark Tekulve said in court Friday. The boys’ mother yelled for the other two to run while she tried to render aid, and Doerman’s stepdaughter came into the room after hearing the shot, according to the bill of particulars. The stepdaughter ran outside with Clayton, but Doerman was right behind them, shooting in their direction.
Clayton was shot and fell to the ground, the court document said. It was at this point that Doerman fired an additional shot into the boy’s head at close range. His stepdaughter went back inside the home to grab Chase and run, but Doerman caught up with them. Doerman then demanded that she put Chase down and attempted to fire a shot at him, but the gun did not go off, according to the court document.
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Chase ran outside where his mom was now located as she continued to render aid to Hunter. Doerman, however, caught up to the child and shot him at close range. During this time, Doerman’s stepdaughter left the residence to get help and flagged down a passerby while on her way to a nearby fire station.
The boys’ mother struggled with Doerman as he attempted to take Hunter away from her and she was shot in the thumb, the court document said. He then shot Hunter in the head. Doerman was later arrested outside his home by Clermont County sheriff’s deputies.
Prosecutor David Gast reportedly said that the suspect lined up his sons and executed them with a rifle in front of their mother. Deputies placed Chad in a cruiser, where he is heard on body cam video, “Tell them I did it." When Chad arrived at the jail, he was interviewed about what had taken place. The detectives asked who his kids were.
Legal Proceedings and Confession
Doerman was initially booked without bond Wednesday into the Clermont County Jail, jail records reviewed by Law&Crime show. Investigators said that the jailing occurred after detectives interviewed the suspect.
Despite pleading not guilty in court on June 23, officials with the Clermont County Sheriff's Office announced, not long after Doerman's arrest, that he'd confessed to shooting 4-year-old Hunter, 7-year-old Clayton and 3-year-old Chase execution-style.
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During a Wednesday morning hearing that stretched over four hours, Doerman's attorneys and prosecutors questioned officers, deputies and medical professionals who came into contact with Doerman in the moments before and after his arrest. The state maintains Doerman's constitutional rights were upheld, but his defense attorneys argued his Miranda and HIPAA rights were violated.
Two of the first deputies to arrive at Doerman's home on Laurel-Lindale Drive on June 15, 2023 were put on the stand to testify, both describing the moments depicted in body camera footage released shortly after the murders. The defense pointed out that, at some point, a detective arrived on scene who used aggressive language toward Doerman; both deputies confirmed having heard the detective's comments.
Doerman's defense attorneys specifically targeted Ross' handling of Doerman's Miranda rights at the beginning of the interrogation. Doerman did not sign a printed waiver of his Miranda rights; Ross instead delivered the Miranda reading verbally, reading from a card, he said in court.
Around five minutes later in the interview with Ross, Doerman brought up wanting to wait for a lawyer. Doerman's attorneys claim those officers violated his right to privacy by "inserting themselves into what should have been private, confidential discussions and recording them."
As of March 2024, Doerman has entered a new plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. His attorneys claim he was not of sound mind at the time of the shooting.
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An Ohio man who fatally shot his young sons last year pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated murder Friday as part of a deal with the state to avoid the death penalty. Chad Doerman, 33, received three consecutive life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole over the deaths of 7-year-old Clayton, 4-year-old Hunter, and 3-year-old Chase Doerman, who were shot at their home in Monroe Township on June 15, 2023, multiple outlets reported.
Doerman also pleaded guilty to two counts of felonious assault against his now-former wife and stepdaughter, who’d attempted to stop the killings.
Community Response and Support
Communities are reaching out to extend their support for a Clermont County family in the wake of an unimaginable tragedy. Since the murders, numerous services have been held in honor of the young victims, including a candlelight vigil at the elementary school the oldest boy attended.
A GoFundMe campaign has also been launched by the boys' aunt to help cover the funeral costs. As of Sunday, nearly $160,000 has been raised, eight times higher than the initial goal. Her sister, Rachel Hensley Brown, set up the page on June 23, 2023. The fund has raised over $280.000 out of a $20,000 target, with a current total of 8.9k donations at the time of writing.
"Nothing will make this better, it will never be okay," the page reads. "But please if you can find it in your heart to help relieve the financial burden of this tragedy, please donate. No one should have to go through this."
The mother said that she was in agreement with how Doerman’s case was resolved, adding that it brought a sense of closure for her and her daughter. She said she wants the public to remember her sons for who they were in life, before last year’s incident.
“Remember them as the boys who love to have fun and were inseparable from one another,” the mother said in court. Laura Doerman released a heartfelt statement saying that her former husband’s sentence will bring her some closure.
“I am in full agreement with how the criminal case was resolved, and the decision to end this criminal case with a plea and multiple life sentences brings some finality to the court case for my daughter and me,” Laura said.
GoFundMe Campaign
| Goal | Raised | Donations |
|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | $280,000+ | 8.9k |
Questions Surrounding the Motive
In an attempt to make sense of the senseless, WKRC has several more questions. If they can be answered, there might be a better way to understand the horrific event.
First, was there a pattern of general violence? The communications center had only dispatched the police to the Doerman home three times since 2020. There was also a domestic violence case two years later that showed he choked his dad. Both of those cases were dismissed.
Second, was there child neglect or abuse? A neighbor was interviewed by WKRC who said he allegedly saw Doerman lose his temper with his kids. The Doerman family was up-to-date through 2023.
Lastly, was there evidence of mental illness? Through records requests, there is no current document that shows the police arrested Doerman or put a 72-hour psych-hold on him.
The most horrifying end to love imaginable! The Case of Chad Doerman. Treu Crime Documentary.
Remembering the Victims
“Remember them as the three little boys who loved fishing, go-carting, and swimming,” the statement continued. “Remember them as the boys who love to have fun and were inseparable from one another. Their lives are not only about what happened to them - they are so much more that that.
The community continues to mourn the loss of Clayton, Hunter, and Chase, and efforts to support the family and raise awareness about mental health are ongoing.
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