Clermont County Prosecutor Mark Tekulve shared key facts about the Chad Doerman case in a press meeting. He told how Doerman killed his three sons and hurt two other people. The case shook Monroe Township last year.
Tekulve gave a clear timeline of what led to the sad day on June 15, 2023. He showed how Doerman planned the act days before he did it.
The prosecutor said Doerman took a plea deal to avoid the death penalty. He pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated murder and two counts of felonious assault. The deal means Doerman will spend life in prison with no chance to get out.
Tekulve shared that Doerman had issues with his family for some time before the crimes. The legal team worked hard to make sure he faced the most strict punishment for his acts.
Events Leading Up to the Killings
Tensions in the Doerman home grew worse in the days before the killings. Chad had taken guns from his gun safe five days before he shot his three sons.
Family dynamic and tensions
The Doerman family seemed normal on the surface. Chad worked as an insulator while Laura stayed home with their kids. She planned to homeschool their three active boys who loved baseball and fishing.
Laura also had a 14-year-old daughter who did well in school and played softball. But hidden problems grew in their home. Five days before the tragic events, Chad’s behavior changed.
He started to act strange around his family. Laura noticed these changes but didn’t know what they meant. The stress in their Monroe Township home got worse as Chad became more upset.
The family troubles came to a head on June 15, 2023. That morning, the normal family life broke apart. No one saw the signs of what Chad might do next. His mental state had gotten worse over time.
The boys still played outside and went to baseball fields with friends. Laura still cared for the home and children. But inside their house, Chad was planning something terrible that would shock Clermont County and change their lives forever.
Actions five days prior to the tragedy
Chad Doerman showed no clear warning signs in the days before the killings. On June 10, he spent a “boys’ day” with his sons while Laura and her daughter had their own time together.
The next day, June 11, Doerman took his sons fishing and acted normal. His co-workers saw nothing strange about him on June 12. On June 13, Doerman had some truck problems but still seemed fine to others.
Things changed on June 14 when he woke his stepdaughter early and said sorry for past mistakes. This odd behavior came just one day before the tragic events. The most telling sign came on the morning of June 15, when Doerman searched for the song “Happy In Hell” on his way to work.
The timeline shows how quickly things changed in the Doerman home. For most of the week, Chad acted like any normal father and worker. No one saw signs of the violence that would soon happen in their Monroe Township home.
His sudden change in behavior on June 14 was the first hint that something was wrong. The next section will detail what happened on that awful day when the Clermont County family’s life changed forever.
The Day of the Incident
June 15, 2023 turned into a day of horror for the Doerman family in Monroe Township. Chad Doerman shot his three young sons in a planned attack that shocked the entire Clermont County community.
Timeline of events on June 15, 2023
The day Chad Doerman killed his three sons started like many others but ended in tragedy. Court records show a clear sequence of events that led to one of the worst crimes in Clermont County history.
- Chad Doerman woke up early and spent time playing with his children in the yard.
- He helped with yard work around the family home in Monroe Township.
- Laura Doerman made lunch for the family, which Chad later called “his last good meal.”
- Chad began acting strange, holding a Bible and mumbling phrases like “Chad knows what’s right.”
- He went to his gun safe and took out a rifle.
- Chad lined up his three sons – Clayton, Hunter, and Chase Doerman – in the yard.
- He shot each boy one by one while they tried to run away.
- Laura’s 14-year-old daughter (Chad’s stepdaughter) was hurt trying to stop the shootings but survived.
- Laura Doerman called 911 in panic as the killings happened.
- First responders found Chad sitting on his porch with the gun when they arrived.
- Police took Chad into custody at the scene without further incident.
- The three boys were found dead at different spots around the property.
Details of the shootings at the Doerman home
As events unfolded on June 15, 2023, the horror at the Doerman home became clear. Chad Doerman shot one son inside their Monroe Township house. His wife Laura called 911 in panic, crying “My husband shot my baby.” The scene grew worse as police found Doerman sitting on his porch with a rifle.
The attack continued outside where Doerman chased another son into a field. He shot this child many times. He also tried to shoot his daughter and one more son, but the gun failed to fire.
After the killings, Doerman placed all three boys’ bodies together in the yard. First responders found the children shot in the yard while Doerman waited on the porch, still holding his weapon.
This brutal crime led to aggravated murder charges and would later result in a life sentence without parole for Doerman.
Legal Proceedings and Guilty Plea
Chad Doerman faced the court on serious charges for killing his three sons. He took a plea deal that gave him life in prison with no chance to ever get out.
Charges against Chad Doerman
Clermont County officials filed five serious charges against Chad Doerman after the tragic events at his home. He faced three counts of aggravated murder – one for each of his sons.
The court also charged him with two counts of felonious assault. These assault charges related to his actions against his wife Laura Doerman and another family member who were present during the incident.
Prosecutor Mark Tekulve pursued these charges with the death penalty as a possible outcome. The $20 million bond set by Judge Richard Ferenc showed how serious the court viewed these crimes.
The legal case against Doerman changed over time. He first said he was not guilty because of mental illness. His lawyers filed a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Later, to avoid the death penalty, Doerman agreed to a plea deal.
He admitted guilt to all five charges in the final agreement. This deal led to three life sentences without parole for the murders, plus 16 more years for the assaults. The Monroe Township case ended with Doerman getting life imprisonment with no chance of release.
Plea deal and life sentence without parole
After facing multiple charges, Chad Doerman agreed to a plea deal with the Clermont County prosecutor. This deal helped him avoid the death penalty for killing his three sons. The agreement came as a way to spare Laura Doerman and her daughter from going through a painful trial.
The judge gave Doerman three life sentences without any chance of parole. He must serve these terms one after the other, meaning he will never leave prison. The court also added 16 more years for his attack on his wife.
Mark Tekulve, the prosecutor, said this deal makes sure Doerman stays locked up forever while giving the family some peace.
Aftermath for the Family and Community
The Doerman family faces a long road to healing after this horrific crime shook their lives to the core. The Monroe Township community has rallied around Laura Doerman and shown strong support through fundraisers and memorial events at the local baseball fields.
Impact on surviving family members
Laura Doerman and her teenage daughter face a hard road after losing three young boys to this crime. The 14-year-old girl was hurt during the attack but lived through it. She must now deal with both her wounds and the loss of her step-brothers.
Laura lost all three of her sons on that awful day. The plea deal helped spare them from sitting through a trial. This choice kept them from having to hear all the awful details in court.
Mark Tekulve, the Clermont County prosecutor, said this was a key reason for not seeking the death penalty. The family now lives with empty spaces where Clayton, Hunter, and Chase once played and laughed.
The Monroe Township area showed strong support for the family after the killings. Neighbors set up funds to help with costs and held events at local baseball fields to honor the boys.
First responders who came to the scene that day also felt deep pain. Many needed mental health help after what they saw at the Doerman home. The case brought up talks about gun safety, as the weapon came from a gun safe in the house.
Laura now must rebuild her life while carrying the weight of this loss each day.
Reactions from the local community
The Monroe Township community was rocked by the Doerman tragedy. Neighbors held candlelight vigils at local baseball fields to honor Clayton, Hunter, and Chase Doerman. Many first responders needed mental health support after seeing the crime scene.
The Little Clinic where Laura Doerman worked set up a fund for the family. School friends made cards and left toys at a makeshift shrine near the home.
The case sparked talks about gun safety and mental illness in Clermont County. Parents asked schools for help talking to their kids about the murders. Local churches opened their doors for group prayers.
The township board passed a moment of silence at their next meeting. Signs reading “Monroe Strong” appeared in shop windows and yards across the area.
Takeaways
Chad Doerman’s case shows how fast a normal life can turn tragic. His sons – Clayton, Hunter, and Chase – lost their lives in a crime that shocked Monroe Township. The court gave Doerman three life terms with no chance to ever leave prison.
His wife Laura must now face life without her boys, while the town tries to heal from this awful event. Mental health played a big role in this case, raising hard questions about signs we miss and help that comes too late.
FAQs on What Happened to Chad Doerman
1. What did Chad Doerman do?
Chad Doerman was charged with aggravated murder after killing his three sons – Clayton, Hunter, and Chase Doerman. He shot them at their home in Monroe Township, Clermont County.
2. Is Chad Doerman getting the death penalty?
No, Chad Doerman won’t face the death penalty. He pled guilty and accepted a plea agreement for life in prison without the possibility of parole instead.
3. What happened to Laura Doerman during the incident?
Laura Doerman, the boys’ mother, was shot in the hand while trying to stop Chad from murdering their children. She was charged with felonious assault but survived her injuries.
4. Did Chad Doerman claim mental illness?
Yes. He first pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, pointing to mental health issues. Later, he changed to a guilty plea after reaching an agreement with Clermont County Prosecutor Mark Tekulve.
5. What was the minimum sentence Chad Doerman could have received?
The minimum sentence would have been life imprisonment with possible parole after serving 15-20 years. Instead, Judge Richard Ferenc sentenced him to life without the possibility of parole.
6. How did first responders react to the crime scene?
First responders were deeply affected by what they found. Prosecuting Attorney Mark Tekulve said it was one of the worst crime scenes they had ever witnessed, with the boys’ bodies found near baseball fields by their home.
