Clermont County prosecutor Mark Tekulve called the Doerman case “lightning from a blue sky.” He shared grim details about how Chad Doerman, 33, killed his three young sons in Monroe Township.
The father lined up Clayton, Hunter, and Chase Doerman before shooting them with a rifle. Court records show he told police he had been planning this act for months. Doerman’s wife Laura tried to save one son by hiding him in her body, but Chad shot through her arm to reach the child.
The case shocked the small Ohio community when it happened in June 2023. Tekulve explained that we may never know why Doerman killed his boys. Despite this mystery, Doerman faced the most serious charges possible.
He pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated murder to avoid the death penalty. The judge gave him life in prison without parole. Sheriff’s deputies found Doerman sitting on his porch after the killings, still holding the murder weapon.
Events Leading Up to the Tragedy
Warning signs appeared in Chad Doerman’s actions before the tragic deaths of his sons. His wife Laura reported strange comments he made about “having to make things right” in the days before the murders.
Chad Doerman’s behavior before the killings
Chad Doerman showed no warning signs before the tragic deaths of his sons. In the days before the incident, he spent June 10, 2023 having a normal day with his children. On June 11, he took his sons fishing, and nothing seemed wrong with his actions.
His co-workers and family members did not notice any strange behavior on June 12 and 13. The last public outing was at his sons’ baseball game on June 14, where he only seemed a bit distracted.
No one at the game spotted any signs that would point to his mental state or the violence that would soon happen in Clermont County.
The lack of clear warning signs makes this case more puzzling for the prosecuting attorney. Laura Doerman, his wife, did not report any domestic violence or concerns to children’s protective services before the murders.
Court documents show no prior issues that would have led to a mental health check. This normal pattern of behavior changed suddenly on the day of the killings, when Doerman’s actions turned deadly.
Statements made by Doerman to his wife
Chad Doerman’s dark thoughts turned into words that warned his wife of his plans. Laura Doerman faced shocking statements from her husband before the tragic deaths of their sons. In one key moment, Chad stopped Laura from calling 911 with the chilling words, “It’s too late to save those boys.” This statement shows he knew what he was doing during the murders in their Monroe Township home.
Phone calls from jail later showed more of Chad’s mindset. During police talks, he said he had planned to kill his sons for months. These words to his wife match what he told officers after his arrest in Clermont County.
The court used these statements as proof when charging him with three counts of aggravated murder. His words to Laura now form a major part of the case that could lead to the death penalty or life sentences without parole.
The Day of the Killings
The day of the killings began with a chilling plan that Chad Doerman had formed in his mind. Court records show he lined up his three sons in the yard and shot them one by one with a rifle from his gun safe.
Timeline of the tragic events
Chad Doerman’s actions on June 15, 2023 shocked the Clermont County community. The events unfolded quickly in Monroe Township, leading to a horrific crime scene that first responders will never forget.
- Chad Doerman left Anderson Township Kroger’s Little Clinic without talking to staff earlier in the day.
- He returned to his home in Monroe Township where his three sons and wife were present.
- Around 4:15 PM, Doerman got his gun from a gun safe in the family home.
- He lined up his three sons – Clayton, Hunter, and Chase Doerman – in the yard.
- Laura Doerman, his wife, tried to stop the attack and suffered a gunshot wound to her hand.
- One son tried to run away to a neighbor’s field but was chased down by Chad.
- Clermont County Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene shortly before 4:30 PM after 911 calls.
- Officers found all three boys with gunshot wounds outside the home.
- First responders tried life-saving measures but could not save the children.
- Chad Doerman was found sitting on his porch steps and was taken into custody without fighting back.
- During arrest, he told deputies he had been planning the murders for months.
- The crime scene was so disturbing that mental health support was needed for responding officers.
Actions taken by the family during the incident
Laura Doerman tried to call 911 for help during the attack, but her husband stopped her. She fought to save her sons from harm. The mother grabbed the gun from Chad at one point, but he took it back and kept shooting.
One son ran to a nearby field to escape, but his father chased him. The boy was shot at close range in the field while trying to get away. The other children also tried to flee from their father during this scary event.
Their attempts to escape show how sudden and awful the attack was on that day in Monroe Township.
The court records show more about how the family tried to protect each other as the gunfire started. Next, we will look at what the legal papers tell us about this sad case.
Details from Court Documents
Court papers show Doerman made shocking comments to police after his arrest. These documents reveal the exact steps he took to plan and carry out the murders of his three sons.
Evidence presented by prosecutors
Prosecutors showed the court key items from the crime scene. They focused on the .22 caliber Marlin rifle Chad Doerman took from his gun safe. This weapon was used to kill his three sons.
Photos and police reports showed how Doerman lined up his boys’ bodies side by side in the yard after the shootings. The gun and its location became major proof in the case against him.
Laura Doerman’s statements to police also formed part of the evidence. She told officers about Chad’s words and actions before the killings. The 911 calls made that day were played in court, with the mother’s screams clearly heard.
Text messages between the couple showed Chad’s state of mind in the days before this tragic event.
Chad Doerman’s reported statements and actions
Chad Doerman made clear statements about his guilt right after the killings. He told police, “Tell them I did it. Take me to jail.” This direct confession shows he knew what he had done to his three sons.
In a jail phone call just 12 days after the murders, Doerman made a shocking comparison. He likened himself to Adolf Hitler, a statement that stunned many in the Clermont County community.
This comment has been used by prosecutors as they seek the death penalty for the three aggravated murder charges.
Doerman’s actions before and during the tragic event point to planning. He got his gun from the gun safe and lined up his sons. Court records show he chased one son who tried to escape.
Laura Doerman, the boys’ mother, got shot in the hand while trying to shield one child. The mental health of the accused has become a key part of the case as his lawyers may claim mental illness played a role in these awful acts against Clayton, Hunter, and Chase Doerman.
Legal Proceedings and Plea
The court charged Chad Doerman with nine counts in total, including three counts of aggravated murder with death penalty specs. His defense team entered a not guilty plea by reason of insanity, setting up a complex legal battle in Clermont County that could last months or years.
Charges filed against Chad Doerman
Chad Doerman faces serious legal trouble for the deaths of his three sons. The Clermont County court charged him with three counts of aggravated murder. Each murder charge could lead to the death penalty if he is found guilty.
He also got two counts of felonious assault for hurting his ex-wife Laura Doerman and his former stepdaughter during the same event.
The Monroe Township case shocked the community after Doerman’s actions against Clayton, Hunter, and Chase Doerman. The Clermont County Sheriff’s deputies arrested him at the crime scene.
His legal team first entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, pointing to mental health issues. The court papers show he must stay in jail with no chance of bail while waiting for his trial date.
Plea and courtroom developments
In court, Chad Doerman agreed to a plea deal that saved him from the death penalty. He stood before the judge and admitted guilt to all charges. The court gave him three life sentences without any chance of parole.
These sentences must be served one after another, not at the same time. The deal came after talks between his lawyers and the Clermont County team. During his court time, Doerman spoke little and showed no strong feelings.
The judge asked if he knew what his plea meant, and he said yes. Family members of the boys were in court that day. Some cried as the judge read the final decision.
The plea agreement ended what could have been a long trial with mental health claims. At first, Doerman tried to say he was not guilty due to mental illness. His lawyers filed papers about his state of mind.
But in the end, he took the deal and said he did kill his sons. The court papers show he will spend the rest of his life in jail. No parole board can ever let him out. The Monroe Township case shocked many people who knew the family.
Takeaways
The tragic deaths of Clayton, Hunter, and Chase Doerman shocked their small Clermont County town. Chad Doerman’s actions on that June day left a family broken and a community in grief.
The case shows how mental health issues can lead to awful results when mixed with access to guns. The court gave Doerman three life terms with no chance of parole for his crimes. His guilty plea spared the family from a long trial but can never bring back the three young boys whose lives were cut short.
For further details on Chad Doerman’s background, including his employment history, please visit Where Did Chad Doerman Work?.
FAQs on Why Did Chad Doerman Kill His Sons
1. What charges does Chad Doerman face?
Chad Doerman faces aggravated murder charges in Clermont County. He could get the death penalty or life without parole for killing his three sons.
2. What happened during the tragic incident in Monroe Township?
Clermont County Sheriff’s deputies found three boys dead when they came to the home. The boys – Clayton, Hunter, and Chase Doerman – were shot by their dad who got a gun from his gun safe. Their mom, Laura Doerman, was also hurt in the attack.
3. Is mental illness part of Chad Doerman’s defense?
Yes, his lawyers may claim he has mental health issues. They might ask him to plead not guilty by reason of insanity, though no plea deal has been made yet.
4. What did Chad Doerman say in jail phone calls?
In jail phone calls, Chad Doerman talked about the killings. These calls may be used in court to show he knew what he was doing, which could hurt claims about his mental state.
5. What is the minimum sentence Chad Doerman could get?
If found guilty of all charges in the indictment, the minimum sentence would be life sentences with no chance to get out of jail. The judge could also give him the death penalty for the felonious assault and murder of his three boys.
