An Ohio father now faces life in prison without the possibility of parole after the brutal killing of his three sons. Disturbing details have emerged following the horrific 2023 murders.
Chad Doerman recently pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated murder, along with other charges. Before the killings, he told his sons that he loved them and called them ‘the best boys ever.’ Then, he shot each one of them. Now, Clermont County Prosecuting Attorney Mark J. Tekulve has shared the children’s final moments and some unsettling information about the father’s actions.
Around lunchtime, Chad Doerman called his own father and ominously said, “Clayton is going to be the hardest one.” The absence of context makes this statement even more chilling, but it’s clear that he was referring to the murders he was about to commit. Only Doerman’s father knew what would happen next.
Doerman then went home to have lunch with his wife, Laura. Out of nowhere, he remarked, “this will be my last good meal.” Although alarming, everything seemed normal afterward. Tekulve noted that Doerman spent the rest of the afternoon doing routine activities—yard work, playing with the kids—nothing that would have raised any concerns for Laura.
Ohio Father Reads His Kids The Bible Before Their Devastating Execution
As the afternoon winds down, the father settles in with his 4-year-old son, Hunter, and begins to read from the Bible. He repeats to himself, “Chad knows what’s right,” as they read, lost in thought. Meanwhile, Doerman fiddles around with his gun safe, causing his wife to feel uneasy. Sensing her anxiety, he tries to reassure her by saying he’s just playing around, and then makes sure to tell his boys how much he loves them.
According to Tekulve, the situation quickly turned into a nightmare right after Laura and her children laid down. As Tekulve describes, “The defendant suddenly sprang up and snatched the .22 rifle from the safe, causing utter terror to fill the room. Laura and her boys were screaming, pleading with him not to harm himself while expressing their love for him.”
After the father was given life sentences, Laura finally found some closure. The fact that he will spend the rest of his life in prison brings her some peace amidst the tragedy. Laura expressed her relief, saying, “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. No punishment will ever bring my boys back. Having a guarantee that he will spend the rest of his life behind bars is what is best for my family.”