Ohio Man Avoids Death Sentence After Pleading Guilty To Killing 3 Sons

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.

According to a bill of particulars filed in Clermont County and obtained by local stations WCPO and WLWT, 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