Chad Doerman fatally shot his sons Clayton, aged seven, Hunter, aged four, and three-year-old Chase.
On a day seemingly filled with ordinary family activities, Chad Doerman spent time gardening and even captured a selfie with his three young sons, shortly before he shockingly ended their lives in their home.
The chilling image was snapped by Chad Doerman himself who would later fatally shoot his sons Clayton, seven, Hunter, four, and Chase, three.
Earlier that same day, while having lunch with his spouse, Laura, the 33-year-old ominously remarked, “This will be my last good meal,” hinting at the dreadful act he was about to commit.
Despite the alarming statement, his wife Laura did not perceive an immediate threat that would compel her to take action to safeguard the family. Following their meal, Chad spent time gardening and playing with his sons, as reported by The Mirror.
Prosecuting Attorney Mark Tekulve disclosed the details of the heinous act that occurred in 2023. The narrative unfolded on a fateful day when Chad decided to end his children’s lives.
Between approximately 3:30 to 3:45pm, Chad began reading the Bible to his four-year-old son Hunter. He was seen walking around the house, muttering, “Chad knows what’s right, Chad knows what’s right,” Tekulve explained.
Shortly before 4pm, Chad invited his family to join him for a nap in the master bedroom. His wife and three sons entered the room with him, while his 12-year-old stepdaughter was watching TV in another room.
After expressing his love for his family and describing his sons as the “best boys ever,” Chad suddenly jumped from the bed and retrieved a .22 rifle from the safe. Initially, the family feared for his safety, suspecting he might harm himself.
“Laura is screaming, the boys are screaming, Laura is terrified that he’s about to commit suicide,” Tekulve continued. “They were all trying to dissuade him, declaring their love for him and pleading with him not to take his own life.”
Laura attempted to call 911 on her mobile phone, but Chad threw it across the room and then turned the gun on Hunter, shooting their four-year-old son multiple times.
He then chased his wife and stepdaughter out of the house, seized his other two sons, Clayton and Chase, from them, and fatally shot both of them.
The 12-year-old girl miraculously escaped unharmed, but her mother sustained a gunshot wound to her hand while trying to protect one of her sons from Chad’s attack.
The father-of-three was apprehended that day and faced charges of aggravated murder, kidnapping, and felonious assault. Chad, a resident of Ohio, USA, entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.
His defense argued that he should be exempt from the death penalty if found guilty “due to serious mental illness at the time of the offense.”
The prosecution initially sought the death penalty but ultimately agreed to a plea deal with Chad, sentencing him to three life terms. They stated that pursuing further punishment would be “an act of cruelty,” considering the survivors’ best interests.
Heartbroken, Laura stated that while no penalty could ever bring her sons back, ensuring that Chad would spend his life in prison was the best outcome for her family.
In her statement, Laura expressed: “I fully support the resolution of the criminal case, and the decision to conclude this legal matter with a plea and multiple life sentences provides some closure for my daughter and me.”
“Please remember them as the three little boys who enjoyed fishing, go-karting, and swimming. Remember them as boys who loved to have fun and were inseparable from each other,” she continued.
“Their lives are about so much more than how they ended. I love you Clayton, Hunter, and Chase,” Laura concluded.
Hi, I’m Benjamin, a member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a passion for writing and a deep interest in current affairs, I thoroughly enjoy bringing you the latest news and trends that affect our daily lives.
