On June 15, 2023, Chad Doerman, 32, shot and killed his three sons — Clayton (7), Hunter (4), and Chase (3) — at their home on Laurel Lindale Road in Monroe Township, Clermont County, Ohio. Doerman came home from work early and asked his wife and sons to lie down for a nap in the master bedroom. He then retrieved a .22 caliber rifle from a gun safe and opened fire. He shot one son in the bedroom, chased and shot another as the boy fled outside, and wrestled the third from the mother's arms before shooting him in the head. The boys' older sister attempted to save her brothers, and the mother was shot through the thumb while trying to protect her children. Nine total shots were fired. Doerman had allegedly been contemplating the murders since October 2022 and told investigators he had not slept for three to four days prior due to the weight of his thoughts. He confessed at the scene and was charged with 21 counts including nine counts of aggravated murder. He later pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity.
Contexts/Conditions
Is there any mention of child drug ingestion or overdose?
Is there any mention of a drowning incident (either intentional or accidental)?
Is there any mention of a firearm incident?
The deaths were caused by a firearm. Document 1 (WCPO) identifies the weapon as a "Marlin Model HC .22 rifle" retrieved from a gun safe. Document 2 (WLWT) states: "Deputies on scene found four people shot outside a home on Laurel Lindale Road." Nine total shots were fired according to the bill of particulars described in Document 1.
Is there any mention of inappropriate supervision (e.g., child wandered off and drowned)?
Is there any mention of inflicted injury? (e.g. slapped, punched, kicked, choked)
All three documents describe the children being shot by their father with a rifle. Document 1 (WCPO) provides detailed descriptions: "shot one of his sons twice," one boy "was hit by gunfire and fell; Doerman approached the boy and fired again at close range," and "Doerman shot once in the head" for the third boy. Document 3 (KOLO) states: "Doerman shot one son while he slept, another while he was trying to run away and the youngest while he was laying on the ground."
Is there any mention of malnutrition, starvation, or dehydration?
Is there any mention of medical neglect?
Is there any mention of a motor vehicle crash or incident?
Is there any mention of a murder-suicide incident?
Is there any mention of outdoor elements (including hot car deaths)?
Is there any mention of prenatal substance exposure (including fetal alcohol syndrome or neonatal abstinence syndrome)?
Is there any mention of sexual abuse?
Is there any specific mention of shaken baby or abusive head trauma?
Is there any mention of prolonged abuse or torture (including restraints, captivity)?
Is there any mention of an unsafe sleeping environment?
Individuals Involved
Was an adoptive parent or guardian involved in the death?
Was a biological father involved in the death?
All three documents explicitly identify Chad Doerman as the father of the three boys he is accused of killing. Document 2 (WLWT) states: "their father has been arrested and charged with aggravated murder." Document 1 (WCPO) states: "he later admitted to killing his three sons." Document 3 (KOLO) identifies the boys as "Doerman's sons." The mother is described as Doerman's wife, confirming he is the biological father.
Was a biological mother involved in the death?
Was a day care worker, babysitter, or nanny involved in the death?
Was a female paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., girlfriend, stepmother)?
Was a foster parent involved in the death?
Was a male paramour or friend involved in the death (e.g., boyfriend, stepfather)?
Was another adult relative involved in the death? (e.g., grandfather, aunt)
Was a sibling involved in the death?
Child Characteristics
Was the child adopted?
Was the child homeschooled (including "cyberschooling") or taken out of school?
Was the child in foster care at the time of the incident?
Was the child living with relatives at the time of the incident (but not parents)?
Is there any mention of a neurological developmental child disability? (e.g., autism, intellectual disability, nonverbal)
Is there any mention of a physical child disability? (e.g., feeding tube)
Is there any mention of prematurity or low birthweight?
Is there a history of child protection reports prior to death (for this child or siblings)?
Does the child have a history of foster care (but not in care at time of incident)?
Is there a history of a sibling death (separate incident from this death)?
Parent/Caregiver Factors
Was an adult charged or arrested for the child's death?
Document 2 (WLWT) states: "Doerman was taken into custody at the scene" and "Later that night, Doerman was charged with three counts of aggravated murder." Document 1 (WCPO) states: "Doerman faces 21 separate charges connected to his alleged actions on June 15. He is charged with nine counts of aggravated murder, eight counts of kidnapping and four counts of felonious assault."
Is domestic violence by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Document 1 (WCPO) quotes a neighbor describing a pattern of abusive behavior by Doerman toward his wife: "'He was angry every day,' said Richard Kincannon. 'There wasn't a day he didn't yell at his wife and kids out there.' Kincannon said Doerman had a temper, 'yelling all the time and treating (his wife) like s***.'". Additionally, during the murder incident, document 1 describes Doerman biting his wife and shooting her through her thumb while trying to wrestle the child from her arms, which constitutes physical violence against a domestic partner.
Is there any mention that the death occurred in a temporary shelter or while homeless?
Is an intellectual disability of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is the mental health of the parent/caregiver referenced?
Multiple references to the perpetrator's mental state. Document 3 (KOLO) states Doerman "pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity" and that "The state of Ohio asking for a second evaluation to determine 32-year-old Chad Doerman's mental condition on June 15, 2023." Document 1 (WCPO) states Doerman "admitted to having been thinking about shooting his sons since October" and that "he hadn't slept in the three or four days leading up to the murders because 'the thoughts of having to kill his sons was so heavy on him.'" Document 1 also quotes his father: "'I could tell in his eyes he's hollow inside,' Keith Doerman said. 'That wasn't Chad standing at the arraignment, that was not him.'" and that his son "just snapped."
Is a history of arrests or criminal charges for the parent/caregiver referenced?
Is substance use by the parent/caregiver referenced?
Notable Details
Several notable details emerge from the documents. First, this case involves the murder of three children in the same incident, not a single child. Second, Doerman admitted to contemplating killing his sons since October 2022 — approximately eight months before the June 2023 murders — indicating extensive premeditation. Document 1 (WCPO) states he "admitted to having been thinking about shooting his sons since October." Third, he pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity (Document 3, KOLO), and the state requested a second mental evaluation. Fourth, the older sister (named Alexis in Document 2) played a heroic role trying to save her brothers — carrying one brother in her arms while fleeing, and then running to the nearby fire department for help. Fifth, the $20 million bond was described as the highest ever requested in Clermont County history. Sixth, Doerman faces an unusually high number of charges (21 total) including eight counts of kidnapping in addition to the nine murder counts, suggesting the charges encompass the restraint and pursuit of victims during the event.
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