Ohio | Attorneys for father accused of killing his 3 sons file motion to exclude death penalty

The man charged with murdering his three small sons should be excluded from the death penalty if convicted “due to serious mental illness at the time of (the) offense,” his lawyers contend in a new motion.

CLERMONT COUNTY, Ohio — Attorneys for Chad Doerman, the man accused of shooting and killing his three sons, are requesting the court exclude the death penalty "due to serious mental illness."

The motion as filed by the defense along with Doerman's plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. In response to Doerman's plea, the state requested a second evaluation of Doerman's mental condition on the day of the shooting.

"Mr. Doerman acknowledges that if the court finds that he is statutorily ineligible for a death sentence due to serious mental illness, and the jury convicts him of aggravated murder and one or more aggravating circumstance, the court will sentence him to life imprisonment without parole," the court filing states.

A hearing is set for Friday to hear arguments.

Doerman was arrested last June after investigators said he shot and killed his three sons, 3-year-old Chase, 4-year-old Hunter and 7-year-old Clayton.

He was indicted on 21 charges, including nine counts of aggravated murder. If convicted, he faces the death penalty.

Last July, WLWT obtained a court document called a Bill of Particulars. It contained information about exactly what investigators say happened when Clayton Doerman, 7, Hunter Doerman, 4, and 3-year-old Chase Doerman were killed.

That document initially stated that Doerman came home "early from work" on Thursday, June 15, and had his wife and their three boys join him in the master bedroom of their home on Laurel Lindale Road for a nap.

Amendments made to the document that were filed on Tuesday revealed that prior to laying down in the bedroom, Doerman obtained a bible and was walking around the house with it, mumbling, "Chad knows what's right."

According to court documents, Doerman later said he was "just kidding" and "playing around" before deciding to lay down in the master bedroom.

Doerman is then accused of getting up shortly after, grabbing a rifle from a gun safe and shooting his three children.

Doerman was arrested on his porch by deputies with the Clermont County Sheriff's Office.

Earlier in March, a Clermont County judge ruled Doerman had some of his rights violated in the hours following his arrest. The judge threw out Doerman’s confession after determining he was not properly advised of his Miranda rights.

Clermont County Prosecutor Mark Tekulve has sought the death penalty for Doerman since Day 1.

“This is a death penalty case and my goal is to have this man executed for slaughtering these three little boys,” Tekulve said in a court appearance shortly after Doerman’s arrest.

Doerman is scheduled to go on trial in July.

Sources: wlwt.com, fox19.com, Staff, May 2, 2024

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