The quiet town of Monroe, Ohio, was shattered on June 15th, 2023, by a horrific act of violence that shook the community to its core. Chad Doerman, a 32-year-old father, stands accused of a crime so heinous, so unimaginable, that it has left the nation reeling: the cold-blooded murder of his three young sons.
This is the story of a family torn apart, a community grappling with grief, and a legal battle that seeks justice for three innocent lives cut tragically short.
A quiet neighborhood street with houses and cars parked along the side
The Doerman Family: A Portrait of Tragedy
Chad Doerman and his wife, 34-year-old Laura, seemed like an ordinary family. They lived in a modest three-bedroom house in New Richmond, a small town nestled along the Ohio River. Chad worked diligently to provide for his family, while Laura dedicated her time to raising their four children: a 16-year-old stepdaughter named Alexis and three sons, Hunter (4), Clayton (7), and Chase (3).
Life for the Doerman boys revolved around the simple joys of childhood: playing sports, sharing laughter, and basking in the warmth of their family. Little did anyone know that this idyllic facade concealed a dark and sinister secret, a secret that would soon unravel in the most horrific way imaginable.
A view of a courtroom with wooden benches and a judge's desk
A Father’s Betrayal: The Day Innocence Died
The events of June 15th, 2023, unfolded with a chilling normalcy that belied the horror to come. Chad Doerman arrived home from work earlier than usual and decided to take a nap. He invited Laura and their three sons to join him in their bedroom, where they shared a brief respite of laughter and conversation.
However, this seemingly ordinary afternoon took a sinister turn when Chad abruptly got up and retrieved a .22 caliber rifle from the gun safe located next to their bed. According to eyewitness accounts, he methodically loaded the weapon and, without warning, shot his four-year-old son, Hunter, twice.
Alexis, who was watching television in the family room, rushed to the bedroom after hearing the gunshots. She was met with a scene of unimaginable horror: her father standing over her wounded brother. Terrified, she fled the room.
A police car with its lights flashing parked in front of a house
A Desperate Flight and a Mother’s Anguish
As chaos erupted inside the house, Laura urged her children to run for their lives. Alexis, witnessing the unfolding nightmare, saw her oldest brother, Clayton, fleeing in the wrong direction, towards a nearby field. Despite her desperate pleas for him to keep running, Chad pursued Clayton and fatally shot him.
Meanwhile, Alexis managed to escape the house with her youngest brother, Chase, desperately seeking help from anyone who would listen. She encountered a woman passing by and, in a heart-wrenching plea, begged her to call 911, revealing that her stepfather was “killing everyone” in her family.
Tragically, three-year-old Chase, seeking the comfort of his mother, returned to the house, only to be caught in the crosshairs of his father’s madness. Despite Laura’s valiant attempts to protect her youngest son, Chad wrestled him away from her, shooting him fatally.
A close-up of a gavel resting on a wooden block
A Community in Shock, A Family Forever Broken
When law enforcement arrived at the scene, they were met with a chilling sight: Chad Doerman sitting calmly on his front porch, a rifle by his side, while the bodies of his three sons lay lifeless inside the house.
The community of Monroe, Ohio, was left reeling in the wake of this unthinkable tragedy. Neighbors who once exchanged friendly greetings with Chad Doerman were now grappling with the horrifying realization of his actions. The idyllic image of a loving father had been irrevocably shattered.
The Search for Answers, the Pursuit of Justice
As the investigation unfolded, disturbing details emerged, painting a chilling portrait of premeditation and malice. Chad Doerman reportedly confessed to planning the murders of his sons for months, a chilling revelation that deepened the sense of shock and disbelief.
During his initial court appearance, Doerman pleaded not guilty, adding another layer of complexity to this already perplexing case. His defense attorneys have since filed a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, a claim that will be rigorously examined as the legal proceedings continue.
The trial of Chad Doerman is set to be a harrowing exploration of the darkest recesses of the human psyche. The prosecution, led by Clermont County Prosecutor Mark Tekulve, is seeking the death penalty, vowing to ensure that Doerman “never sees the light of day again.”
A Legacy of Loss, a Community’s Resilience
The tragic deaths of Hunter, Clayton, and Chase Doerman serve as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the devastating consequences of violence. Their loss has left an unfillable void in the hearts of their loved ones and a community forever scarred by this senseless act.
In the face of unimaginable grief, the community of Monroe, Ohio, has shown remarkable resilience, rallying around the surviving members of the Doerman family and seeking solace in shared memories of three young lives tragically cut short.
As the legal battle continues, the nation watches and waits, hoping that justice will be served and that the truth, no matter how painful, will be revealed. The case of Chad Doerman is a chilling testament to the capacity for evil that can lurk beneath the surface of seemingly ordinary lives, leaving us to grapple with the haunting question: how could a father commit such an unspeakable act against his own flesh and blood?
