Chad Doerman, aged 33, tragically murdered his three young sons, Clayton (7), Hunter (4), and Chase (3), in a chilling incident at their residence.
The horrifying details of the incident in 2023 were disclosed by Prosecuting Attorney Mark Tekulve following the sentencing. He recounted the events leading up to Doerman’s decision to end his children’s lives.
On a fateful day, Doerman had lunch with his wife, Laura, and made a cryptic statement, saying it would be his last good meal. Despite Laura’s unease, she did not anticipate any danger to the family. Subsequently, Doerman spent time in the afternoon engaging in household chores and playing with the children.
Around 3.30 to 3.45 pm, Doerman was seen reading the Bible to his four-year-old son Hunter, muttering about knowing what was right. Shortly before 4 pm, he gathered his family in the master bedroom under the guise of taking a nap. Meanwhile, his stepdaughter, aged 12, was in another room watching TV.
When Doerman accessed the gun safe, his actions alarmed Laura, who expressed her fear. This led to a harrowing sequence of events that deeply affected law enforcement officers.
Despite professing his love for his family and praising his sons, Doerman abruptly grabbed a .22 rifle from the safe. Initially, his family feared he might harm himself.
Amidst cries and pleas from Laura and the children, Doerman shot Hunter multiple times after flinging Laura’s phone when she attempted to call for help. He then pursued Laura and his stepdaughter outside, forcibly taking his other sons, Clayton and Chase, before fatally shooting them. While the 12-year-old girl escaped unharmed, Laura sustained a gunshot wound while trying to shield one of her sons.
Doerman was apprehended on the same day and faced charges of aggravated murder, kidnapping, and felonious assault. Despite pleading not guilty by reason of insanity, his legal team argued for leniency due to his mental state at the time of the offense.
Prosecutors initially sought the death penalty but eventually reached a plea agreement with Doerman, resulting in three life sentences. They emphasized that this decision was made in consideration of the survivors’ well-being.
Laura expressed her devastation, acknowledging that no punishment could bring back her sons. Nonetheless, she found solace in the certainty that Doerman would spend the rest of his life incarcerated, believing it to be the best outcome for her family.
In a statement, Laura affirmed her agreement with the resolution of the criminal case, finding closure in the plea deal and multiple life sentences. She cherished the memories of her sons as joyful, loving boys who enjoyed fishing, go-karting, and swimming.
The statement concluded by honoring the boys’ vibrant spirits and emphasizing that their lives were more than the tragic end they met. The sentiment expressed was one of love and remembrance for Clayton, Hunter, and Chase.
