An Ohio man who is awaiting trial for killing his three sons last year filed an insanity plea on Monday.
WXIX reported that Chad Doerman, 32, formally pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. In turn, Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Lara Allen requested a second evaluation of Doerman’s mental state at the time of the murders.
Doerman’s plea comes about a week after Judge Richard Ferenc ruled that his interrogation video could not be shown at trial. He also ordered that statements taken before the initial questioning are inadmissible in court.
READ: Judge TOSSES Confession of Dad Accused of Executing 3 Young Sons in Front of Mom
Ferenc determined that Doerman’s rights were violated when Detective Michael Ross failed to read his Miranda Rights verbatim. Police questioned Doerman for three hours after he invoked his right to counsel — which the judge found also violated his rights.
Ross testified earlier this month, “He [Doerman] had made a comment that ‘the Bible says you kill your firstborn, you kill your second born, you kill your third born, but first you’re supposed to kill your wife. I didn’t kill my wife.’”
Doerman is set to stand trial in August for fatally shooting his three sons, ages 3, 4, and 7, on June 15, 2023. Doerman allegedly carried out the execution-style murders in front of his wife and stepdaughter. He was also accused of planning his sons’ slayings for months before doing so.
Doerman allegedly shot his 4-year-old son twice in the head in their Monroe Township home before shooting the 7-year-old as he tried to run away. The 7-year-old was wounded from behind when Doerman then shot him twice in the head from close range, according to prosecutors.
After allegedly killing his two sons, Doerman then snatched his 3-year-old son from his mother’s arms and shot him in the head. Doerman reportedly shot his children’s mother in the hand during the triple murder.
The stepdaughter reportedly fled the home on foot and found a neighbor who called the police. Before police responded to the scene, the boys’ mother told a 911 dispatcher her “babies had been shot.”
The three boys were found dead in a yard, while Doerman was found sitting next to the rifle on the porch.
Doerman has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder, kidnapping, and felonious assault. Clermont County Prosecutor Mark Tekulve said he could face the death penalty due to aggravating factors in this case. Prosecutors have not revealed a motive.
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[Featured image: Chad Doerman/Clermont County Sheriff’s Office; Facebook]
