Dad pleads not guilty to fatally shooting and 'slaughtering' 3 young sons in yard

CLERMONT COUNTY, Ohio (TCD) -- A 32-year-old father accused of shooting his three young sons pleaded not guilty to 21 charges after he allegedly confessed to the killing.

The Clermont County Sheriff’s Office announced Thursday, June 22, that a grand jury returned an indictment charging Chad Doerman with nine counts of aggravated murder, eight counts of first-degree kidnapping, and four counts of felonious assault for allegedly killing 7-year-old Clayton, 4-year-old Hunter, and 3-year-old Chase Doerman on June 15. Chad Doerman appeared in court Friday, June 23, for his arraignment and entered the not guilty plea.

According to WXIX-TV, Clermont County Prosecutor Mark Tekulve alleged in court Doerman killed 4-year-old Hunter inside their home on Laurel Lindale Drive first, then shot 7-year-old Clayton. Tekulve said Clayton reportedly ran away, but Doerman caught up with him and he was "gunned down from behind."

Then, Doerman allegedly "ripped" 3-year-old Chase out of his wife’s arms and shot him in the head.

Tekulve told the Cincinnati Enquirer, "My goal is to have this man executed for slaughtering these three boys."

The children’s mother was shot in the hand as she tried to protect her sons.

The judge ordered Doerman to be held in the Clermont County Jail without bail. He was initially being held on $20 million.

On Thursday, June 15, at 4:15 p.m., a woman called 911 saying her "babies had been shot." Minutes later, a bystander contacted 911 and reported a girl "was seen running down the road stating that her 'father was killing everybody.'"

Clermont County deputies arrived at Doerman’s home and found him sitting on the front porch near the three boys, who were dead in the yard.

WXIX reports prosecutors said Doerman "confessed to planning and carrying out the deaths of victims involved for several months."

MORE:

• Grand Jury Indictment Issued - Clermont County Sheriff's Office
• Graphic: Sons 'gunned down, ripped from mother’s arms' by Clermont County dad, prosecutor says - WXIX
• Chad Doerman: Father accused of executing sons could face death penalty - Cincinnati Enquirer
• Clayton, Hunter, and Chase Doerman obituary
• 'Incomprehensible cruelty': Ohio dad accused of fatally shooting 3 sons execution-style in yard - TCD