A judge has ruled the confession of an Ohio father accused of murdering his three sons inadmissible after finding he was not properly informed of his Miranda rights.
Chad Doerman was arrested in June 2023 and accused by authorities of fatally shooting the boys execution-style at their Monroe Township home, the Clermont County Sheriff’s Office said at the time. He has since been indicted on 21 counts, including nine counts of aggravated murder. He pleaded not guilty.
Authorities said Doerman confessed to the murders during questioning. However, in January, his attorneys filed a motion to suppress the confession, alleging that police did not properly advise Doerman of his Miranda rights and continued to question him after he requested an attorney, according to a copy of the judge’s ruling shared by a FOX 19 reporter, and reviewed by PEOPLE.
Police say the man killed his 3 sons and then confessed to police. His lawyer says his rights have been violated
On Friday, Judge Richard Ferenc ruled that prosecutors will not be able to use statements obtained by police during Doerman’s interrogation, saying police violated his rights by failing to properly inform him of his Miranda rights and continuing to question him after he requested an attorney.
“The defendant’s Miranda rights were violated when the custodial interrogation continued after the defendant clearly and unambiguously invoked his right to counsel when he said [the detective]”I will wait for the lawyer, I don’t know, give me a few days, I can talk to the lawyer and get some good answers,” Ferenc wrote in his verdict.
Chad Doerman.
Clermont County Sheriff’s Office
Police were alerted to the killings in June when a woman called 911 and screamed that her “babies had been shot,” the sheriff’s office said at the time.
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The three children, later identified as Clayton, 7, Hunter, 4, and Chase, 3, were allegedly lined up and shot by their father, police said. One of the boys tried to run away, but police said Doerman “hunted him down” and shot him.
Father shot and killed 3 young brothers in Ohio, mother injured: My ‘babies were shot!’
Police body camera footage obtained by FOX 19 reportedly shows officers forcing Doerman to the ground and handcuffing him after they found him sitting on the stairs with a rifle by his side. When asked what was going on, Doerman calmly told a sheriff’s deputy, “Nothing.”
The boy’s mother was injured while trying to shield her sons from the gunfire, authorities said.
Court records show Doerman is scheduled to go to trial in July.
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Source: HIS Education