The statement of an Ohio man who confessed to police that he killed his family can no longer be used in court following a judge's ruling that his constitutional rights were violated.
Clermont County Common Pleas Judge Richard Ferenc wrote in a ruling that authorities failed to adequately notify Chad Doerman, 33, of his Miranda rights, including his right against self-incrimination and his right to an attorney, before for investigators to question him.
The ruling comes as Doerman faces trial for the alleged murder of his three children: 7-year-old Clayton, 4-year-old Hunter, and 3-year-old Chase.
Doerman was arrested on June 15 after police said he used a rifle to kill the three children, allegedly shooting one in his bedroom, then chasing the other two throughout the house and yard, before shooting both of them. each one several times. His wife and daughter, who later asked a neighbor for help, told authorities they witnessed the shootings.
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Police body camera footage shows the arrest of Chad Doerman after he allegedly shot and killed his three children. (Clermont County Sheriff's Office / BODY CAMS+ /TMX)
In Ferenc's ruling, which was made public last week, he said Doerman's Miranda rights “were violated” because detectives “failed to adequately and fully inform Doerman of them prior to initiating custodial interrogation and all statements obtained.” of Doerman during custodial interrogation will be suppressed and the State will not add any of these statements in its main case,” WLWT reported.
The judge continued: “Defendant's Miranda rights were violated when custodial interrogation continued after defendant had unequivocally and unequivocally invoked his right to counsel.”
Ferenc ruled that all statements obtained during interrogation must be excluded from the case.
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In June, Doerman was arrested after police responded to the home in Monroe Township and found him sitting outside with a rifle. According to court documents, Doerman was watching the mother, who was shot in the hand during the frantic situation, trying to save the life of one of the children in the yard.
Doerman was arrested June 15 after police said he used a rifle to kill his three children, allegedly shooting one in their bedroom and then chasing the other two throughout the house and yard. (Clermont County Sheriff's Office / BODY CAMS+ /TMX)
During the arrest, Doerman repeatedly confessed to fatally shooting the children, court documents show.
“The defendant made multiple statements to authorities, such as 'I did it. Take me to jail,' 'I shouldn't have done that. I shouldn't have shot.' [redacted] and them.' “The defendant also gave a statement during an audio and video recorded interview, during which he admitted to having been thinking about shooting his children since October,” according to the documents, WCPO reported.
When officers responded to the scene, body camera footage captured the children's mother saying, “They're dead, right? He took my life. He shot them all.”
Clermont County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested Doerman at his home on June 15. (Clermont County Sheriff's Office / BODY CAMS+ /TMX)
Doerman was later charged with aggravated murder, kidnapping and felonious assault.
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Doerman first appeared in court on June 16, a day after the murders. During the hearing, Clermont County Deputy Prosecutor David Gast told the judge that the alleged crimes were “the most serious crime we have on record.”
Doerman is accused of murdering his three sons: 7-year-old Clayton, 4-year-old Hunter, and 3-year-old Chase. (Clermont County Sheriff's Office / BODY CAMS+ /TMX)
“This is it. You can't commit a more serious crime,” Gast added, according to WCPO.
Doerman subsequently pleaded not guilty to the murders on June 23 and the judge ordered him held in the Clermont County Jail on $20 million cash bail.
His trial is expected to begin in July.
