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11-year-old U.S. boy charged with killing father after being told to go to bed
Global News ^ | 1/16/2026 | Rachel Goodman

Posted on 01/16/2026 4:44:18 PM PST by simpson96

An 11-year-old boy has been charged with criminal homicide after his father was fatally shot in the family’s home.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, the boy had his Nintendo Switch taken away shortly before the shooting, and was ordered to go to bed.

In court documents obtained by local NBC News affiliate WGAL News 8, police identified Clayton Dietz, of Perry County, Pa., as the suspect in his father’s death. According to ABC Eyewitness News, police at the scene said they overheard Clayton tell his mother, “I killed Daddy.”

The incident occurred on Clayton’s birthday.

Douglas Dietz, 42, died from a gunshot wound to the head, according to the documents.

Dietz was found in his bed in the master bedroom he shared with his wife, which is connected to his son’s bedroom by a closet, according to the affidavit.

By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. According to the court filings, Dietz’s wife told police she was woken from her sleep by a loud noise and the smell of something that reminded her of fireworks. She said she tried to nudge her husband awake, but he didn’t move, according to the legal filing. She heard what she assumed was water dripping, but upon turning on the light, she discovered it was blood.

Police said Clayton came into the room and said, “Daddy’s dead.”

(Excerpt) Read more at globalnews.ca ...


TOPICS: Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: adoptedkid; adoption; claytondietz; culturerot; nintendo; pennsylvania; videogames
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1 posted on 01/16/2026 4:44:18 PM PST by simpson96
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To: simpson96

*Sigh* the kids these days ...


2 posted on 01/16/2026 4:47:12 PM PST by SkyDancer ( ~ Am Yisrael Chai ~)
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To: simpson96

No matter how angry I got with my Dad, I was never tempted to shoot him. Kids need Jesus in their lives.


3 posted on 01/16/2026 4:48:58 PM PST by EvilCapitalist (Pets are no substitute for children)
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To: simpson96

“ Dietz and his wife adopted Clayton in 2018, investigators said.”


4 posted on 01/16/2026 4:53:07 PM PST by Skywise
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To: Skywise

No good deed goes unpunished.


5 posted on 01/16/2026 4:54:56 PM PST by sport
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To: simpson96

He is a Sociopath and will have to be watched for the rest of his life.


6 posted on 01/16/2026 4:56:07 PM PST by Pirate Ragnar
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To: simpson96

He is a Sociopath and will have to be watched for the rest of his life.


7 posted on 01/16/2026 4:56:21 PM PST by Pirate Ragnar
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To: Skywise

Some kids are broken by the system to the point that no amount of love and caring can heal them.


8 posted on 01/16/2026 4:57:51 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (The tree accused of killed Sonny Bono was planted.)
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To: EvilCapitalist

To take it a step further ( I’m 74) I never thought killing anybody was a good idea at that age. I wished I didn’t have to put up with some people sure. I’ve had access to a fire arm since I was 11. Just never thought to kill somebody that wasn’t threatening me personally.


9 posted on 01/16/2026 4:58:53 PM PST by Equine1952 (MM1SS )
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To: simpson96; lightman

PA Ping!


10 posted on 01/16/2026 5:01:50 PM PST by airborne (Thank you Rush for helping me find FreeRepublic! )
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To: Skywise

Old cautionary sayings about adoption come to mind.


11 posted on 01/16/2026 5:02:14 PM PST by fso301
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To: Skywise
“ Dietz and his wife adopted Clayton in 2018, investigators said.”

He was 5 when adopted ... wonder what the first 6 years of his life were like. Some kids are terminally broken ... He belongs in prison ... but that won't fix him.

12 posted on 01/16/2026 5:02:27 PM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: Pirate Ragnar

“He is a Sociopath and will have to be watched for the rest of his life.”

Which should be about 6 months.

L


13 posted on 01/16/2026 5:03:07 PM PST by Lurker ( Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.s)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

“ Some kids are broken by the system to the point that no amount of love and caring can heal them.”
*****************************************************

True. But some kids, albeit likely a much smaller number, are simply “bad seeds” from conception.


14 posted on 01/16/2026 5:05:27 PM PST by House Atreides (I’m now ULTRA-MAGA-PRO-MAX)
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To: Pirate Ragnar

Either a certifiable bad seed, or spoiled because he’s rarely, if ever, been told “no” before.


15 posted on 01/16/2026 5:05:30 PM PST by MayflowerMadam ( "Trouble knocked at the door, but, hearing laughter, hurried away". - B. Franklin)
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To: House Atreides
True. But some kids, albeit likely a much smaller number, are simply “bad seeds” from conception.

Generally used as an excuse for very poor parenting.

I have yet to see any baby who was a "bad seed".

16 posted on 01/16/2026 5:09:17 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (The tree accused of killed Sonny Bono was planted.)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

how bout a kid adopted at 4 yo like this one? How about one exposed to alcohol and other drugs in the womb?


17 posted on 01/16/2026 5:12:11 PM PST by sopo
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To: EvilCapitalist

I couldn’t agree more!


18 posted on 01/16/2026 5:15:06 PM PST by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: MayflowerMadam

I’d say it’s both.


19 posted on 01/16/2026 5:15:24 PM PST by No name given ( Anonymous is who you’ll know me as )
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To: simpson96

He’s a democrat already!!


20 posted on 01/16/2026 5:16:38 PM PST by Iron Munro (Pamela Geller: Where Islam dominates democracy and non-muslims perish.)
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