A grieving mother from Pennsylvania is recalling the tragic night her husband was killed, reportedly by their 11-year-old son, after the boy’s Nintendo Switch was confiscated on his birthday.
“I’ve lost both my husband and my son. It’s just beyond words,” Jillian Dietz shared, reflecting on the heartbreak. She described her late husband, Douglas, as “the most amazing, incredible man,” noting their 11 years together.
On January 13, Jillian was asleep alongside her 42-year-old husband in their home in Duncannon when they were awakened by what authorities say was their son Clayton committing the act.
She previously recounted trying to wake Douglas, only to discover a disturbing noise that was eventually revealed to be his blood soaking into the bedding.
The couple adopted Clayton in 2018. Police responded to the house around 3:20 a.m., where Clayton reportedly confessed to the shooting.
According to court documents, a preteen girl exclaimed, “My daddy is dead,” and then claimed to her mother, “I killed my daddy.”
Jillian mentioned she was asleep during the chaotic moment, only to be startled awake by a loud sound she initially mistook for fireworks.
The day before, the family had celebrated Clayton’s birthday, singing and enjoying cake. Just after midnight, Jillian went to bed.
Clayton told police that, although he had a “good day” with his parents, the situation escalated when Douglas told him it was bedtime, leading to a furious response from the boy after his father locked his Nintendo in a safe.
The boy claimed that in the dead of night, he retrieved the safe key from his father’s drawer, unlocked it, and took both the console and an unloaded revolver.
The affidavit indicates that in a moment of rage, Clayton admitted to loading the gun, walking to his father’s bedside, and firing the weapon.
He stated he acted out of blind anger, admitting he “didn’t think” about the consequences of his actions.
Charged as an adult, the 11-year-old boy is facing murder charges for the shooting death of his father.
On February 19, he appeared in court surrounded by probation officers.
Friends of Douglas characterized him as a “gentle soul” who faced tragic circumstances.
One close friend, Rachel Stepp, emphasized Jillian’s enduring love for her son, irrespective of the situation. “He’s still her child,” she noted.
Stepp remembered Douglas as a compassionate individual who deeply loved Jillian, describing him as hardworking and easygoing.
In addition to Clayton, Douglas had two older children from a previous marriage.
