Indiana man who killed brother, three others will be put to death in state’s 1st execution in 15 years

Joseph Corcoran, convicted in 1997 killings, faces Indiana's first execution in 15 years amid mental illness claims and legal battles.

An Indiana man convicted in the 1997 killings of his brother and three other people is set to receive a lethal injection by early Wednesday (December 11, 2024) in the state's first execution in 15 years.

Joseph Corcoran, 49, has been on death row in Indiana since 1999, the year he was convicted in the shootings of his brother, 30-year-old James Corcoran, his sister's fiancé, 32-year-old Robert Scott Turner, and two other men: Timothy G. Bricker, 30, and Douglas A. Stillwell, 30.

Barring last-minute Court action or intervention by Governor Eric Holcomb, Corcoran is set to be put to death before sunrise Wednesday (Dec. 11, 2024) at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, according to state Officials. Last summer, the Governor announced the resumption of state executions after a years-long hiatus marked by a scarcity of lethal injection drugs nationwide.

The state has provided few details about the process, including a specific execution time. No media witnesses will be permitted under state law. Indiana prison Officials provided photos of the execution chamber in advance, showing a space that looks like a sparse operating room with a gurney, bright fluorescent lighting, a floor drain and interior windows to an adjacent viewing room.

Corcoran's attorneys have fought the death penalty sentence for years, arguing that Corcoran is severely mentally ill, which affects his ability to understand and make decisions. Corcoran exhausted his Federal appeals in 2016. Earlier this month, his attorneys asked the Indiana Supreme Court to stop his execution but the request was denied.

However, attorneys say since the justices were split 3-2 that signals there's a chance.

“Given that it is a close case, it shouldn’t be rushed through,” said defenceattorney Larry Komp. “He’s so extremely mentally ill. We think he’s irrational. We’ve never had a fair process.” Attorneys have said one sign of Corcoran's mental illness includes a handwritten affidavit that Corcoran wrote to the justices this month saying he was done litigating his case.