Additional Coverage:
- Indiana carries out first execution in 15 years after inmate chooses Ben & Jerry’s ice cream as last meal (foxnews.com)
Indiana Execution
On Wednesday, Indiana executed Joseph Corcoran, 49, for the 1997 murders of four people, including his brother and his sister’s fiancé. This marks the state’s first execution in 15 years.
Corcoran was convicted of shooting his brother, James, 30; his sister’s fiancé, Robert Turner, 32; and two other men, Timothy Bricker and Douglas Stillwell, both 30. The motive was reportedly stress over his sister’s impending marriage, which would have forced him to move out of their shared home.
Despite Corcoran’s attorneys’ claims of severe mental illness, the Indiana Supreme Court rejected their request to halt his execution. Federal courts also denied his appeals.
Governor Eric Holcomb allowed the execution to proceed, stating that Corcoran’s case had been thoroughly reviewed and his sentence upheld.
Anti-death penalty activists protested outside the prison, arguing that the execution was unnecessary and inhumane. Corcoran’s wife spoke to reporters about his mental state and expressed her belief that he did not fully comprehend the situation.