Indiana Executes Joseph Corcoran on December 18, 2024

Joseph Corcoran, Indiana

Updated: Wednesday, December 18, 2024

On Wednesday, December 18, 2024, Joseph Corcoran was executed in Indiana.  Joseph was pronounced dead at 12:44 am local time, inside the execution chamber at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, Indiana.  Joseph was 49 years of age.  He was executed for murdering his 30-year-old brother James Corcoran, 32-year-old Robert Scott Turner, 30-year-old Douglas Stillwell, and 30-year-old Timothy Bricker, in Fort Wayne, Indiana on July 26, 1997.  Joseph spent the last 25 years of his life on death row in Indiana.

Joseph was born and raised in Hamilton, Indiana.  His parents had three other children, two girls and another boy.  He graduated from high school, where he was known as a loner, and went on to work as a machine operator.  On April 14, 1992, Joseph’s parents, 53-year-old Jack Corcoran, and 47-year-old Kathryn Corcoran were discovered dead inside their home.  They had been shot to death.  

Circumstantial evidence pointed to Joseph as their killer, however, there was no direct evidence.  Joseph was arrested and charged with the murders.  After a five-day trial in November 1992, a jury acquitted Joseph due to insufficient evidence.  According to his sister, Joseph was relieved by the acquittal and indicated his plans to graduate and join the Marines like his father.  

Five years later, Joseph Corcoran was living with one of his sisters.  His sister was engaged to Robert Turner and had told Joseph he would have to move out after the wedding.  His brother had already refused to let Joseph live with him, allegedly causing Joseph stress about where he was going to live.

On July 26, 1997, Joseph’s brother James Corcoran, Robert Turner, Douglas Stilwell, and Timothy Bricker were eating pizza in the living room and talking.  Joseph, who was upstairs heard them talking about him and became angry.  He made sure his seven-year-old niece, who was also home, was safe in a bedroom before grabbing a semi-automatic rifle, loading it, and going downstairs.  Joseph then shot and killed his brother, Robert, and Timothy.  Douglas attempted to flee, however, Joseph caught up with him in the kitchen and shot and killed him.  Joseph then laid down his weapon and went to a neighbor’s house and asked them to call the police.  

Joseph immediately surrendered and confessed to the police when they arrived.  Police searched the house and discovered the dead bodies, the young girl hiding, and a collection of weapons in the attic.  The attic was locked and only Joseph had a key.  

Before trial, the state offered two plea deals that would eliminate the possibility of the death sentence.  Joseph, against the advice of his attorneys, rejected both deals.  Psychiatrists who examined Joseph had determined that he was competent to stand trial and aid his attorneys in his defense.  

At first, Joseph claimed he was not guilty by reason of insanity.  This plea was withdrawn after court-appointed doctors found him competent to stand trial.  Joseph claimed he had either paranoid or schizotypal personality disorder.  A jury found him guilty of all four murders and sentenced him to death.

Since his sentencing, Joseph has confirmed his guilt before a judge while requesting that all his appeals be dropped and his execution allowed to proceed.  Following this request, doctors diagnosed him with paranoid schizophrenia. However, the doctors also determined that Joseph was mentally competent to waive his appeals.  Joseph stated that he wanted to “ be executed for what I have done and not because I am supposedly tortured with ultrasound or whatever. I am guilty of murder. I should be executed.”

Pray for peace for the families of  James Corcoran, Robert Turner, Douglas Stilwell, and Timothy Bricker.  Pray for strength for the family of Joseph Corcoran.