Corcoran was found guilty of murdering four men on May 22, 1999, and was given the death penalty on Aug. 26, 1999. This set of killings took place five years following Corcoran’s acquittal for the fatal shooting of his parents, Jack Corcoran, 53, and Kathryn Corcoran, 47. Nieto suggested to the AP after the string of four murders that she suspected her brother of killing their parents at the family’s Ball Lake, Indiana residence on April 14, 1992. Presently, Ernst is against her brother’s impending execution and disavowing her earlier statements. She acknowledged, “At the time of his actions, I was too naïve, self-absorbed, and uneducated to recognize his condition for what it was, while I couldn’t say I should’ve known, I could’ve known better.” Ernst expressed these sentiments in a Facebook post shared on Dec. 2, stating her belief in moving forward. As Corcoran’s execution date approaches, USA TODAY explores the four men he was convicted of killing and his renewed relationship with his elder sister.
Who was James Corcoran?
James Corcoran, a Marine soldier, was eight years older than his sibling and eventual killer. The eldest son grew up in Hamilton, Indiana alongside Joseph, Ernst, and their sister, Kimberly Brown. Their father, Jack, was described as a strict disciplinarian and heavy drinker, while their mother, Katherine, was a homemaker with a history of depression. The bond between the brothers was intricate, with Joseph Corcoran admitting in court records that his older brother often teased and physically harmed him during their youth. Despite the turmoil, the younger Corcoran acknowledged his admiration for his brother. Joseph recalled moments of his brother teaching him how to swim by throwing him into deep water, a method that led him to learn how to swim, as documented in court records.
Who were Timothy Bricker and Douglas Stillwell?
According to his obituary, Bricker was a native of Fort Wayne who worked as an arborist. Stillwell was employed as a service technician for Comcast Cable and also served as an Army Veteran in the National Guard. Bricker was survived by his daughter and two sons, while Stillwell was survived by his wife and son, as indicated in their obituaries.
The ultimate punishment: A look at the state of the death penalty in the U.S.
Kelly Ernst: ‘I have forgiven him’
Ernst shared on social media that she has forgiven Corcoran after he took the life of her former fiancé, Robert Scott Turner. She mentioned in the post that her brother has shown remorse and regret in written communications. Ernst admitted to not knowing about her brother’s paranoid schizophrenia in 1997, a condition that Corcoran was diagnosed with in 1999 by two doctors during his pre-sentencing memorandum. She reflected, ”
“Not as family or as victim,” because she feels that “it would take a piece of me that I will not get back.” “I think that the death penalty does not address grief or offer true justice, particularly for victims and those with mental illness; it fails to bring closure or relief as I do not believe in the concept of closure,” reads her social media post. “Instead, it is a prolonged, expensive, and politicized process. My perspective on the death penalty has changed as I have grown older.”
“I wish that the other victims are also moving forward and discovering peace. This situation is profoundly sorrowful and tragic. I do not see any purpose in his execution.”
Contributing: Kristine Phillips, Indianapolis Star
This article was first published on USA TODAY: Joseph Corcoran to be executed in Indiana, his sister forgives him.
