An Indiana man convicted of killing four people, including his brother and his sister’s fiancé, decades ago was put to death early Wednesday, marking the state’s first execution in 15 years. Joseph Corcoran, 49, was pronounced dead at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City. Corcoran was scheduled to be executed with the powerful sedative pentobarbital. Corcoran’s execution was the 24th in the U.S. this year, the Associated Press reports. The state provided limited details about the execution process, and no media witnesses were permitted under state law. However, Corcoran chose a reporter for the Indiana Capital Chronicle as one of his witnesses, the outlet’s editor posted on X.
Four people viewed the execution through a one-way window in a small adjacent room, said Corcoran attorney Larry Komp. He said he the reporter and two family members were witnesses. The death took eight minutes, according to Komp. By the state’s account, Corcoran’s last words were: “Not really. Let’s get this over with.” Komp said “there was no way to tell” if Corcoran was in pain. Indiana and Wyoming are the only two states that do not routinely allow members of the media to witness state executions, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. The Indiana Capital Chronicle said witnesses were only allowed to watch the execution for six minutes before blinds to the viewing room were closed. Corcoran, whose pastor was allowed in the room with him during the execution, “appeared awake with his eyes blinking, but otherwise still and silent,” according to the newspaper. Corcoran was convicted in the 1997 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.