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Indiana Supreme Court denies requests to stop execution of Joseph E. Corcoran

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Indiana Supreme Court denies requests to stop execution of Joseph E. Corcoran


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The Indiana Supreme Court has denied requests from the attorneys of Joseph E. Corcoran to stop his execution, which is scheduled to be carried out Dec. 18.

Corcoran’s attorneys asked the state’s highest court to halt the execution — which would be the first of a state prisoner since 2009 — arguing his lifelong struggles with mental health problems, including paranoid schizophrenia, have rendered him incapable of understanding the reality of his situation and the punishment he is about to face.

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Joanna Green, an Indiana State deputy public defender and one of Corcoran’s attorneys, said the decision handed down Thursday is disappointing and shows that “Indiana endorses executing the insane and the seriously mentally ill.”

“Without a hearing or further examination, the court seemingly determined our client is competent to be executed,” Green said. “The court has not afforded Mr. Corcoran even a modicum of due process. The evidence as presented to the court shows Mr. Corcoran is not competent.”

Corcoran’s attorneys have pointed to his delusions that Indiana Department of Correction officers are torturing him and controlling his mind using an ultrasound machine.

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“Mr. Corcoran’s paranoid schizophrenia completely removes him from reality,” his attorneys argued in motions asking the Supreme Court to stop the execution. “He cannot distinguish between reality and his delusions and hallucinations — his delusions are his reality. And because his reality is informed by his delusions and hallucinations, he is incapable of rational thought.”

Two days before the Supreme Court’s decision, it received an affidavit from Corcoran in which he asked the court to deny his own attorneys’ motions and expressed his wish to be put to death.

“I, Joseph Edward Corcoran, do not wish to litigate my case further. I am guilty of the crime I was convicted of, and accept the findings of all the appellate courts,” Corcoran wrote. “The long drawn out appeal history has addressed all the issues I wished to appeal, such as the issue of competency.”

Green acknowledged her client’s expressed desire for execution. But she said these statements reflect Corcoran’s history of masking his mental illness and his belief that death would allow him to escape a lifetime in prison and the torture he believes was being inflicted upon him.

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The Indiana Attorney General’s Office declined to comment.

In court filings, the agency acknowledged that Corcoran is mentally ill — but that he is competent to be executed. Deputy Attorney General Tyler Banks pointed to Corcoran’s own statements saying his claims of being tortured were made up.

Banks argued in court filings that Corcoran’s attorneys’ case for incompetence was based “on a factual premise that Corcoran admits is a lie.”

In 2005, Corcoran wrote an affidavit saying he lied to his psychiatrists in order to get sleep medication, and “no mental illness or delusions or hallucinations” are influencing his decision.

“The truth is no mental illness or delusions or hallucinations are influencing my decision to waive my appeals,” Corcoran wrote. “The fact is I am guilty of murder and I think that I should therefore be executed.”

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Corcoran, of Allen County, was convicted and sentenced to death in 1999 for shooting and killing four people, including his own brother. Court documents say he became enraged when he heard the four talking about him. After putting his 7-year-old niece in an upstairs bedroom, Corcoran loaded his semiautomatic rifle and shot the victims. He then put his rifle down, went to the neighbor’s house and asked them to call the police.

Indiana has not executed an inmate since 2009. The state paused executions because of a lawsuit and other complications that prevented officials from obtaining the mixture of drugs used in its lethal injection protocol. In June, Gov. Eric Holcomb and Attorney General Todd Rokita announced they are seeking to resume executions after prison officials acquired the drug pentobarbital to carry out death sentences.

Seven other people are on Indiana’s death row.

Contact IndyStar reporter Kristine Phillips at (317) 444-3026 or at kphillips@indystar.com.



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Kelsey Mitchell winner completes Fever comeback against Mercury, without Caitlin Clark

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Kelsey Mitchell winner completes Fever comeback against Mercury, without Caitlin Clark


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PHOENIX — The Indiana Fever barely eked out of Mortgage Matchup Arena with a 92-89 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Thursday night on the second night of a back-to-back.

Caitlin Clark (rest) did not play after making her return on a minutes restriction on Wednesday against Los Angeles. Aliyah Boston, who missed the game against L.A. for precautionary reasons, finished with 19 points and eight rebounds against the Mercury.

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Kelsey Mitchell scored 29 points on 10-of-22 shooting, adding on eight assists. She hit the game-winning layup with 10 seconds left. Tyasha Harris finished with 15 points and five assists, including a stretch of nine of 11 Fever points to close the gap.

Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas had 22 points, six rebounds and seven assists, Kahleah Copper added 22 points and five rebounds.

Here’s what I liked and disliked, and what the win means.

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What I liked in the Indiana Fever’s win vs Phoenix Mercury

  • Early 3-point shooting: One of Boston’s main focuses this offseason was improving her 3-point shot, and it’s coming to fruition. She made two 3-pointers in the first quarter, helping lead the Fever to six total makes beyond the arc in the opening 10-minute period. Harris, starting in place of Clark, had two 3-pointers in the first quarter, as well, with Lexie Hull and Mitchell each making one. At the time, it was big for the Fever to maintain a lead.
  • Roaring back in the third quarter: Basketball is a game of runs, and the Fever embodied that. They led by 12 in the first, then trailed by four at halftime, then went on a 20-9 run over seven minutes in the third quarter to take a one-point lead by the end of the third. Mitchell was the one to lead that comeback, scoring nine points on 3-of-6 shooting along with three assists in that quarter. The third was crucial for the Fever not just to get back into the lead, but, especially on a back-to-back, to try and have the mental fortitude to close the game out.
  • Tyasha Harris coming in clutch: Harris’ role has expanded since Clark has been out (or limited), and she is making the most of her minutes. She scored nine points in the fourth quarter alone, including a 3-pointer with three minutes left to take the lead, then four straight points to give the Fever the lead again with 44 seconds left. She finished the game with 15 points and five assists, being the facilitator the Fever need while Clark recovers.

What I disliked in the Indiana Fever’s win vs Phoenix Mercury

  • Second-quarter slide: For the second straight game, the Fever held a double-digit lead in the first quarter then were trailing by halftime. The Fever allowed the Mercury to shoot 12 of 20 from the field in the second quarter (and 5 of 8 from 3-point range), completely negating the Fever’s six 3-pointers from the first quarter. Phoenix went on a 12-2 run over the final three minutes of the quarter, too, taking advantage of the Fever’s off the mark shots.
  • Silly mistakes: In a close game like this, every possession matters. And every mistake compounds. The Fever had a few in the second half, including a shot-clock violation from Harris where she wasn’t even in shooting motion yet, a defensive three-seconds foul from Aliyah Boston, a backcourt violation from Kelsey Mitchell, and another shot clock violation from Raven Johnson to start the fourth quarter. All of those mistakes gives Phoenix extra points or extra possessions. While the Fever ultimately won the game, it made it closer than it needed to be.

What the Indiana Fever’s win vs Phoenix Mercury means

Indiana (13-9) is a strong team offensively, but recently, the Fever haven’t been able to get out of their own way on defense. It showed in the runs they gave up to Phoenix, flip-flopping the lead and forcing the Fever to continue to play from behind. It worked out for Indiana this time around, finding what they needed when they needed it, but it won’t be sustainable long term.

Chloe Peterson is the Indiana Fever beat reporter for IndyStar. Reach her at chloe.peterson@indystar.com or follow her on X at @chloepeterson67. Get IndyStar’s Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark coverage sent directly to your inbox with our Caitlin Clark Fever newsletter. Subscribe to IndyStar TV: Fever for in-depth analysis, behind-the-scenes coverage and more.



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Attempted murder suspect arrested in Indianapolis for Bloomington shooting

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Attempted murder suspect arrested in Indianapolis for Bloomington shooting


BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) — A Bloomington man was arrested Wednesday in Indianapolis on an attempted murder charge after police say he fired seven to eight rounds into a white GMC SUV occupied by three adults and four children last month in Bloomington before fleeing the area.

A news release issued Thursday from the Bloomington Police Department said members of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s special weapons and tactics team took Kafern P. Johnson, 32, into custody near the intersection of West 84th Street and Allison Avenue in Indianapolis without incident.

The arrest came more than two weeks after the June 23 shooting in the 1000 block of North Summit Street. That’s in a residential area next to Crestmont Park in Bloomington.

Monroe County Central Emergency Dispatch received 911 calls at 7:41 p.m. June 23 reporting gunfire in the area.

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Responding patrol officers and detectives determined Johnson had fired into the SUV following a verbal fight with the vehicle’s driver. Police said the dispute stemmed from an argument over a relationship.

No injuries were reported despite the number of people inside the vehicle.

Following his arrest, Johnson was taken to an IMPD facility for questioning and later booked into the Marion County jail. On Thursday morning, he was booked into the Monroe County jail.

The release said Johnson could face felony charges of attempted murder, criminal recklessness with a firearm, and pointing a firearm. No formal charges have yet been filed, according to online court records.

Bloomington police asked anyone with additional information to call 812-349-3324.

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This story was formatted for WISHTV.com using AI-assisted tools. Our editorial team reviews and edits all content published to ensure it meets our journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness.



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FAIRFIELD NATIVE AND HIS WIFE FOUND DEAD IN THEIR NEWBURGH, INDIANA HOME

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FAIRFIELD NATIVE AND HIS WIFE FOUND DEAD IN THEIR NEWBURGH, INDIANA HOME


Fairfield native, David K. Wells, 69, and his wife Aileen, were found dead inside their home in Newburgh, Indiana, Monday night. Warrick County Sheriff Michael Wilder said that deputies responded to the residence just before 8:00 p.m. after dispatch received a call around 7:40 p.m. from a friend of the family requesting a welfare check. When officers didn’t get an answer at the door, they entered through the back of the home and found the couple deceased. Officers cleared the home and waited for detectives to arrive. Investigators also obtained a search warrant to do a further examination of the residence. Authorities were able to notify family members and conduct interviews to gather additional information. Sheriff Wilder said investigators believe the couple had been dead for less than 24 hours before they were found. He also said there is no indication of any forced entry or an intruder. Sheriff Wilder has not made a formal determination as to what happened. Autopsies for the couple were scheduled for yesterday morning to help determine a cause. David Wells grew up in Fairfield and graduated from Fairfield High School in 1975. He had a long career in television commercial production in Evansville and had more recently operated the Cigar! Cigar! tobacco store in Evansville.



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