Indiana

US state of Indiana executes Joseph Corcoran after 27 year legal battle

Published

1 year ago

December 18, 2024

US state of Indiana executes Joseph Corcoran after 27 year legal battle

The state of Indiana in the United States has carried out its first execution in 15 years, putting to death a man, whose lawyers say he was mentally ill, murdering four people in 1997, including his own brother.

Joseph Corcoran, 49, was executed by lethal injection and pronounced dead early Wednesday morning at the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City, officials said.

His last words were “Not really. Let’s get this over with,” a statement by the Indiana Department of Correction said.

Corcoran’s lawyers argued in court filings that carrying out the death penalty would violate the Constitution because he had long suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, including experiencing hallucinations and delusions, making him unable to understand the severity of his crimes.

Corcoran’s “longstanding and documented mental illness continues to torment him as it did at the time of the 1997 offence,” his legal team said.

His lawyer, Larry Komp, said the question of Corcoran’s mental health was never properly evaluated.

“There has never been a hearing to determine whether he is competent to be executed,” he said in a statement to The Associated Press. “It is an absolute failure for the rule of law to have an execution when the law and proper processes were not followed.”

More than two dozen people were gathered outside the prison before his execution to protest and pray, according to the Indy Star newspaper.

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 early Wednesday.

Indiana and Wyoming are the only two states that do not allow members of the media to witness state executions, according to a recent report by the Death Penalty Information Center.

Corcoran was going through a stressful period in July 1997 because the upcoming marriage of his sister meant he would have to move out of the home he was sharing with her and his brother in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

After he overheard his brother, James Corcoran, 30, talking about him, he loaded his rifle and shot his brother and three other men, including his sister’s fiance, according to court filings.

Corcoran had previously been acquitted of the murders of his parents, who were found shot dead in their home in 1992.

This undated photo shows Joseph Corcoran, who was executed on December 18 [Indiana Department of Corrections via AP]

“Serves no purpose”

Corcoran’s sister, Kelly Ernst, sought to stop the execution, saying she had forgiven him.

“I believe that the death penalty does not address grief or provide true justice especially for victims, and those with mental illness,” she wrote on December 2 on Facebook.

“Instead, it is a lengthy, costly and political process,” she added. “I believe his execution serves no purpose.”

Corcoran’s execution is the 24th in the United States this year. Indiana paused executions in 2009 because it was unable to obtain the necessary drugs, with pharmaceutical companies reluctant to be associated with capital punishment.

But Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb and Attorney General Todd Rokita, both Republicans, announced earlier this year that the state had acquired the drug – pentobarbital – and that executions would resume, beginning with Corcoran’s.

Corcoran sent a letter last month to the Indiana Supreme Court, saying he no longer wanted to litigate his case.

His lawyers nonetheless filed an emergency appeal to the US Supreme Court on Tuesday to stay the execution, which was ultimately rejected.

“Joseph Corcoran’s case has been reviewed repeatedly over the last 25 years – including 7 times by the Indiana Supreme Court and 3 times by the US Supreme Court, the most recent of which was tonight,” Holcomb said in a news release after the execution was completed.

Rokita also issued a statement, saying Corcoran “finally paid his debt to society as justice was provided to his victims”.

The death penalty has been abolished in 23 of the 50 US states, while six others – Arizona, California, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Tennessee – have moratoriums in place.

INTERACTIVE - Which states have the death penalty 2024-1727245173 — [Al Jazeera]

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Indiana

Looking ahead: Five takeaways on high school basketball regional matchups

Published

10 hours ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Looking ahead: Five takeaways on high school basketball regional matchups

The high school basketball regional matchups and sites are set. Still more to come on recapping sectional week, including a wild championship Saturday night, but wanted to get out some initial thoughts and takeaways on the upcoming regional round.

Showdown at Southport

Pike vs. Mt. Vernon.

Is Caitlin Clark going to show up again? She should.

This matchup, set for Saturday at 4 p.m. at Southport Fieldhouse, is probably the headliner of the 4A regional slate. The first game was insane, as the two teams combined for a state-record 30 3-pointers in Pike’s 84-81 overtime win.

What do we have for an encore? Third-ranked Pike got through the more difficult Sectional 11 at Plainfield, defeating the fifth-ranked Quakers 56-53 on Friday, rallying from a 15-point third-quarter deficit. The Red Devils (23-3) played confident in a 79-68 win over a pesky and physical Brownsburg in the championship game, led by 17 points and four assists from junior guard Jahari Miller and three others in double figures.

The x-factor is Luke Ertel. Pike coach Jeff Teague, after Saturday’s win, called the Mt. Vernon senior “the best player in the state.” He will not find many arguments there. The Purdue recruit led the fourth-ranked Marauders (24-3) to the Sectional 9 title at Greenfield-Central with 25 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in a 64-50 win over the host Cougars.

Not many better matchups (are there any?) around the state than this one.

The second game at Southport is interesting, too. Talented Lawrence Central (14-11) has won five in a row, including a 70-57 upset win over Lawrence North in Sectional 10 at Tech. Decatur Central (19-6) set a school record for wins and won its first sectional since 2005.

Class 4A north battle at Plymouth

You could make a case for Chesterton vs. No. 2 Crown Point at Michigan City, but to me the most interesting 4A north regional matchup is No. 6 Northridge (24-1) vs. No. 8 South Bend St. Joseph (21-4) at Plymouth.

Northridge and South Bend St. Joe are two dramatically different teams, which adds a little bit more intrigue to the game. Northridge won its first sectional championship in six years with a 48-37 win over Warsaw in the sectional at Elkhart.

The Raiders, led by senior and Indiana All-Star candidate Brady Scholl, leads the state in 4A in points allowed per game at 44.4. South Bend St. Joseph, last year’s 3A state champion, leads the state in scoring at 78.4 points per game.

That game is 7 p.m. at Plymouth, following the 4 p.m. Class 3A game between No. 6 Columbia City (22-4) and Hanover Central (12-14).

Intrigue at Greencastle

Fourth-ranked Northview is a really good 3A team. Anyone who watched the Hall of Fame Classic at New Castle can confirm. The Knights rolled to the Sectional 27 title at Speedway with a 64-43 win over Cascade behind an 18-point night from Trayven Buis and 17 from Quinn Lewis.

But I have my eye on Northview’s game against Roncalli (17-7) in the regional at Greencastle. The Royals came through a tough Sectional 26 at Greenwood, knocking off the host Woodmen 56-44 in the sectional championship. Roncalli is balanced and veteran and added a big piece to the puzzle with Joey Ortman returning from a back injury that cost him most of the season.

I think this has a chance to be one of the best games of the day anywhere in the state.

Doubleheader at Martinsville

Oh man. There are a couple of great matchups set for Martinsville.

The first, No. 4 Parke Heritage (23-4) vs. No. 5 Centerville (24-2) could potentially decide the Class 2A entry from the south in the state finals. It is a huge game, a rematch of Parke Heritage’s 47-41 win over Centerville in the same round last season.

We have written and talked quite a bit about Parke Heritage, which had its path stopped in the semistate the past three years. This could be the team to break through.

We have probably not written enough about Centerville, which steamrolled Hagerstown (85-57) and Shenandoah (66-36) to win the sectional. The Bulldogs have knocked off teams like Delta, Guerin Catholic, Liberty Christian and Pendleton Heights this season. Seniors Shea Hollendonner (19.7 ppg, 4.2 rebounds) and Landyn Keiser (11.1 ppg, 5.2 rebounds) are Centerville’s top players.

The second game also looks tantalizing. No. 3 Cathedral (21-5) defeated No. 10 Brebeuf Jesuit (18-6) on Dec. 5 by nine points, 71-62. It is a little surprising these programs have only met once previously in the tournament, a Brebeuf sectional win 25 years ago.

Brebeuf knocked off No. 5 Guerin Catholic 48-47 for the Sectional 25 championship at Frankfort and Cathedral took out Crispus Attucks 81-63 in the Sectional 26 championship at Broad Ripple.

Neither of these teams will be the favorite to come out of the 3A south – that is top-ranked Silver Creek (27-1) – but the winner at Martinsville might be the Dragons’ toughest challenger.

The Class 2A north

Loaded.

The Class 2A north bracket looks awesome. There are a couple heavyweight matchups in the regional – No. 3 Westview (24-1) vs. No. 7 Gary 21^st Century (17-6) at North Judson and Blackford (20-6) vs. No. 9 Lapel (20-5) at Lapel (cue the complaints that Lapel gets to host a regional game).

Gary 21^st Century, which beat Westview three years ago in the regional, is led by senior point guard Terrence Hayes Jr. (17.6 ppg, 6.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists), one of four players averaging in double figures. Kaden Grau (19.1 ppg, 5.1 rebounds) and Austin Schlabach (18.4 ppg, 5.5 assists) are standouts for Westview. Neither team was threatened in the sectional.

Blackford was challenged in the sectional, getting through Alexandria (62-54), Eastbrook (42-35) and Wapahani (49-39) in Sectional 40 at Eastbrook. Amarian Leggett (26.7 ppg, 4.3 assists) is one of the top sophomores in the state. Lapel has taken off since a 19-point loss to Oak Hill, winning 10 consecutive games. Owen Garber put up a cool 30 points in Lapel’s 77-54 sectional championship win over Sheridan in Sectional 39 at Elwood.

Here are the full regional matchups

Class 4A

Chesterton vs. Crown Point at Michigan City, 8 p.m.
Northridge vs. South Bend Saint Joseph at Plymouth, 7 p.m.
Fort Wayne Snider vs. Carmel at New Castle, 4 p.m.
Harrison (West Lafayette) vs. Homestead at Logansport, 4 p.m.
Mt. Vernon vs. Pike at Southport, 4 p.m.
Lawrence Central vs. Decatur Central at Southport, 7 p.m.
New Albany vs. Castle at Southridge, 4 p.m.
Columbus North vs. Terre Haute North at Greencastle, 7 p.m.

CLASS 3A

Columbia City vs. Hanover Central at Plymouth, 4 p.m.
East Chicago Central vs. Mishawaka Marian at Michigan City, 5 p.m.
West Lafayette vs. New Haven at Logansport, 1 p.m.
Delta vs. Blackhawk Christian at New Castle, 1 p.m.
Brebeuf Jesuit vs. Cathedral at Martinsville, 7 p.m.
Northview vs. Roncalli at Greencastle, 4 p.m.
Evansville Bosse vs. Princeton at Southridge, 1 p.m.
Silver Creek vs. Batesville at Charlestown, 4 p.m.

CLASS 2A

Westview vs. 21st Century Academy at North Judson, 7 p.m.
Bishop Luers vs. Bremen at Huntington North, 7 p.m.
Blackford at Lapel, 4 p.m.
Benton Central vs. Oak Hill at Frankfort, 4 p.m.
Parke Heritage vs. Centerville at Martinsville, 4 p.m.
Cardinal Ritter vs. Triton Central at Greenfield-Central, 7 p.m.
Paoli vs. Linton-Stockton at Seymour, 4 p.m.
Austin vs. Forest Park at Charlestown, 1 p.m.

CLASS A

Fort Wayne Canterbury vs. Tri-County at Huntington North, 4 p.m.
Triton vs. Marquette Catholic at North Judson, 4 p.m.
Monroe Central vs. Southwood at Lapel, 1 p.m.
Rossville vs. North Vermillion at Frankfort, 1 p.m.
South Decatur vs. Hauser at Seymour, 1 p.m.
Liberty Christian vs. Greenwood Christian at Greenfield-Central, 4 p.m.
Barr-Reeve vs. West Washington at Washington, 1 p.m.
Northeast Dubois vs. Bloomfield at Washington, 4 p.m.

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter. And be sure to subscribe to our new IndyStarTV: Preps YouTube channel.

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Indiana

Supercross: Results From Indianapolis, Indiana

Published

22 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Supercross: Results From Indianapolis, Indiana

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to have news value, may be placed on roadracingworld.com as a service to our readers.

A press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers. When a post is labeled with the words “press release”, it means that Roadracingworld.com is not responsible for its content and that Roadracingworld.com makes no guarantee that it is accurate. Not all press releases are posted and Roadracingworld.com may reject press releases if the content is too heavy on commercial promotion with little or no news value or if the press release contains obvious errors.

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IU basketball: Ohio State 91 Indiana 78 — Three keys, highlights, final stats

Published

1 day ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

IU basketball: Ohio State 91 Indiana 78 — Three keys, highlights, final stats

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Indiana lost to Ohio State Saturday evening at Value City Arena by a final score of 91-78.

The three keys to the game, highlights and final stats are below.

Ohio State led 50-33 at halftime. The Hoosiers were led in the game by Lamar Wilkerson with 18 points. Tucker DeVries added 17.

For Darian DeVries and Reed Bailey postgame, GO HERE.

Indiana will be the No. 10 seed in the Big Ten Tournament and will play on Wednesday evening in Chicago.

THREE KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Abysmal defense. Ohio State torched Indiana’s defense. The Buckeyes started the game hot from the field and never really cooled down. For the game OSU shot 59.2% overall including 45.8% from three. But the first half was the real story, when OSU made 67.9% overall and 61.5% (8 of 13) from three. The live stats indicate the Buckeyes scored 1.56 points per possession in the first half.

2. OSU takes away the three. Take away the three, slow down IU’s offense. Indiana got up just eight attempts from long range in the first half and made just one. Yes, OSU made as many threes as IU attempted in the first half. Lamar Wilkerson and Tucker DeVries combined to go 0 of 5 from long range before the break. The Hoosiers came in averaging more than 51% of their field goal attempts from three, but took just 28.6% of their shots from beyond the arc in the first half. Things didn’t get much better after the break, and IU shot just 5 of 18 from deep for the game.

3. First half turnovers. Indiana added insult to injury in the first half with eight turnovers that resulted in 13 Ohio State points. Several of those opportunities resulted in live ball scenarios where the Buckeyes were able to score before IU’s defense was set. Seven different Indiana players had first half turnovers. Those miscues plus Ohio State’s hot shooting contributed to a 15-4 Buckeye close to the first half to give them their biggest first half margin (17) at the break.

HIGHLIGHTS