Indiana inmate's sister decries his execution, forgives him for killing her fiancé

Joseph Corcoran is set to become the first death row inmate to be executed by the state of Indiana since 2009, and his path to the death chamber has caused sorrow to his family, especially his older sister who nearly three decades later has changed her mind about the man convicted of killing her then-fiancé.

In an interview conducted in July 1997, Kelly Ernst, formerly Kelly Nieto, spoke to the Associated Press about Corcoran, who at the time was only accused of murdering their brother 30-year-old James Corcoran; her fiancé 32-year-old Robert Scott Turner; and the men's two friends; 30-year-old Timothy Bricker and 30-year-old Douglas Stillwell. Joseph Corcoran, now 49, lived with Ernst in the Fort Wayne, Indiana home where the murders occurred, according to court documents.

"Everything's gone. He's ruined my life," Ernst told the outlet in 1997. "I hope he fries."

Corcoran was convicted of killing the four men on May 22, 1999, and sentenced to death on Aug. 26, 1999. The quadruple murders occurred five years after Corcoran was acquitted of the fatal shootings of his parents, 53-year-old Jack Corcoran and 47-year-old Kathryn Corcoran. Nieto also told the AP after the string four killings that she believed her brother murdered their parents at the family's Ball Lake, Indiana home on April 14, 1992.

Now, Ernst is opposing her brother's execution and condemning her previous comments.

"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 wrote in a Facebook post shared on Dec. 2. "I believe in moving forward not backward."

With Corcoran's execution looming, Paste BN is looking at the four men he was convicted of murdering and his recently rekindled relationship with his older sister.

Who was James Corcoran?

James Corcoran, a Marine soldier, was eight years older than his younger brother and eventual killer.

The eldest son grew up alongside Joseph, Ernst and their other sister, Kimberly Brown, in Hamilton, Indiana. Their father, Jack, was a strict disciplinarian and a heavy drinker, while their mother, Katherine, was a housewife with a history of depression, according to court documents.

The relationship between the brothers was complex, as Joseph Corcoran alleged in court records that his older brother used to tease and beat him up quite often during their adolescence. The younger Corcoran did acknowledge in the court documents that he admired his brother.

Joseph Corcoran even recalled his brother teaching him how to swim by throwing him into deep water and letting him "thrash around until (he) almost drowned," court documents read. His older brother watched and laughed, but Corcoran said, "Eventually because of this I learned to doggie paddle, and from there learned to swim," according to court records.

Who were Timothy Bricker and Douglas Stillwell?

According to his obituary, Bricker was a Fort Wayne native who worked as an arborist, or a professional who studies trees, shrubs, vines and other greenery.

Stillwell worked as a service technician for Comcast Cable for four years, but he was also an Army Veteran and served in the National Guard, his obituary reads.

Bricker was survived by his daughter and two sons, while Stillwell was survived by his wife and son, according to 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 said in a social media post that she has "forgiven" Corcoran after he killed her then-fiancé, Robert Scott Turner.

Ernst said in the post her brother has recently "expressed remorse and regret in written correspondence." She also mentioned how back in 1997 she did not know her brother had paranoid schizophrenia, which is a disorder Corcoran was later diagnosed with in 1999 by two doctors during his pre-sentencing memorandum.

"Nearly 30 years have passed since the events occurred and only afterwards was Joe diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia," Ernst wrote. "I assume he is now on medication for his condition."

Ernst told the Associated Press she had not been in contact with her brother for 10 years until recently, adding that it's “fairly obvious” he struggles with mental illness.

Ernst confirmed in the Facebook post that she will not attend her brother's execution on Wednesday, "neither as family (nor) as victim," because she believes "it would take a piece of me that I will not get back."

"I believe that the death penalty does not address grief or provide true justice especially for victims, and those with mental illness, it fails to bring closure or relief as I believe there is no such thing as closure," her social media post reads. "Instead, it is a lengthy, costly and political process. My views on the death penalty have evolved as I’ve matured."

"I hope the other victims are also moving forward and finding peace. This situation is deeply sad and tragic. I believe his execution serves no purpose."

Contributing: Kristine Phillips, Indianapolis Star