Opinion ID: 853104
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Propriety of the Death Sentence

Text: We also address Corcoran's final argument from his original appeal that his sentence is manifestly unreasonable. (Appellant's Br. at 55.) Although Article VII, § 4 of the Indiana Constitution authorizes us to review and revise sentences, we will do so only when the sentence is manifestly unreasonable in light of the nature of the offense and the character of the offender. Ind. Appellate Rule 7(B). When reviewing death sentences, this standard stands more as a guidepost for our appellate review than an immovable pillar supporting a sentence decision. See Spranger v. State, 498 N.E.2d 931, 947 n. 2 (Ind.1986), cert. denied, 481 U.S. 1033, 107 S.Ct. 1965, 95 L.Ed.2d 536 (1987). The nature of the offense is clear; Corcoran and his defense team do not dispute the events. (R. at 1994-95, State's Exh. 77; R. at 2175-76; Appellant's Br. at 55.) On July 26, 1997, Corcoran was lying on his bedroom floor and heard men's voices. He became upset because he thought the men were talking about him and took a semi-automatic rifle downstairs to confront them. In the living room were four men, including Corcoran's brother and future brother-in-law, both of whom lived in the house with Corcoran. Corcoran shot and killed Jim Corcoran, Scott Turner and Timothy Bricker at close range. The final victim, Doug Stillwell, tried to escape, but Corcoran chased him into the kitchen and shot him in the head. Despite these uncontested facts, Corcoran argues vehemently that his mental health should be of utmost significance in determining his sentence. Seven qualified doctors analyzed Corcoran, (R. at 2904-08, Def.'s Pre-Sent. Memo. at 20-25), and while they offered varying opinions, (R. at 2907, Def.'s Pre-Sent. Memo. at 20-25), it appears that the consensus was that Corcoran suffered from schizotypal or paranoid personality disorder. (R. at 2306; 2309-10, Def.'s Exh. C; 2904; 2908; Def.'s Pre-Sent. Memo. at 20-25.) In Corcoran's pre-sentencing memorandum, the defense presented the opinions of two doctors who interviewed Corcoran in 1999, two years after the murders, and diagnosed him as suffering from schizophrenia, paranoid type. (Def.'s Pre-Sent. Memo. at 23.) Moreover, Dr. Engum, who testified at the penalty phase of the trial, originally opined that Corcoran suffered from schizotypal personality disorder and later changed his opinion, with [the benefit of] hindsight, to suggest that progression to schizophrenia was possible. (Def.'s Pre-Sent. Memo. at 22.) The trial court expressed understandable concern with these diagnoses. Each was performed two years after the murders and with the knowledge of the jury's death sentence recommendation. (R. at 2905-06; Def.'s Pre-Sent. Memo. at 22-25.) As Dr. Engum stated, [A]n estimated 10 to 20 percent of patients with Schizotypal personality disorder eventually progress to full-blown schizophrenia. (Def.'s Pre-Sent. Memo. at 22.) Whether or not Corcoran had progressed to schizophrenia two years after the crime is immaterial; rather, we are concerned with his mental state at the time of the murders, which consensus says and the trial court found to be schizotypal personality disorder. (R. at 2904.) Corcoran does not assert on appeal that his subsequent mental illness prevents the imposition of the death penalty. In addition to monitoring Corcoran's demeanor throughout trial, the court listened to and considered each of the doctor's reports. The trial judge said: The Court is not convinced that [Corcoran]'s affliction meets the legal definition of mental disease or defect. The Court notes that even the well respected psychiatrists and psychologists opinions (not only those who examined [Corcoran], but those contained in the literature submitted in the Sentencing Memorandums) can be viewed as ambiguous. The Court notes that all seven (7) Doctors offered differing opinions as to [Corcoran] and Dr. Spink admitted psychiatry is not an exact science and there are no black and white rules. The literature, and Dr. Engum's original opinion consider schizotypal or paranoid personality disorders to be maladaptive lifestyles. The facts reflect that [Corcoran] had the presence of mind to shield his young niece upstairs from the carnage he inflicted on innocent victims downstairs in the house on Bayer Avenue. He knew immediately what he had done, he knew at the time what he was doing, and he knew that what he was doing was wrong. (R. at 2576.) The trial judge's consideration of the evidence about Corcoran's mental health reflected a fair amount of care; she concluded that he suffered from schizotypal personality disorder. (R. at 2904, 2907.) In other words, Corcoran was genetically predisposed to be a loner or hermit. (R. at 2240, 2333.) The professional analysis of Corcoran portrayed him as a person with social and interpersonal deficits who experiences discomfort with, and reduced capacity for close relationships. (R. at 2309, Def.'s Exh. C.) We are satisfied that the trial court's decision that a quadruple killing was weightier than the proffered mitigation of Corcoran's mental health led the trial court to an appropriate sentence.