Indiana's Republican Governor, Eric Holcomb, has revealed plans to resume executions for the first time in over ten years following the acquisition of a lethal injection drug.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana's Republican Governor Eric Holcomb announced that the state will recommence executions for the first time in more than a decade after securing a lethal injection drug.
Governor Holcomb stated on Wednesday that the state is aiming to schedule an execution date for Joseph Corcoran, who was convicted of murdering four people in 1997. On the same day, Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita submitted a motion to the state Supreme Court to establish an execution date.
According to the Death Penalty Information Center, the last execution in Indiana occurred in 2009 when Matthew Eric Wrinkles was executed for the murders of his wife and her brother and sister-in-law.
The prolonged hiatus in executions has been due to the unavailability of lethal injection drugs.
The Indiana Department of Correction has now acquired the sedative pentobarbital, a drug used in executions by multiple states, after "years of effort," according to Holcomb's announcement.
"As governor, I am obligated to uphold the law and proceed appropriately in this matter," stated Holcomb.
Larry Komp, Corcoran's attorney and a federal defender, indicated that they will respond to the state's motion and seek clarification on the state's lethal injection protocol.
A spokesperson for the Department of Correction did not immediately reply to voicemail and email inquiries regarding the acquisition of the drug.