What the News-Examiner reported
A Connersville man has pleaded guilty but mentally ill to two 2022 murders in Connersville, according to the Connersville News-Examiner report[1], published October 7, 2026 and updated October 8. The News-Examiner is the only outlet whose reporting is relied on for the facts in this post.
According to the News-Examiner, Joshua Farmer entered the plea in the middle of his trial. The case involves the deaths of Thomas Combs, who was found in Dale Cemetery on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, and Joshua Durham, who was found in the 1300 block of North Grand Avenue on Saturday, September 10, 2022.
The plea agreement calls for a 60-year sentence with mental health treatment. Sentencing is set for November 20, 2026, the News-Examiner reported.
What families can do next
When you lose someone to violence, a long criminal case can make it difficult to focus on other practical matters. Prosecutors' offices in Indiana have victim assistance staff who can explain sentencing hearings and a family's right to be heard.
Keep records of funeral and other expenses. Indiana's crime victim compensation program may help with some costs. You can also organize court notices, correspondence, and expense records before seeking advice about a possible wrongful death claim.
A criminal case and a civil claim are separate. Civil deadlines run on their own schedule and can expire while a criminal case is still pending. A general overview of Indiana wrongful death filing deadlines can help you understand why prompt review matters.
Why location and deadlines matter
These deaths happened in Connersville, in Fayette County. A civil case would ordinarily be filed in Fayette County or where a defendant lives.
Indiana's wrongful death statutes, Ind. Code 34-23-1-1 and 34-23-1-2, govern claims after a death, and the general two-year deadline appears in Ind. Code 34-11-2-4. Because these deaths happened in 2022, whether any civil claim remains available would depend on the specific facts and how the deadlines apply. That requires individual legal advice.
Criminal proceedings and civil claims are separate matters. A guilty plea may be relevant, but it does not replace a careful review of the possible civil claim, the proper party to bring it, and the applicable deadline. The firm's guide to Indiana wrongful death damages explains additional issues families may encounter.
How Delventhal Law Office can help
Delventhal Law Office, LLC is a personal injury law firm in Fort Wayne, Indiana, founded by attorney Chad E. Delventhal in 2009. The firm helps Indiana families who have lost someone because of another person's wrongful conduct or carelessness. Chad Delventhal can explain how wrongful death claims work and which deadlines may apply. No outcome can be promised in any case.
If you need advice based on your family's circumstances, you can request a free case evaluation.
This post is based on public reporting, the investigation or court proceedings may be ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
