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Joseph S. Joe Cochran, 40, a Marine Corps veteran and employee at Beaufort Naval Hospital, was shot and killed at his home in the Pleasant Farm subdivision in Burton, South Carolina, on the evening of May 4, 2015. The shooting occurred on the back porch; reports say his 22-year-old stepson, Bryan Malonis, shot Cochran twice in the chest and once in the back of the head. Cochran’s wife, Kelley Pierre Cochran, heard the gunshots and called for help. Deputies found Malonis at the scene and he reportedly admitted to the shooting.
Because Malonis was related to a Beaufort County Sheriff’s deputy, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division took over the investigation. Malonis was arrested and charged with murder. Trial records presented mental-health history for Malonis, including a schizophrenia diagnosis, prior threats and multiple evaluations. In a bench trial, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity and ordered committed to a state mental health facility for evaluation and treatment.
Are there neighbors, friends, or family members who remember Joseph Cochran or who can add details about his life and last night?