Joseph Ernst

Who was Joseph Ernst?

Joseph R. Ernst was a convicted murderer who was executed at the New Jersey State Prison electric chair on July 31, 1962. He was the 159th convict to be executed in the New Jersey electric chair since 1907.

Joseph Ernst was convicted of shooting and killing his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend, Joan Connor, on March 14, 1959. Connor had left Ernst when Ernst was incarcerated at a juvenile detention facility when he was seventeen. When Ernst got out of prison, he went to try and rekindle his friendship with Connor, who rebuffed him. Ernst then struck Connor, inflicting a scalp wound on her. Joan Connor's father signed a criminal complaint against Ernst which caused him to flee. Ten days later Ernst returned to the Connor home armed with a .38 caliber handgun. Ernst fired multiple shots through the door which struck and killed Connor, who was standing behind the door.