Share. The tribulations faced by the pair are depicted in Netflix's latest true crime docu-series, "The Innocent Man," based on the John Grisham book of the same name. Advertisement On Friday, a judge vacated Ward's convictions and sentences, dismissed the charges and . Haraways body was located after the convictions. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. The state also claims witnesses saw men matching Ward and Fontenots descriptions in the convenience store where Haraway worked before she disappeared. Read: Attorney General's Office Appeals Ruling That Would Vacate Sentence Of Tommy Ward, In Tuesdays filing, attorneys representing Ward argued the district judges ruling was fair and reasonable and echoed the judge that the withheld evidence creates a reasonable probability that the outcome would be different.. The young woman's disappearance sparked decades of controversy as police scrambled to solve the crime, leading to the convictions of two men: Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot. Please refer to our. Later that year, an Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Agent interviewed Tommy Ward, who said he, Karl Fontenot, and another man robbed the store Haraway worked at, then stabbed and raped. Fontenots and Wards attorneys did not respond to requests for comment. Per The Associated Press, the convictions were based almost entirely on accounts they said they retrieved from dreams, and came after hours of interrogation by Ada police and state agents desperate to solve the disappearance of Haraway in 1984, just two years after the unsolved rape and murder of another young woman in the small central Oklahoma town.. By, 'Deeply tainted': Oklahoma conservatives call for moratorium, abolition of the death penalty, Sheriff, jail health care provider seek public money to increase staff after two women died, AG Drummond orders independent counsel to review Glossip death penalty case, Oklahoma Attorney General requests more time in between executions. The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. The case was the subject of the book, The Dreams of Ada, by Robert Mayer, and was also described in John Grishams The Innocent Man, which became a Netflix documentary series. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday reinstated Tommy Ward's murder conviction in an infamous 1984 case out of Ada. Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - Convicted murderer Tommy Ward has filed a brief in response to the Attorney General's motion to keep him locked up in prison. [Warning: Spoilers for "The Innocent Man" ahead!]. He reminds me of working with Frank Sinatra in some strange way." The organization has not offered an update on the status of their efforts. Along with co-defendant Tommy Ward, Karl Fontenot was convicted twice in the kidnapping and murder of Donna Denise Haraway from an Ada convenience store in 1984 and sentenced to life without. Ward is the subject of a Netflix docuseries and a book by John Grisham. Which they did after I taped the statement," Fontenot said almost immediately after his interrogation, as described in Grisham's book. The newlywed college student worked as a clerk there at night. Both have excellent teams of lawyers who continue to work for their release." The conclusion of "The Innocent Man" docu-series notes that Ward's post-conviction filing has been opposed by the state, but that a judge will review the case in 2019. Raising the same general categories on post-conviction that one raised on direct appeal, even if the basis is different, will result in a procedural bar," according to the state court's opinion. Ward was featured in the Netflix documentary and John Grisham book An Innocent Man. Ward along with Karl Fontenot were convicted of killing Denice Haraway back in the 1980s. Ward's case, and others, have been the. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. Tommy Ward andKarl Fontenot were sentenced to death in 1985 for the murder of Denice Haraway, despite the fact that their confessions didn't match the crime they were accused of. More:Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot. Courtesy. Both Ward and . For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Newson6.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Want to support our mission to hold powerful people accountable, give a voice to the voiceless, and shine a light on darkness in Oklahoma? She was 24. Its clear as day.. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has reinstated the murder conviction and life sentence of a man featured in the book and television series The Innocent Man.. Tweet Tommy's legal team dedicated to freeing Tommy Ward from prison for a crime he did not commit.. Also Read: 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book. Ward remains in prison as the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals weighs his case. He is currently serving time at the Dick Conner Correctional Center in Hominy in Oklahoma. His conviction is the subject of the Netflix docu-series "The . The Oklahoma Innocence Project, an organization that helps to exonerate those wrongfully convicted, attempted to take on Fontenot's case in 2013, but itsappeals were denied in 2015. Fontenot is free on bond as the appeals process plays out. The two insisted they were innocent, but still ended up convicted of Haraway's murder. Ward's case was the focus of the Netflix documentary "The Innocent Man, " which was released in 2018. Haraway was working as a clerk in a convenience store when she went missing in Ada in 1984. You can opt-out at any time. Share You can opt-out at any time. Fontenots conviction was overturned in 2019, and he was freed pending an appeal by the state. "Everything about their confession has been proven wrong by the discovery of the body," attorney Janet Davis noted in the documentary. The Court of Criminal Appeals ruled Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 that 60-year-old Tommy Ward remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower court's ruling. And Mr. Fontenot has also established that evidence suppressed by the State prior to his new trial in 1988 led to a violation of his constitutional right to due process., More:Human remains found, Oklahoma white supremacist leader might be connected. The Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower courts ruling that he be released. The investigators seem to have taken on the role of prosecutor, judge and jury, determining that the only relevant evidence was evidence that fit their theory of the case.. Shot by Shot: Tracking Oklahoma police shootings in 2023, Listen Frontier: Sen. James Lankford speaks with The Frontier about abortion, immigration and more, Frontier content sharing and collaboration terms. remains wrongfully imprisoned . But a Pontotoc County district judge ruled last month that prosecutors withheld key evidence in the case, including witness interviews and police reports, and ordered Wards release. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. Both judges found the defendants constitutional rights were violated by police and prosecutors who until 2019 didnt turn over more than 300 pages of documents that would have helped the defendants. The convictions were based almost entirely on accounts they said they retrieved from dreams. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. Karl Fontenot was 20 years old in 1984, when he was arrested for the rape and murder of Donna Denice Haraway along with Tommy Ward. Tommy Ward is still behind bars waiting for an appeal. Wr Hines Ward - NFL.com /a > attorneys representing Tommy Ward was one of two serving! Thomas Ward, known to the public as Tommy Ward, was convicted in 1999 of the 1984 murder of Donna Denice Haraway in Ada, Oklahoma. He often uses his platform to raise awareness for various charitable causes and uses his talents to give back to his community. Both are model prisoners. A federal judge in Muskogee overturned Fontenot's conviction in late 2019. The response filed by Fontenots lawyers this week said the vast majority of evidence that the state claims was available in the 1980s was actually being suppressed by the state. The court overturned a lower court decision that said because prosecutors and police withheld evidence that could exonerate Tommy Ward, 61, of the 1984 murder of Donna Denice Haraway in Ada. Tommy Ward one of the subjects of Netflix's true-crime docuseries "The Innocent Man," who was convicted of abduction, rape and the murder of an Oklahoma woman is to be released from . The Oklahoma attorney generals office, which appealed Inges order, declined to comment on Thursdays ruling. Both have excellent teams of lawyers who continue to work for their release.. John 3:16. Fontenot was sentenced to death again but Ward was sentenced to life in prison, according to The Oklahoman. By: Dana Hertneky. The judge found Tommy Ward didnt get a fair trial. We promise to never spam you. "They have now been in prison for 31 years, serving hard time for a murder committed by someone else. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the judges ruling last year, saying that, Almost no evidence connected him to the crime other than his own videotaped confession, a confession that rang false in almost every particular., The appeals court said Fontenot has brought forth new evidence that is sufficient to unlock the actual innocence gateway and to allow his substantive claims to be heard on the merits. The Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower court's ruling that he be released. His previous EPs "Forget Me Not" and "Merry Christmas" both reached the Top 10 on iTunes jazz charts on the first day of their release. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. The convictions of Ward and Fontenot have come under intense scrutiny for years and have been the subject of numerous books, including John Grishams The Innocent Man, which he produced into a six-part documentary. And the prosecutorial misconduct did not end with the trial: over the next thirty years, the State continued to withhold evidence, releasing it piecemeal only when compelled to do so by multiple court orders, the lawyers told the court. Im still holding out hope that the attorney general of Oklahoma will change course here, take a close look at the case, said Greg Swygert, one of Wards attorneys. PublishedDecember 26, 2020 at 10:50 AM CST, KGOU | Ward was featured in the Netflix. Ward's newly released EP "From This Moment On," (2022) produced by LeCoq Records, showcases his stunning vocal abilities . Tommy Ward has been in prison for 35 years and was supposed to be released today after a judge dismissed Ward's murder conviction. The Pontotoc County District Attorneys office relied solely on investigators to provide it with the evidence needed to prosecute the case without questioning whether the investigators had turned over all exculpatory and/or impeachment evidence, Judge Paula Inge wrote in her December order. I didnt even know what the word 'statement' or 'confessing' meant 'til they told me I confessed to it. Though no physical evidence tied them to Haraways disappearance, Fontenot and Ward initially confessed to the crime after questioning by investigators. Barrett noted that the appeals court ordered the lower court to consider an additional claim regarding new evidence discovered in 2019. The state Attorney Generals office appealed the order to overturn Fontenots conviction in federal court and has now announced its intent to appeal the order to release Ward. Both Ward and Fontenot would go on to recant their confessions. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. The circumstances surrounding Ward and Fontenot's confessions were suspicious from the start, and in fact were later proved to be inconsistent with what had actually happened to Haraway: Her body was ultimately found years after she vanished, 30 miles away from where the duo said they had deposited it. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. In 2020, District Judge Paula Inge vacated his conviction, dismissed the charges against him, and ordered him set free. ADVERTISEMENT Tommy Ward one of the subjects of Netflixs true-crime docuseries The Innocent Man, who was convicted of abduction, rape and the murder of an Oklahoma woman is to be released from prison (where he was sentenced to life) and all charges against him dismissed, Wards legal team announced Saturday. Since the age of 16, Ward has had the opportunity to work alongside industry veterans and legends. The order is the latest in a string of decisions rebuking the convictions of Ward and Karl Fontenot for an infamous 1984 murder documented in two books and a recent Netflix documentary. Subscribe and Follow on Facebook and YouTube for the latest music. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Fontenot, Wards co-defendant, was ordered released by a federal judge in 2019, and the state is also appealing that order. We are pressing forward exploring the possibility of going to federal court with additional appeals, Barrett said. OK man arrested for. Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, will also be filing an appeal for exoneration. Fight for his release from jail crime Netflix Series was released back in 2018, and temporary. The Innocent Man, released by Netflix in 2018, looked at two murder cases having taken place in Ada in the 1980s, including the one which resulted in Wards conviction. Instead, she had died from a gunshot wound. The most recent exculpatory disclosure came in 2019, 31 years after Fontenots conviction.. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. The Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the conviction of one man in the 1984 murder of an Ada convienince store worker featured featured The Innocent Man. The 10th U.S. Fontenots attorneys have argued that many of the inaccurate details of his confession were supplied by detectives from the Ada Police Department and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations. Tommy Ward, who was convicted twice for the 1984 kidnapping and murder of Ada convenience store clerk Donna "Denise" Haraway, had his conviction and life sentence overturned and was ordered to. Ward's newly released EP From This Moment On, (2022) produced by LeCoq Records, showcases his stunning vocal abilities and features truly unique arrangements played by some of the world's most respected musicians, including Bill Cunliffe, John Pattitucci, Vinny Colaiuta, and others. It also accounts the false convictions of Ward and Karl Fontenot for themurder of Denice Haraway and the false conviction of Greg Wilhoit for the rape and murder of his estranged wife. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. Fontenots death sentence was later reduced to life before his conviction was reversed by a federal appeals court. Heres a link to the decision, Mark Barrett & The Center on Wrongful Convictions tweeted, with the legal documents confirming the move attached. Tuesday 30 August 2022 23:08 Tommy Ward in the 2018 Netflix docuseries 'The Innocent Man' (Netflix) A prisoner featured in the Netflix documentary series The Innocent Man has had his murder. In a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project, the author discussed their fates. The appeals court did task the district court with handling a remaining claim from Wards team, according to which newly discovered evidence requires his conviction to be vacated. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Please refer to our. The Attorney Generals office claims in its filing that Fontenot and Ward attempted to minimize their involvement in Haraways death during their confessions by saying the primary aggressor was another man who was never charged with the crime. Ward and co-defendant Karl Fontenot's initial convictions and death sentences for Harways death were overturned, but both were again convicted on retrial with Fontenot again receiving a death sentence and Ward being sentenced to life in prison. Donate to The Frontier to support local independent investigative journalism. That evidence includes previously undisclosed suspects and whether police provided Ward with information about the victim's blouse, which prosecutors said he had described. But now, Wards release has been blocked by the state Attorney Generals Office. - BART TORRES, 99.7FM The Highway Vibe. 19 talking about this. - STEVE WYNN, founder Wynn Resorts "I just saw Tommy in Las Vegas at a corporate event and I was BLOWN AWAY. The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenots alibi and other suspects in the murder provided solid proof of his probable innocence. As a nonprofit news organization,The Frontieris funded by tax-deductible donations made by people who support quality journalism. Tommy Ward has been in prison 35 years for a murder he swears he did not commit. Read: Attorney General's Office Appeals Ruling That Would Vacate Sentence Of Tommy Ward, In Tuesdays filing, attorneys representing Ward argued the district judges ruling was fair and reasonable and echoed the judge that the withheld evidence creates a reasonable probability that the outcome would be different.. Yale University Honors 9-Year-Old Scientist, Water Main Break In Tulsa Forces Limited Road Closure, Metro Summer Youth Camp Hopes To Prevent Violence In The Community, OKC Thunder, Big Brothers & Big Sisters Host Clinic For Kids At Park, TCSO, 'Color Free America' Hold Dialogue Between Citizens And Law Enforcement, First Responders Host Recruitment Fair In Tulsa, Doctors Warn Dangers Of Cannabis Edibles For Children. Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. 2023 www.oklahoman.com. The state of Oklahoma filed a petition in the U.S. Supreme Court in January arguing that a federal law placing strict time limits on appeals should have barred the claims made in 2016 by Fontenot. The. The victim, Donna Denice Haraway, disappeared from the McAnally's convenience store in Ada on April 28, 1984. and his videos on social media have racked up millions of views. In her 2020 ruling vacating Wards conviction, Judge Inge pointed to what she said were issues with the evidence in the case, and deemed that due to the passage of time, Ward would not be able to receive a fair trial. After Haraways remains were found in 1986 in rural Hughes County, forensic analysis showed that many of the details in Fontenots and Wards confessions were wrong. Fontenot was released from prison about one year ago after a federal judge found he also didnt receive a fair trial. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. Hes very disappointed that hes still in prison for a murder he didn't commit, Wards attorney Mark Barrett told The Associated Press on Tuesday (30 August), adding that the legal team is pressing forward and exploring the possibility of going to federal court.. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. Ward was featured in the Netflix documentary and John Grisham book An Innocent Man. Ward along with Karl Fontenot were convicted of killing Denice Haraway back in the 1980s. Tommy Ward. info@tommywardmusic.com | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. He is now 58 years old and says he will not admit guilt even if it means improving his chances at parole. Ward had told police Haraway, 24, was stabbed and buried, but her skull, found more than a year after her disappearance, showed evidence of a gunshot wound and no evidence of stabbing, according to an autopsy. Ward and Fontenot were sentenced to death on January 21, 1985 after being found guilty of murdering Haraway. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal . Ward remained in prison while the state appealed the ruling, The Associated Press reported at the time. News 9s Barry Mangold will have more on the story on News 9 at 10 p.m. Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News on 6 delivered right to your inbox! A state judge overturned Wards conviction in 2020, but the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office has appealed the ruling. Local prosecutors again secured their convictions, based largely on their confessions. News9.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, He's very disappointed that he's still in prison for a murder he didn't commit, Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, said Tuesday. To the extent that this could be the next Sinatra of our time." Oct 28, 2022. More to come. This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. Additional reporting by The Associated Press. Fontenots lawyers at first waived the right to respond to the state, but the Supreme Court then requested a response. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, A judge reversed the conviction of Thomas Ward, known to the public as Tommy Ward, in 2020, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, Tommy Ward in the 2018 Netflix docuseries The Innocent Man'. Fontenot, now 57,was tried twice and given the death penalty both times, though a retrial error led to a new sentence of life without parole. She said police and prosecutors withheld evidence that would have assisted Wards defense. Mark Barrett and Greg Swygert , the attorneys representing Tommy Ward, spoke with The Frontier this week about the status of Ward's case to have his 1989 murder conviction and life sentence. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. - QUINCY JONES, 27 time GRAMMY-award-winning producer "A fine singer A lovely, silky voice." have asked the court of appeals . Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. The Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower court's ruling that he be released. More to come. a man whose murder conviction in Oklahoma was overturned, Fontenot and Thomas Ward were convicted of killing Ada convenience store clerk Donna Denice Haraway in 1984, which became a Netflix documentary series, Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot, Human remains found, Oklahoma white supremacist leader might be connected, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Tommy Ward to be set free . attempted to take on Fontenot's case in 2013, a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project. The Oklahoma Attorney General's Office has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the conviction of one man in the 1984 murder of an Ada convienince store worker featured featured The Innocent Man. At 17, he and his band were one of the youngest opening acts in Las Vegas history, completing 90 shows for Billboard #1 artist and Las Vegas headliner of the year, Frankie Moreno. Meanwhile, Fontenot, as explained in the Netflix series, had perhaps offered his testimony to the aggressive police because he both feared for his safety and wanted to escape from what was described as poverty and homelessness. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. It was based on the 2006 true-crime book The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town by John Grisham. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and filming for Halloween Ends to release on October 14, 2022 with! Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! When you read their briefs, they dont take issue with the fact that this information was withheld from him. The six-part docuseries series, based on John Grishams 2006 best-selling non-fiction book The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town, tells the story of Ronald Keith Williamson, a man wrongfully convicted of rape and murder who spent 11 years on death row before he was exonerated. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. Fontenot's case was picked up by The Innocence Project in 2011, but there's . However, she would never be seen alive again. Position: WR Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 College: Rutgers Hometown: Canton, PA High School: Canton HS
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