Fontenot is currently awaiting the results of a federal appeal. - STEVE WYNN, founder Wynn Resorts "I just saw Tommy in Las Vegas at a corporate event and I was BLOWN AWAY. 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. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 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. 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. The state of Oklahoma engaged in an egregious, decades-long pattern of prosecutorial misconduct to ensure that the facts of Karl Fontenots innocence never came to light, Fontenots legal team told the court. The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. A prisoner featured in the Netflix documentary series The Innocent Man has had his murder conviction and life sentence reinstated after previously being granted relief. She said police and prosecutors withheld evidence that would have assisted Wards defense. 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. I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. A state judge overturned Wards conviction in 2020, but the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office has appealed the ruling. Haraway was working as a clerk in a convenience store when she went missing in Ada in 1984. More:Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Freed man in 'Dreams of Ada' case slams state appeal to Supreme Court Courtesy Netflix. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. Want to support our mission to hold powerful people accountable, give a voice to the voiceless, and shine a light on darkness in Oklahoma? Ward's accurate description of the blouse was the only information that he gave that was correct in his confession, Barrett said. 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 . She was 24. 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. 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. 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. Attorneys for a man convicted for the 1984 kidnapping and murder of an Ada woman say they plan to file a federal case to try and overturn his conviction after the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals overturned a lower court's order that would have made him a free man. @WardInnocentMan. Federal appeals court upholds overturned conviction in Ada 'Innocent Courtesy. Newly filed court documents reveal that a man who was one of the subjects of "The Innocent Man" is set to be released from prison. 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.. It was later upheld when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the state's appeal. Tweet 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 parole. Tommy Ward: The Innocent Man (@WardInnocentMan) / Twitter 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. Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, will also be filing an appeal for exoneration. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. 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. 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. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A man who has spent 35 years in prison in a murder case featured in the book and television series The Innocent Man must remain incarcerated even after a judge ordered his release, an appeals court ruled Thursday. John 3:16. Ward's most recent recording, "Home" with GRAMMY nominated country artist Mark Winston Kirk, is currently in the Top 100 on regional radio and is being played in more than 15 states across the United States, including Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. 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. He is 54 years old and is being held at the at the North Fork Correctional Center in Sayre in Oklahoma. The Innocent Man - Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot now - Digital Spy The state also claims witnesses saw men matching Ward and Fontenots descriptions in the convenience store where Haraway worked before she disappeared. SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER, FIRST TAKE, 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book. Ward and a co-defendant, Karl Fontenot, were convicted and sentenced to life in prison in the 1984 kidnapping and killing of Donna Denice Haraway, a convenience store clerk in Ada, Oklahoma. At only 25 years old, he has already made a name for himself in the entertainment industry, and his videos on social media have racked up millions of views. 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.. 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. It was based on the 2006 true-crime book The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town by John Grisham. 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 9 delivered right to your inbox! The Oklahoma attorney generals office, which appealed Inges order, declined to comment on Thursdays ruling. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. and his videos on social media have racked up millions of views. Tommy Ward has been in prison for 35 years and was supposed to be released today after a judge dismissed Ward's murder conviction. Oct 28, 2022. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal . remains wrongfully imprisoned . News9.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. They cant. Position: WR Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 College: Rutgers Hometown: Canton, PA High School: Canton HS 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. Justices should reject the states request to review the case because the evidence in this case qualifies as new evidence of actual innocence under any definition of new evidence, Fontenots lawyers argued. Tommy Ward. Critically acclaimed singer, musician, and entertainer. He reminds me of working with Frank Sinatra in some strange way." The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday reinstated Tommy Ward's murder conviction in an infamous 1984 case out of Ada. Wr Hines Ward - NFL.com /a > attorneys representing Tommy Ward was one of two serving! The. Tommy Ward to be set free . 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. The state court of criminal appeals voted unanimously to reinstate Tommy Ward's murder conviction. "They have now been in prison for 31 years, serving hard time for a murder committed by someone else. State asks U.S. Supreme Court to uphold conviction in 'Innocent Man' Tommy Ward from Netflix documentary has murder conviction reinstated Judge orders release or new trial for 'Innocent Man' defendant The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. He is now 58 years old and says he will not admit guilt even if it means improving his chances at parole. Ward is a hardworking and dedicated artist who continues to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. Court upholds overturned conviction in 'Innocent Man' case Ive never been in jail or had a police record in my life and no one in my face telling me Id killed a pretty woman, that Im going to get the death penalty, so I told them the story hoping they would leave me alone. Fontenot. More to come. Fontenot's case was picked up by The Innocence Project in 2011, but there's . 2022 Reader's Choice Winners . A spokeswoman for Attorney General John OConnor declined to comment on the pending cases. Tommy Ward has been in prison 35 years for a murder he swears he did not commit. Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. Oklahoma Attorney General responds to innocence claims by 'Innocent Man 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. 19 talking about this. So where are the two men now, more than 30 years later? The ruling came down Friday from District Judge Paula Inge in Pontotoc County, who concluded in post-conviction finding that the case rested on circumstantial evidence in the form of conflicted witness statements and Wards inculpatory statements he gave to police. Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. 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. The judge found Tommy Ward didnt get a fair trial. More to come. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. You can opt-out at any time. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! 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. Thomas Ward, known to the public as Tommy Ward, was convicted in 1999 of the 1984 murder of Donna Denice Haraway in Ada, Oklahoma. Fontenot was released from prison about one year ago after a federal judge found he also didnt receive a fair trial. Tommy Ward was scheduled to be released in December 2020, but . 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. Ward's case, and others, have been the. Fontenots conviction was overturned in 2019 by a federal judge in Muskogee, and that courts ruling was upheld last year by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Ward remains in prison as the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals weighs his case. 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. Ward was featured in the Netflix. I didnt even know what the word 'statement' or 'confessing' meant 'til they told me I confessed to it. The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenot's alibi and other suspects in the murder provided "solid proof" of his probable innocence. Which they did after I taped the statement," Fontenot said almost immediately after his interrogation, as described in Grisham's book. U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear 'Innocent Man' case When you read their briefs, they dont take issue with the fact that this information was withheld from him. Ward remained in prison while the state appealed the ruling, The Associated Press reported at the time. Subscribe and Follow on Facebook and YouTube for the latest music. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. . Ward is currently still in prison while the appeals process continues. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. 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.. Additional reporting by The Associated Press. Tuesday, July 6th 2021, 11:00 pm. info@tommywardmusic.com | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. Though no physical evidence tied them to Haraways disappearance, Fontenot and Ward initially confessed to the crime after questioning by investigators. 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. An autopsy showed evidence that she had been shot and no sign that she had been stabbed, per The AP. Please refer to our. 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. Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward 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. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. After the details of both mens confessions were proven untrue Haraways body was discovered years later in a different location and had been shot to death not stabbed as the pair had said a state appeals court ordered new trials. Attorneys in Ada 'Innocent Man' murder case 'blown away' by content of 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. The organization has not offered an update on the status of their efforts. 37 years since Ada murder, Ward still in custody - KTEN Both Ward and Fontenot would go on to recant their confessions. Ward is the subject of a Netflix docuseries and a book by John Grisham. Also Read: 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book. 2023 www.oklahoman.com. We promise to never spam you. Ward was convicted in the case in 1989 along with a co-defendant named Karl Fontenot. Denice Haraway of Ada, Oklahoma went in for an ordinary day of work at her convenience store job on April 28, 1984. 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. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. 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. 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. She decided to vacate Wards conviction and life sentence, and ordered his release. But now, Wards release has been blocked by the state Attorney Generals Office. In both Ward and Fontenots cases, judges issued rulings excoriating investigators for withholding favorable evidence from defense attorneys. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His About Tommy Ward Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna Denice Haraway. Ward and a co-defendant, Karl Fontenot, were convicted and sentenced to life in prison in the 1984 kidnapping and killing of Donna Denice Haraway, a convenience store clerk in Ada, Oklahoma. Court rules 'Innocent Man' defendant to remain imprisoned - AP NEWS 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. As a nonprofit news organization,The Frontieris funded by tax-deductible donations made by people who support quality journalism. have asked the court of appeals . The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenots alibi and other suspects in the murder provided solid proof of his probable innocence. 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. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. But the men quickly recanted and have claimed for decades that police coerced them to say they killed Haraway. 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. Tommy Ward, 61, and Karl Fontenot, 58, were . By: Dana Hertneky. Ward and a co-defendant, Karl Fontenot, were convicted and sentenced to life in prison in the 1984 kidnapping and killing of Donna Denice Haraway, a convenience store clerk in Ada, Oklahoma. Both Ward and . Ward and Fontenot were sentenced to death on January 21, 1985 after being found guilty of murdering Haraway. This contradicted the confessions, which stated that Haraway had been stabbed to death. Tommy Ward is still behind bars waiting for an appeal. 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. Ward was convicted alongside Karl Fontenot for murdering Donna Harraway in Ada. Fontenot was sentenced to death again but Ward was sentenced to life in prison, according to The Oklahoman. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Tommy Ward, Convicted Murderer and Subject of Netflix's 'The - TheWrap The convictions were based almost entirely on accounts they said they retrieved from dreams. Tommy Ward was one of two men serving a life sentence for the 1984 murder of Denice Haraway in Ada. The courts exhaustively reviewed voluminous amounts of withheld exculpatory evidence and correctly concluded that this is the rare case in which a habeas petitioner has credibly demonstrated actual innocence, the lawyers said. sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. Tommy's legal team dedicated to freeing Tommy Ward from prison for a crime he did not commit.. Donate to The Frontier to support local independent investigative journalism. Haraways body was located after the convictions. The newlywed college student worked as a clerk there at night. However, she would never be seen alive again. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. Court Extends Temporary Stay 1 Day Before Tommy Ward's Expected Release 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. Please refer to our. In June this year, the US Supreme Court refused to take up the case and to examine the states appeal. Instead, she had died from a gunshot wound. Heres a link to the decision, Mark Barrett & The Center on Wrongful Convictions tweeted, with the legal documents confirming the move attached. Karl Fontenot, Tommy Ward. Ward and Fontenot were both granted a retrial a few years later, and again found guilty of Haraway's death. The judge also called the evidence against Ward circumstantial and said nearly all of the details in his confession were inaccurate. These dream confessions 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. News 9 Team Holds Severe Weather Expo At Penn Square Mall, Sauced On The Paseo Re-Opens 2 Years After Fire, Read Across America Celebration Held At Belle Isle Library, 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. FILE - This photo provided by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections shows Tommy Ward, who has spent 35 years in prison in a murder case featured in the book and television series 'The Innocent. "Everything about their confession has been proven wrong by the discovery of the body," attorney Janet Davis noted in the documentary. Oklahomas Court of Criminal Appeals, however, argued that the district court had abused its discretion in that instance. Ada store clerk Denice Haraway was abducted and killed on April 28, 1984. . Tommy Ward - YouTube Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His The only evidence the state used in convicting Ward was a confession that he later claimed was spun wildly from a dream he reported, and only came out after intense pressure and hours of brutal interrogation. 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. Since the age of 16, Ward has had the opportunity to work alongside industry veterans and legends. "Tommy is the epitome of great music. Both are model prisoners. Oklahoma court reinstates 'Innocent Man' murder conviction 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.
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