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! Courtesy. Tommy Ward. Denice Haraway of Ada, Oklahoma went in for an ordinary day of work at her convenience store job on April 28, 1984. That evidence includes previously undisclosed suspects and whether police provided Ward with information about the victim's blouse, which prosecutors said he had described. 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'.
[email protected] | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. 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. Haraway had been shot rather than stabbed, was 20 miles away from where the men said her body had been dumped, and she had been wearing different clothes than those Ward and Fontenot described. Tommy Ward is still behind bars waiting for an appeal. Newson6.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, 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. 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. Fontenot is free on bond as the appeals process plays out. 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. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond.
She doesnt believe he could be given a fair trial after more than 30 years.
Oklahoma court reinstates murder conviction of Tommy Ward 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. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. Tommy Ward, 61, and Karl Fontenot, 58, were . He's very disappointed that he's still in prison for a murder he didn't commit, Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, said Tuesday. 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. 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. 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. Please refer to our. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. 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.. Please refer to our.
"The Innocent Man" Tommy Ward files another brief - KFOR.com Get all your true crime news from Oxygen.
Tommy Ward- The Innocent Man's Legal Team's Page | Ada OK - Facebook 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. 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. It was based on the 2006 true-crime book The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town by John Grisham. 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 has also had a widely celebrated opening act run for comedy legend Louie Anderson during his tenure at the Plaza Hotel. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. Fontenots conviction was overturned in 2019, and he was freed pending an appeal by the state.
The newlywed college student worked as a clerk there at night. Fontenot. Fontenot was released from prison about one year ago after a federal judge found he also didnt receive a fair trial. Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward. 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. featured in the book and television series, Reports: 3 children dead, 2 wounded in attack at Texas home, Kellyanne Conway, George Conway To Divorce After Decadeslong Marriage: Report, School punished teen girl for working out in sports bra in 100-degree Texas heat, ACLU says, U.S. court won't require FAA to make airplane seat size, spacing rules, 'Extremely dangerous': Spike in illegal crossings at Canada-Vermont border has feds sounding alarm. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. 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. . The Oklahoma attorney generals office, which appealed Inges order, declined to comment on Thursdays ruling. 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.
Attorneys in Ada 'Innocent Man' case request judge vacate Ward's Fontenot, 57 and Tommy Ward, 61, were both twice convicted in Haraways murder. 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. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. In addition to his impressive performances, Ward has a true passion for music and the arts. 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. 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. 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. In 2020, Fontenot's co-defendant in the case, Tommy Ward, also had his conviction overturned in state court, but prosecutors have appealed that decision to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. 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. 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. Also Read: 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book.
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. attempted to take on Fontenot's case in 2013, a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project. At time of writing, he is still serving his life sentence without the possibility of parole, and is now 54 years old. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Oct 28, 2022. Tommy Ward was scheduled to be released in December 2020, but . Haraway was working as a clerk in a convenience store when she went missing in Ada in 1984.
Tommy Ward: The Innocent Man (@WardInnocentMan) / Twitter Ward remained in prison while the state appealed the ruling, The Associated Press reported at the time. More:Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot. The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. Tuesday, July 6th 2021, 11:00 pm. 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.. Thomas Ward, known to the public as Tommy Ward, was convicted in 1999 of the 1984 murder of Donna Denice Haraway in Ada, Oklahoma. Ward is currently still in prison while the appeals process continues. "They have now been in prison for 31 years, serving hard time for a murder committed by someone else. Tommy Ward has been in prison for 35 years and was supposed to be released today after a judge dismissed Ward's murder conviction. Ada store clerk Denice Haraway was abducted and killed on April 28, 1984. . In a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project, the author discussed their fates. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna Denice Haraway.
Federal appeals court upholds overturned conviction in Ada 'Innocent 2023 www.oklahoman.com. John Grisham continues to correspond with both men. The state court of criminal appeals voted unanimously to reinstate Tommy Ward's murder conviction. The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenot's alibi and other suspects in the murder provided "solid proof" of his probable innocence. This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. 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! We promise to never spam you. Oklahomas Court of Criminal Appeals, however, argued that the district court had abused its discretion in that instance. So thats the reason I gave them an untrue statement so they would leave me alone.. Fontenot is currently awaiting the results of a federal appeal. Both are model prisoners. Share Ward was featured in the Netflix. All rights reserved.
Judge orders 'Innocent Man' defendant freed - Enidnews.com mail Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail.
Timmy Ward 2022 Gamelogs | The Football Database Fontenot was released in December 2019 at the age of 55 after a federal judge ordered he be released or retried.
Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. 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. 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. Want to support our mission to hold powerful people accountable, give a voice to the voiceless, and shine a light on darkness in Oklahoma? Its clear as day..
The attorneys claim a trove of hundreds of new documents uncovered in a police storage room back up Fontenots claims of innocence. 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. Critically acclaimed singer, musician, and entertainer.
Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward The judge found Tommy Ward didnt get a fair trial. An autopsy showed evidence that she had been shot and no sign that she had been stabbed, per The AP. In a motion and brief filed Monday on behalf of Tommy Ward, one of two men convicted of Haraway's murder in Ada and who was featured in the John Grisham book the Innocent Man and 2018 Netflix. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. 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. 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. 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. In both Ward and Fontenots cases, judges issued rulings excoriating investigators for withholding favorable evidence from defense attorneys. Fontenot, Wards co-defendant, was ordered released by a federal judge in 2019, and the state is also appealing that order. He often uses his platform to raise awareness for various charitable causes and uses his talents to give back to his community. However, court documents filed on Monday (29 August) show that on Friday (26 August), Oklahomas Court of Criminal Appeals reversed the judges decision and reinstated Wards conviction. As a nonprofit news organization,The Frontieris funded by tax-deductible donations made by people who support quality journalism. 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. Local prosecutors again secured their convictions, based largely on their confessions. 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. 19 talking about this. More to come. 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. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! He reminds me of working with Frank Sinatra in some strange way." Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations.
Tommy Ward, Convicted Murderer and Subject of Netflix's 'The - TheWrap A spokeswoman for Attorney General John OConnor declined to comment on the pending cases. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. Ward was convicted alongside Karl Fontenot for murdering Donna Harraway in Ada.
37 years since Ada murder, Ward still in custody - KTEN He is currently serving time at the Dick Conner Correctional Center in Hominy in Oklahoma. 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. The ruling, dated Friday, said the withheld evidence, which included witness interviews and police reports, had been available to Ward's defense since 2003 and was not included in Ward's direct appeal after his 1999 conviction. 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. Ward is a hardworking and dedicated artist who continues to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna "Denice" Haraway.
Attorneys in 'Innocent Man' case eye federal court after lower court's 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. sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. She decided to vacate Wards conviction and life sentence, and ordered his release. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. Haraways body was located after the convictions. By: Dana Hertneky. "Everything about their confession has been proven wrong by the discovery of the body," attorney Janet Davis noted in the documentary. 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. 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. 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. Lawyers for a man whose murder conviction in Oklahoma was overturned after he served more than three decades in prison urged the U.S. Supreme Court this week not to grant the states request to review 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 parole. Wr Hines Ward - NFL.com /a > attorneys representing Tommy Ward was one of two serving! Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Both have excellent teams of lawyers who continue to work for their release.. Ward's accurate description of the blouse was the only information that he gave that was correct in his confession, Barrett said.
Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His OK man arrested for. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. In 2020, District Judge Paula Inge vacated his conviction, dismissed the charges against him, and ordered him set free. Tommy Ward was one of two men serving a life sentence for the 1984 murder of Denice Haraway in Ada. She was 24. 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. Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. Tommy Ward has been in prison 35 years for a murder he swears he did not commit. [Warning: Spoilers for "The Innocent Man" ahead!]. - BART TORRES, 99.7FM The Highway Vibe. Additional reporting by The Associated Press. The most recent exculpatory disclosure came in 2019, 31 years after Fontenots conviction.. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal . 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 Man'.
Oklahoma Attorney General responds to innocence claims by 'Innocent Man 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 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. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. I didnt even know what the word 'statement' or 'confessing' meant 'til they told me I confessed to it.
Tommy Ward - YouTube 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. The victim, Donna Denice Haraway, disappeared from the McAnally's convenience store in Ada on April 28, 1984. PublishedDecember 26, 2020 at 10:50 AM CST, KGOU |