The 10th U.S. The state also claims witnesses saw men matching Ward and Fontenots descriptions in the convenience store where Haraway worked before she disappeared. 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. 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 . Additional reporting by The Associated Press. 19 talking about this. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. 7726 5241 Dial by your location +1 346 248 7799 US Are allowed finish! In addition to his impressive performances, Ward has a true passion for music and the arts. 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. 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. Want to support our mission to hold powerful people accountable, give a voice to the voiceless, and shine a light on darkness in Oklahoma? John Grisham continues to correspond with both men. 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. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. 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. 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 Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower courts ruling that he be released. Instead, she had died from a gunshot wound. 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. Tweet 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. 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. 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. A federal judge in Muskogee overturned Fontenot's conviction in late 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. Share. 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. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. I didnt even know what the word 'statement' or 'confessing' meant 'til they told me I confessed to it. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. The organization has not offered an update on the status of their efforts. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna "Denice" Haraway. "They have now been in prison for 31 years, serving hard time for a murder committed by someone else. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. . 2023 www.oklahoman.com. 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.. Both Ward and . and his videos on social media have racked up millions of views. The judge found Tommy Ward didnt get a fair trial. 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. 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. 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 two insisted they were innocent, but still ended up convicted of Haraway's murder. The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. 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. 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. 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. Fontenot is currently awaiting the results of a federal appeal. I received Christmas cards last week from both Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot, so we keep in touch," Grisham said. 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 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. 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. Ward's case, and others, have been the. 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. He's very disappointed that he's still in prison for a murder he didn't commit, Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, said Tuesday. 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. 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. We promise to never spam you. Forget Me Not EP available now on all major platforms. 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. 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. mail 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. "Tommy is the epitome of great music. Ward remains in prison as the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals weighs his case. 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 has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. 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. She said police and prosecutors withheld evidence that would have assisted Wards defense. The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. PublishedDecember 26, 2020 at 10:50 AM CST, KGOU | Oklahomas Court of Criminal Appeals, however, argued that the district court had abused its discretion in that instance. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. 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. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. 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. Fontenot, 57 and Tommy Ward, 61, were both twice convicted in Haraways murder. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday reinstated Tommy Ward's murder conviction in an infamous 1984 case out of Ada. 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. In June this year, the US Supreme Court refused to take up the case and to examine the states appeal. - BART TORRES, 99.7FM The Highway Vibe. The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenot's alibi and other suspects in the murder provided "solid proof" of his probable innocence. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. He is currently serving time at the Dick Conner Correctional Center in Hominy in Oklahoma. 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. 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. That evidence includes previously undisclosed suspects and whether police provided Ward with information about the victim's blouse, which prosecutors said he had described. Courtesy Netflix. She decided to vacate Wards conviction and life sentence, and ordered his release. Fontenots conviction was overturned in 2019, and he was freed pending an appeal by the state. 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. To the extent that this could be the next Sinatra of our time." 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. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. Donate to The Frontier to support local independent investigative journalism. Karl Fontenot, Tommy Ward. Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, will also be filing an appeal for exoneration. Ward is the subject of a Netflix docuseries and a book by John Grisham. 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. Fontenot is free on bond as the appeals process plays out. Advertisement On Friday, a judge vacated Ward's convictions and sentences, dismissed the charges and . Appears the state will retry Karl Fontenot, who was released 2 years ago and subject of #netflix special. 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. SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER, FIRST TAKE, 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book. 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. Tommy Ward has been in prison 35 years for a murder he swears he did not commit. Both have excellent teams of lawyers who continue to work for their release.. 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. 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. Barrett noted that the appeals court ordered the lower court to consider an additional claim regarding new evidence discovered in 2019. Tommy Ward was one of two men serving a life sentence for the 1984 murder of Denice Haraway in Ada. John 3:16. @WardInnocentMan. 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. Position: WR Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 College: Rutgers Hometown: Canton, PA High School: Canton HS So where are the two men now, more than 30 years later? I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. 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. She was 24. An Oklahoma judge ruled that the case rested on circumstantial evidence. 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. She doesnt believe he could be given a fair trial after more than 30 years. 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. Wr Hines Ward - NFL.com /a > attorneys representing Tommy Ward was one of two serving! Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the 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. 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. So thats the reason I gave them an untrue statement so they would leave me alone.. He often uses his platform to raise awareness for various charitable causes and uses his talents to give back to his community. 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'. More damningly, Haraway had not been been stabbed as the young men had described. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and filming for Halloween Ends to release on October 14, 2022 with! He reminds me of working with Frank Sinatra in some strange way." Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward. 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. In a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project, the author discussed their fates. Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. At time of writing, he is still serving his life sentence without the possibility of parole, and is now 54 years old. The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenots alibi and other suspects in the murder provided solid proof of his probable innocence. But the men quickly recanted and have claimed for decades that police coerced them to say they killed Haraway. 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. 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. 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. - QUINCY JONES, 27 time GRAMMY-award-winning producer "A fine singer A lovely, silky voice." Its clear as day.. News9.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, Ada store clerk Denice Haraway was abducted and killed on April 28, 1984. . 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. Also Read: 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. Wards and Fontenots convictions were featured in the John Grisham 2006 book The Innocent Man and a 2018 Netflix series of the same name, as well as the 1987 book Dreams of Ada by Robert Mayer. Fontenot and Thomas Ward were convicted of killing Ada convenience store clerk Donna Denice Haraway in 1984. "They said I had a choice to write it or tape it. Share Fontenot was released from prison about one year ago after a federal judge found he also didnt receive a fair trial. 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. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. The newlywed college student worked as a clerk there at night. Tommy Ward to be set free . 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 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. We cant do it without your support. Fontenot's case was picked up by The Innocence Project in 2011, but there's . This contradicted the confessions, which stated that Haraway had been stabbed to death. Oct 28, 2022. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. Fontenots and Wards attorneys did not respond to requests for comment. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. It was based on the 2006 true-crime book The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town by John Grisham. As a nonprofit news organization,The Frontieris funded by tax-deductible donations made by people who support quality journalism. 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. 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! Tommy Ward, 61, and Karl Fontenot, 58, were . - STEVE WYNN, founder Wynn Resorts "I just saw Tommy in Las Vegas at a corporate event and I was BLOWN AWAY. More to come. This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. Ward is currently still in prison while the appeals process continues. have asked the court of appeals . Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. Ward remained in prison while the state appealed the ruling, The Associated Press reported at the time. Ward is a hardworking and dedicated artist who continues to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. The convictions of Ward and Fontenot have been the subject of numerous books, including John Grishams The Innocent Man, which he produced into a six-part documentary. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. 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. Ward was convicted alongside Karl Fontenot for murdering Donna Harraway in Ada. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. In 2020, District Judge Paula Inge vacated his conviction, dismissed the charges against him, and ordered him set free. [Warning: Spoilers for "The Innocent Man" ahead!]. More to come. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. An autopsy showed evidence that she had been shot and no sign that she had been stabbed, per The AP. We are pressing forward exploring the possibility of going to federal court with additional appeals, Barrett said. Tommy's legal team dedicated to freeing Tommy Ward from prison for a crime he did not commit.. Ward was featured in the Netflix. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna Denice Haraway. We promise to never spam you. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. Haraways body was located after the convictions. Ward's accurate description of the blouse was the only information that he gave that was correct in his confession, Barrett said. 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. "Everything about their confession has been proven wrong by the discovery of the body," attorney Janet Davis noted in the documentary. 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.. 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. 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. A spokeswoman for Attorney General John OConnor declined to comment on the pending cases. This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. Denice Haraway of Ada, Oklahoma went in for an ordinary day of work at her convenience store job on April 28, 1984. But now, Wards release has been blocked by the state Attorney Generals Office. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. ADVERTISEMENT Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 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. attempted to take on Fontenot's case in 2013, a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project. The convictions were based almost entirely on accounts they said they retrieved from dreams. By: Dana Hertneky. 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. Critically acclaimed singer, musician, and entertainer. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Haraway was working as a clerk in a convenience store when she went missing in Ada in 1984. Heres a link to the decision, Mark Barrett & The Center on Wrongful Convictions tweeted, with the legal documents confirming the move attached.
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