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. 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. Fontenots and Wards attorneys did not respond to requests for comment. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. Please refer to our. 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. He often uses his platform to raise awareness for various charitable causes and uses his talents to give back to his community. 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. Local prosecutors again secured their convictions, based largely on their confessions. 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. [Warning: Spoilers for "The Innocent Man" ahead!]. 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.. Heres a link to the decision https://t.co/21UQag7LEi, Tommy Ward: The Innocent Man (@WardInnocentMan) December 19, 2020. 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. More:Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna Denice Haraway. Timmy Ward gamelogs for the 2022 season. 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. 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. The organization has not offered an update on the status of their efforts. She said police and prosecutors withheld evidence that would have assisted Wards defense. Subscribe and Follow on Facebook and YouTube for the latest music. News9.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, "They said I had a choice to write it or tape it. Tommy Ward to be set free . His conviction is the subject of the Netflix docu-series "The . Oct 28, 2022. 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. Ward has also had a widely celebrated opening act run for comedy legend Louie Anderson during his tenure at the Plaza Hotel. But one day before Ward's release, a temporary stay,. Fontenot was released in December 2019 at the age of 55 after a federal judge ordered he be released or retried. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and filming for Halloween Ends to release on October 14, 2022 with! Fontenot. They cant. Ward's case, and others, have been the. Oklahomas Court of Criminal Appeals, however, argued that the district court had abused its discretion in that instance. "Tommy is the epitome of great music. Fontenot, Wards co-defendant, was ordered released by a federal judge in 2019, and the state is also appealing that order. 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. We promise to never spam you. Instead, she had died from a gunshot wound. A spokeswoman for Attorney General John OConnor declined to comment on the pending cases. 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'. 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.. 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's case was the focus of the Netflix documentary "The Innocent Man, " which was released in 2018. remains wrongfully imprisoned . Share. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Critically acclaimed singer, musician, and entertainer. mail Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Since the age of 16, Ward has had the opportunity to work alongside industry veterans and legends. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Ward and Fontenot were sentenced to death on January 21, 1985 after being found guilty of murdering Haraway. Ward is the subject of a Netflix docuseries and a book by John Grisham. 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 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. 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. When you read their briefs, they dont take issue with the fact that this information was withheld from him. 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. Also Read: 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book. The Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower courts ruling that he be released. She doesnt believe he could be given a fair trial after more than 30 years. Fontenots death sentence was later reduced to life before his conviction was reversed by a federal appeals court. 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. All rights reserved. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. 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. 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. 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. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. The Oklahoma attorney generals office, which appealed Inges order, declined to comment on Thursdays ruling. 7726 5241 Dial by your location +1 346 248 7799 US Are allowed finish! 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! 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. 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. The state court of criminal appeals voted unanimously to reinstate Tommy Ward's murder conviction. 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. 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. Courtesy Netflix. In addition to his impressive performances, Ward has a true passion for music and the arts. Haraways body was located after the convictions. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. 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. More to come. Ward is a hardworking and dedicated artist who continues to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. OK man arrested for. 2022 Reader's Choice Winners . Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward. Though no physical evidence tied them to Haraways disappearance, Fontenot and Ward initially confessed to the crime after questioning by investigators. More damningly, Haraway had not been been stabbed as the young men had described. 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 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. 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. 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. John Grisham continues to correspond with both men. Appears the state will retry Karl Fontenot, who was released 2 years ago and subject of #netflix special. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. Evidence presented to exonerate Fontenot had been available since Fontenots trials in the 1980s, the state said, arguing that the high court should accept the caseto clarify that new evidence means newly discovered or newly available evidence as opposed to newly presented evidence. 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. 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. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. Tuesday, July 6th 2021, 11:00 pm. 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. This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. Both have excellent teams of lawyers who continue to work for their release.. Please refer to our. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. 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. 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. 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. In a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project, the author discussed their fates. Fontenot was released from prison about one year ago after a federal judge found he also didnt receive a fair trial. Tommy Ward is still behind bars waiting for an appeal. 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. Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, will also be filing an appeal for exoneration. 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 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. 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. But the men quickly recanted and have claimed for decades that police coerced them to say they killed Haraway. 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. 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. We are pressing forward exploring the possibility of going to federal court with additional appeals, Barrett said. 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. Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. Justices may determine before the courts term ends this summer whether to review the case. 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. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. John 3:16. @WardInnocentMan. 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 Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. Newson6.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, The. 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 was convicted in the case in 1989 along with a co-defendant named Karl Fontenot. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. 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. Both Ward and . Which they did after I taped the statement," Fontenot said almost immediately after his interrogation, as described in Grisham's 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. 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. 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. This contradicted the confessions, which stated that Haraway had been stabbed to death. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. ADVERTISEMENT Heres a link to the decision, Mark Barrett & The Center on Wrongful Convictions tweeted, with the legal documents confirming the move attached. Both are model prisoners. He is 54 years old and is being held at the at the North Fork Correctional Center in Sayre in Oklahoma. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. 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. The 10th U.S. So thats the reason I gave them an untrue statement so they would leave me alone.. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. 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. sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Ward was convicted alongside Karl Fontenot for murdering Donna Harraway in Ada. 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. I didnt even know what the word 'statement' or 'confessing' meant 'til they told me I confessed to it. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. Tweet The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenot's alibi and other suspects in the murder provided "solid proof" of his probable innocence. The victim, Donna Denice Haraway, disappeared from the McAnally's convenience store in Ada on April 28, 1984. 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. She was 24. 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 convictions were based almost entirely on accounts they said they retrieved from dreams. Wr Hines Ward - NFL.com /a > attorneys representing Tommy Ward was one of two serving! 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. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna "Denice" Haraway. Tommy Ward. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. Want to support our mission to hold powerful people accountable, give a voice to the voiceless, and shine a light on darkness in 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. Fontenots lawyers at first waived the right to respond to the state, but the Supreme Court then requested a response. You can opt-out at any time. 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'. Fontenot is free on bond as the appeals process plays out. Barrett noted that the appeals court ordered the lower court to consider an additional claim regarding new evidence discovered in 2019. An Oklahoma judge ruled that the case rested on circumstantial evidence. The state also claims witnesses saw men matching Ward and Fontenots descriptions in the convenience store where Haraway worked before she disappeared. But now, Wards release has been blocked by the state Attorney Generals Office. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Prisoner seen in Netflixs The Innocent Man has conviction reinstated, refused to take up the case and to examine the states appeal, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off & extra perks with Booking.com Genius Membership, 50 cash with friend referrals at Virgin Mobile, 15% off extra plans with this Vodafone promo, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK March 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this March, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands.