Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Judge vacates Tommy Ward's sentences in 'The Innocent Man' case However, she would never be seen alive again. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna "Denice" Haraway. Oklahomas Court of Criminal Appeals, however, argued that the district court had abused its discretion in that instance. More to come. Ward is currently still in prison while the appeals process continues. In a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project, the author discussed their fates. Fontenots and Wards attorneys did not respond to requests for comment. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. 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. Critically acclaimed singer, musician, and entertainer. 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. You can opt-out at any time. Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. 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 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. Ada store clerk Denice Haraway was abducted and killed on April 28, 1984. . She was 24. Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. Tommy Ward, Convicted Murderer and Subject of Netflix's 'The - TheWrap Tommy Ward. Tommy Ward has been in prison for 35 years and was supposed to be released today after a judge dismissed Ward's murder conviction. He is now 58 years old and says he will not admit guilt even if it means improving his chances at 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. 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. - BART TORRES, 99.7FM The Highway Vibe. At time of writing, he is still serving his life sentence without the possibility of parole, and is now 54 years old. 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. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His 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 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. Tommy Ward was scheduled to be released in December 2020, but . We promise to never spam you. About Tommy Ward Oct 28, 2022. 2023 www.oklahoman.com. Attorneys in Ada 'Innocent Man' murder case 'blown away' by content of He is 54 years old and is being held at the at the North Fork Correctional Center in Sayre in Oklahoma. A spokeswoman for Attorney General John OConnor declined to comment on the pending cases. 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 is a hardworking and dedicated artist who continues to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. Tommy Ward is still behind bars waiting for an appeal. When you read their briefs, they dont take issue with the fact that this information was withheld from him. Ward's case, and others, have been the. In June this year, the US Supreme Court refused to take up the case and to examine the states appeal. 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. John Grisham continues to correspond with both men. Freed man in 'Dreams of Ada' case slams state appeal to Supreme Court The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. But one day before Ward's release, a temporary stay,. The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. . info@tommywardmusic.com | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. Tommy Ward - YouTube Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. Attorneys in 'Innocent Man' case eye federal court after lower court's Karl Fontenot, Tommy Ward. - QUINCY JONES, 27 time GRAMMY-award-winning producer "A fine singer A lovely, silky voice." More to come. 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. Tommy Ward from Netflix documentary has murder conviction reinstated 7726 5241 Dial by your location +1 346 248 7799 US Are allowed finish! Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna Denice Haraway. Both Ward and Fontenot would go on to recant their confessions. In addition to his impressive performances, Ward has a true passion for music and the arts. Advertisement On Friday, a judge vacated Ward's convictions and sentences, dismissed the charges and . Ward was convicted alongside Karl Fontenot for murdering Donna Harraway in Ada. Ward is currently still in prison while the appeals process continues. The Innocent Man - Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot now - Digital Spy Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. 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. "They said I had a choice to write it or tape it. By: Dana Hertneky. Though no physical evidence tied them to Haraways disappearance, Fontenot and Ward initially confessed to the crime after questioning by investigators. All rights reserved. Tommy Ward to be set free . Fontenot, 57 and Tommy Ward, 61, were both twice convicted in Haraways murder. As a nonprofit news organization,The Frontieris funded by tax-deductible donations made by people who support quality journalism. Court Rules 'Innocent Man' Defendant to Remain Imprisoned Fontenot was sentenced to death again but Ward was sentenced to life in prison, according to The Oklahoman. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. The judge also called the evidence against Ward circumstantial and said nearly all of the details in his confession were inaccurate. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? 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. But now, Wards release has been blocked by the state Attorney Generals Office. Its clear as day.. Karl Fontenot: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com Tommy Ward - Official Site 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. tommy ward released 2022 A federal judge in Muskogee overturned Fontenot's conviction in late 2019. I didnt even know what the word 'statement' or 'confessing' meant 'til they told me I confessed to it. But the men quickly recanted and have claimed for decades that police coerced them to say they killed Haraway. 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 Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower courts ruling that he be released. What Happened To Tommy Ward And Karl Fontenot? 'The Innocent Man Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. She doesnt believe he could be given a fair trial after more than 30 years. We promise to never spam you. She said police and prosecutors withheld evidence that would have assisted Wards defense. State asks U.S. Supreme Court to uphold conviction in 'Innocent Man' The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. Newson6.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, This contradicted the confessions, which stated that Haraway had been stabbed to death. More:Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot. Tweet 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. 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. We are pressing forward exploring the possibility of going to federal court with additional appeals, Barrett said. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. Additional reporting by The Associated Press. Want to support our mission to hold powerful people accountable, give a voice to the voiceless, and shine a light on darkness in Oklahoma? The judge found Tommy Ward didnt get a fair trial. Fontenot was released from prison about one year ago after a federal judge found he also didnt receive a fair trial. Which they did after I taped the statement," Fontenot said almost immediately after his interrogation, as described in Grisham's book. 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. Tommy Ward - YouTube (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. 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. 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. Fontenot's case was picked up by The Innocence Project in 2011, but there's . Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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.. He often uses his platform to raise awareness for various charitable causes and uses his talents to give back to his community. Attorneys in Ada 'Innocent Man' case request judge vacate Ward's He's very disappointed that he's still in prison for a murder he didn't commit, Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, said Tuesday. 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. Both are model prisoners. Oklahoma court reinstates 'Innocent Man' 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. It was later upheld when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the state's appeal. Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, will also be filing an appeal for exoneration. Judge vacates sentence; Tommy Ward to be set free Instead, she had died from a gunshot wound. U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear 'Innocent Man' case 37 years since Ada murder, Ward still in custody - KTEN 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. Fontenots attorneys have argued that many of the inaccurate details of his confession were supplied by detectives from the Ada Police Department and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations. Tommy Ward, who was convicted twice for the 1984 kidnapping and murder of Ada convenience store clerk Donna "Denise" Haraway, had his conviction and life sentence overturned and was ordered to. Ward's accurate description of the blouse was the only information that he gave that was correct in his confession, Barrett said. Prisoner seen in Netflix's The Innocent Man has murder conviction I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. Tommy Ward was one of two men serving a life sentence for the 1984 murder of Denice Haraway in Ada. 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. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. Fight for his release from jail crime Netflix Series was released back in 2018, and temporary. The two insisted they were innocent, but still ended up convicted of Haraway's murder. Ward was featured in the Netflix. Thomas Ward, known to the public as Tommy Ward, was convicted in 1999 of the 1984 murder of Donna Denice Haraway in Ada, Oklahoma. Timmy Ward gamelogs for the 2022 season. Fontenot and Thomas Ward were convicted of killing Ada convenience store clerk Donna Denice Haraway in 1984. [Warning: Spoilers for "The Innocent Man" ahead!]. They cant. Appears the state will retry Karl Fontenot, who was released 2 years ago and subject of #netflix special. Forget Me Not EP available now on all major platforms. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 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. 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. To the extent that this could be the next Sinatra of our time." 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. 19 talking about this. The newlywed college student worked as a clerk there at night. Please refer to our. 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. 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. Court upholds overturned conviction in 'Innocent Man' case Court Extends Temporary Stay 1 Day Before Tommy Ward's Expected Release Tuesday, July 6th 2021, 11:00 pm. Federal appeals court upholds overturned conviction in Ada 'Innocent 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. 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. 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. 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'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. 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! This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. 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. 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. More damningly, Haraway had not been been stabbed as the young men had described. sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. Wr Hines Ward - NFL.com /a > attorneys representing Tommy Ward was one of two serving! 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. 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. 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. have asked the court of appeals . 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. 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. 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. ADVERTISEMENT Since the age of 16, Ward has had the opportunity to work alongside industry veterans and legends. 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. Ward remained in prison while the state appealed the ruling, The Associated Press reported at the time. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. 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. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. So where are the two men now, more than 30 years later? 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. Ward has also had a widely celebrated opening act run for comedy legend Louie Anderson during his tenure at the Plaza Hotel. Ward is the subject of a Netflix docuseries and a book by John Grisham. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. 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. Share. Heres a link to the decision https://t.co/21UQag7LEi, Tommy Ward: The Innocent Man (@WardInnocentMan) December 19, 2020. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. 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. 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. 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. The organization has not offered an update on the status of their efforts. 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. OK man arrested for. An autopsy showed evidence that she had been shot and no sign that she had been stabbed, per The AP. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. 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.