Fontenot was sentenced to death again but Ward was sentenced to life in prison, according to The Oklahoman. Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. What Happened To Tommy Ward And Karl Fontenot? 'The Innocent Man 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'. State asks U.S. Supreme Court to uphold conviction in 'Innocent Man' Both have excellent teams of lawyers who continue to work for their release.. She said police and prosecutors withheld evidence that would have assisted Wards defense. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna "Denice" Haraway. 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. Fight for his release from jail crime Netflix Series was released back in 2018, and temporary. The Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower courts ruling that he be released. Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward The victim, Donna Denice Haraway, disappeared from the McAnally's convenience store in Ada on April 28, 1984. Donate to The Frontier to support local independent investigative journalism. However, she would never be seen alive again. 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 is the subject of a Netflix docuseries and a book by John Grisham. Ward and Fontenot were sentenced to death on January 21, 1985 after being found guilty of murdering Haraway. 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. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. 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. That evidence includes previously undisclosed suspects and whether police provided Ward with information about the victim's blouse, which prosecutors said he had described. Tweet He reminds me of working with Frank Sinatra in some strange way." Instead, she had died from a gunshot wound. The state court of criminal appeals voted unanimously to reinstate Tommy Ward's murder conviction. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. He is now 58 years old and says he will not admit guilt even if it means improving his chances at parole. 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. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. Ward remained in prison while the state appealed the ruling, The Associated Press reported at the time. The convictions were based almost entirely on accounts they said they retrieved from dreams. mail Prisoner seen in Netflix's The Innocent Man has murder conviction Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal . Court Rules 'Innocent Man' Defendant to Remain Imprisoned Since the age of 16, Ward has had the opportunity to work alongside industry veterans and legends. Fontenot's case was picked up by The Innocence Project in 2011, but there's . 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. Fontenots and Wards attorneys did not respond to requests for comment. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. Forget Me Not EP available now on all major platforms. But now, Wards release has been blocked by the state Attorney Generals Office. 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. He is 54 years old and is being held at the at the North Fork Correctional Center in Sayre in Oklahoma. Attorneys in Ada 'Innocent Man' case request judge vacate Ward's The investigators seem to have taken on the role of prosecutor, judge and jury, determining that the only relevant evidence was evidence that fit their theory of the case.. Local prosecutors again secured their convictions, based largely on their confessions. 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. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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! Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. More to come. Tommy Ward to be set free . News9.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, 2023 www.oklahoman.com. Oklahomas Court of Criminal Appeals, however, argued that the district court had abused its discretion in that instance. John Grisham continues to correspond with both men. Tommy Ward - Official Site We promise to never spam you. 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. 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. John 3:16. Position: WR Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 College: Rutgers Hometown: Canton, PA High School: Canton HS 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 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. More:Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot. Tuesday, July 6th 2021, 11:00 pm. Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. Court rules 'Innocent Man' defendant to remain imprisoned - AP NEWS Tommy Ward from Netflix documentary has murder conviction reinstated ADVERTISEMENT Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. Timmy Ward 2022 Gamelogs | The Football Database 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. 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. 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. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. Haraway was working as a clerk in a convenience store when she went missing in Ada in 1984. In a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project, the author discussed their fates. 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. SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER, FIRST TAKE, 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book. Tommy Ward, Convicted Murderer and Subject of Netflix's 'The - TheWrap 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. Karl Fontenot: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com The most recent exculpatory disclosure came in 2019, 31 years after Fontenots conviction.. In June this year, the US Supreme Court refused to take up the case and to examine the states appeal. and his videos on social media have racked up millions of views. Oklahoma Attorney General responds to innocence claims by 'Innocent Man 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. At time of writing, he is still serving his life sentence without the possibility of parole, and is now 54 years old. Court Extends Temporary Stay 1 Day Before Tommy Ward's Expected Release The 10th U.S. To the extent that this could be the next Sinatra of our time." You can opt-out at any time. In 2020, District Judge Paula Inge vacated his conviction, dismissed the charges against him, and ordered him set free. We are pressing forward exploring the possibility of going to federal court with additional appeals, Barrett said. This contradicted the confessions, which stated that Haraway had been stabbed to death. 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. Critically acclaimed singer, musician, and entertainer. She was 24. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals has reinstated the murder conviction and life sentence of a man featured in the book and television series The Innocent Man.. 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. "They said I had a choice to write it or tape it. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. The judge found Tommy Ward didnt get a fair trial. But one day before Ward's release, a temporary stay,. 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. Newson6.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. About Tommy Ward Justices may determine before the courts term ends this summer whether to review the case. 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. Tommy's legal team dedicated to freeing Tommy Ward from prison for a crime he did not commit.. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. Which they did after I taped the statement," Fontenot said almost immediately after his interrogation, as described in Grisham's book. Tommy Ward was one of two men serving a life sentence for the 1984 murder of Denice Haraway in Ada. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. 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. Heres a link to the decision https://t.co/21UQag7LEi, Tommy Ward: The Innocent Man (@WardInnocentMan) December 19, 2020. Attorneys in Ada 'Innocent Man' murder case 'blown away' by content of An Oklahoma judge ruled that the case rested on circumstantial evidence. 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. 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. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. 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. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Want to support our mission to hold powerful people accountable, give a voice to the voiceless, and shine a light on darkness in Oklahoma? - STEVE WYNN, founder Wynn Resorts "I just saw Tommy in Las Vegas at a corporate event and I was BLOWN AWAY. 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. Advertisement On Friday, a judge vacated Ward's convictions and sentences, dismissed the charges and . Courtesy. So where are the two men now, more than 30 years later? Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His All rights reserved. 2022 Reader's Choice Winners . Both Ward and . 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. Ward was featured in the Netflix. 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. The circumstances surrounding Ward and Fontenot's confessions were suspicious from the start, and in fact were later proved to be inconsistent with what had actually happened to Haraway: Her body was ultimately found years after she vanished, 30 miles away from where the duo said they had deposited it. 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. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. 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. 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. 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. 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. I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. Ward's case was the focus of the Netflix documentary "The Innocent Man, " which was released in 2018. 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. 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. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. They cant. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. 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. 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. OK man arrested for. 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. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. Fontenot, 57 and Tommy Ward, 61, were both twice convicted in Haraways murder. Haraways body was located after the convictions. Ada store clerk Denice Haraway was abducted and killed on April 28, 1984. . 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. More damningly, Haraway had not been been stabbed as the young men had described. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear 'Innocent Man' case 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. 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. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. Heres a link to the decision, Mark Barrett & The Center on Wrongful Convictions tweeted, with the legal documents confirming the move attached. Though no physical evidence tied them to Haraways disappearance, Fontenot and Ward initially confessed to the crime after questioning by investigators. . Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. A state judge overturned Wards conviction in 2020, but the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office has appealed the ruling. Ward's accurate description of the blouse was the only information that he gave that was correct in his confession, Barrett said. The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. 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. The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenots alibi and other suspects in the murder provided solid proof of his probable innocence. The state also claims witnesses saw men matching Ward and Fontenots descriptions in the convenience store where Haraway worked before she disappeared. It was based on the 2006 true-crime book The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town by John Grisham. The Oklahoma attorney generals office, which appealed Inges order, declined to comment on Thursdays ruling. We promise to never spam you. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. 7726 5241 Dial by your location +1 346 248 7799 US Are allowed finish! This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. Oct 28, 2022. 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. Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. So thats the reason I gave them an untrue statement so they would leave me alone.. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. 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. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Timmy Ward gamelogs for the 2022 season. 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. Tommy Ward, 61, and Karl Fontenot, 58, were . 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 has been in prison 35 years for a murder he swears he did not commit. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna Denice Haraway. 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. 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. 37 years since Ada murder, Ward still in custody - KTEN He often uses his platform to raise awareness for various charitable causes and uses his talents to give back to his community. 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. Ward was convicted alongside Karl Fontenot for murdering Donna Harraway in Ada. Judge orders 'Innocent Man' defendant freed - Enidnews.com Ward remains in prison as the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals weighs his case. Ward and Fontenot were both granted a retrial a few years later, and again found guilty of Haraway's death. 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.. attempted to take on Fontenot's case in 2013, a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project. 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. Thomas Ward, known to the public as Tommy Ward, was convicted in 1999 of the 1984 murder of Donna Denice Haraway in Ada, Oklahoma. 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