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. John 3:16. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to 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. @WardInnocentMan. 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 . 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. 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. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! and his videos on social media have racked up millions of views. PublishedDecember 26, 2020 at 10:50 AM CST, KGOU | Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. Ward is currently still in prison while the appeals process continues. . 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. The Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower courts ruling that he be released. 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. Wr Hines Ward - NFL.com /a > attorneys representing Tommy Ward was one of two serving! Additional reporting by The Associated Press. 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. Fontenot. 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. Fontenot, Wards co-defendant, was ordered released by a federal judge in 2019, and the state is also appealing that order. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward "Tommy is the epitome of great music. Judge orders release or new trial for 'Innocent Man' defendant remains wrongfully imprisoned . 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. Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Denice Haraway of Ada, Oklahoma went in for an ordinary day of work at her convenience store job on April 28, 1984. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. They cant. The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. Timmy Ward 2022 Gamelogs | The Football Database Ward's accurate description of the blouse was the only information that he gave that was correct in his confession, Barrett said. 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. Judge orders 'Innocent Man' defendant freed - Enidnews.com I didnt even know what the word 'statement' or 'confessing' meant 'til they told me I confessed to it. Tommy Ward - YouTube The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. Instead, she had died from a gunshot wound. 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'. 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. 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.. Ward's case was the focus of the Netflix documentary "The Innocent Man, " which was released in 2018. He is 54 years old and is being held at the at the North Fork Correctional Center in Sayre in Oklahoma. Fontenot, 57 and Tommy Ward, 61, were both twice convicted in Haraways murder. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. 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, 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. Karl Fontenot: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com Ward is the subject of a Netflix docuseries and a book by John Grisham. 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. His conviction is the subject of the Netflix docu-series "The . All rights reserved. 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. 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. A spokeswoman for Attorney General John OConnor declined to comment on the pending cases. Tommy Ward: The Innocent Man (@WardInnocentMan) / Twitter Federal appeals court upholds overturned conviction in Ada 'Innocent Its clear as day.. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. He is now 58 years old and says he will not admit guilt even if it means improving his chances at parole. 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. 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. 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. - BART TORRES, 99.7FM The Highway Vibe. 7726 5241 Dial by your location +1 346 248 7799 US Are allowed finish! 19 talking about this. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. The 10th U.S. In June this year, the US Supreme Court refused to take up the case and to examine the states appeal. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna Denice Haraway. Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. 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. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! 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. "They have now been in prison for 31 years, serving hard time for a murder committed by someone else. 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. We promise to never spam you. Tommy's legal team dedicated to freeing Tommy Ward from prison for a crime he did not commit.. She decided to vacate Wards conviction and life sentence, and ordered his release. But now, Wards release has been blocked by the state Attorney Generals Office. 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. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and filming for Halloween Ends to release on October 14, 2022 with! At only 25 years old, he has already made a name for himself in the entertainment industry, and his videos on social media have racked up millions of views. More to come. 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 (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.. But one day before Ward's release, a temporary stay,. He often uses his platform to raise awareness for various charitable causes and uses his talents to give back to his community. 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. State asks U.S. Supreme Court to uphold conviction in 'Innocent Man' 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. As a nonprofit news organization,The Frontieris funded by tax-deductible donations made by people who support quality journalism. 2023 www.oklahoman.com. Appears the state will retry Karl Fontenot, who was released 2 years ago and subject of #netflix special. 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. 37 years since Ada murder, Ward still in custody - KTEN Freed man in 'Dreams of Ada' case slams state appeal to Supreme Court Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. The. - STEVE WYNN, founder Wynn Resorts "I just saw Tommy in Las Vegas at a corporate event and I was BLOWN AWAY. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. 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. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. Critically acclaimed singer, musician, and entertainer. Tommy Ward, 61, and Karl Fontenot, 58, were . OK man arrested for. Ward remains in prison as the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals weighs his case. Justices may determine before the courts term ends this summer whether to review the case. Fontenot is free on bond as the appeals process plays out. Tommy Ward was scheduled to be released in December 2020, but . 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 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. News9.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, It was later upheld when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the state's appeal. The two insisted they were innocent, but still ended up convicted of Haraway's murder. He's very disappointed that he's still in prison for a murder he didn't commit, Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, said Tuesday. In both Ward and Fontenots cases, judges issued rulings excoriating investigators for withholding favorable evidence from defense attorneys. He reminds me of working with Frank Sinatra in some strange way." Tommy Ward to be set free . To the extent that this could be the next Sinatra of our time." 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! So thats the reason I gave them an untrue statement so they would leave me alone.. He is currently serving time at the Dick Conner Correctional Center in Hominy in Oklahoma. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. 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. Fight for his release from jail crime Netflix Series was released back in 2018, and temporary. Haraways body was located after the convictions. Judge vacates Tommy Ward's sentences in 'The Innocent Man' case Both are model prisoners. Fontenot and Thomas Ward were convicted of killing Ada convenience store clerk Donna Denice Haraway in 1984. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Share 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.. Tweet Newson6.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. 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. We cant do it without your support. Both Ward and . 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. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. Fontenots lawyers at first waived the right to respond to the state, but the Supreme Court then requested a response. In a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project, the author discussed their fates. 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. When you read their briefs, they dont take issue with the fact that this information was withheld from him. 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. About Tommy Ward 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.