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. 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 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. So where are the two men now, more than 30 years later? 19 talking about this. The Oklahoma attorney generals office, which appealed Inges order, declined to comment on Thursdays ruling. 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! Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? You can opt-out at any time. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. 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. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. Tommy Ward. 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 state court of criminal appeals voted unanimously to reinstate Tommy Ward's murder conviction. Haraway was working as a clerk in a convenience store when she went missing in Ada in 1984. 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. Please refer to our. Share Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. - STEVE WYNN, founder Wynn Resorts "I just saw Tommy in Las Vegas at a corporate event and I was BLOWN AWAY. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. 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. 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'. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. John Grisham continues to correspond with both men. This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. Courtesy. The Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower courts ruling that he be released. Ward was convicted in the case in 1989 along with a co-defendant named Karl Fontenot. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. Both are model prisoners. 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. 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. Tuesday, July 6th 2021, 11:00 pm. So thats the reason I gave them an untrue statement so they would leave me alone.. and his videos on social media have racked up millions of views. The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenots alibi and other suspects in the murder provided solid proof of his probable innocence. Want to support our mission to hold powerful people accountable, give a voice to the voiceless, and shine a light on darkness in Oklahoma? Though no physical evidence tied them to Haraways disappearance, Fontenot and Ward initially confessed to the crime after questioning by investigators. Newson6.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, Local prosecutors again secured their convictions, based largely on their confessions. News9.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, 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. Justices may determine before the courts term ends this summer whether to review the case. Tommy Ward was scheduled to be released in December 2020, but . He's very disappointed that he's still in prison for a murder he didn't commit, Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, said Tuesday. She doesnt believe he could be given a fair trial after more than 30 years. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday reinstated Tommy Ward's murder conviction in an infamous 1984 case out of Ada. Since the age of 16, Ward has had the opportunity to work alongside industry veterans and legends. Attorneys For Tommy Ward 'The Innocent Man' Continue Fight For His Release From Jail. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna Denice Haraway. 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. 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. She decided to vacate Wards conviction and life sentence, and ordered his release. 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. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. 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. - BART TORRES, 99.7FM The Highway Vibe. Ward and Fontenot were both granted a retrial a few years later, and again found guilty of Haraway's death. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. Courtesy Netflix. Ward has also had a widely celebrated opening act run for comedy legend Louie Anderson during his tenure at the Plaza Hotel. Heres a link to the decision https://t.co/21UQag7LEi, Tommy Ward: The Innocent Man (@WardInnocentMan) December 19, 2020. By: Dana Hertneky. The. I didnt even know what the word 'statement' or 'confessing' meant 'til they told me I confessed to it. Ward's case, and others, have been the. 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. "They said I had a choice to write it or tape it. That evidence includes previously undisclosed suspects and whether police provided Ward with information about the victim's blouse, which prosecutors said he had described. 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. 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. 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. 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! Ada store clerk Denice Haraway was abducted and killed on April 28, 1984. . 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. @WardInnocentMan. 2022 Reader's Choice Winners . 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. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. 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 remained in prison while the state appealed the ruling, The Associated Press reported at the time. 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 attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. 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. 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. 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.. 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. 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. 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. Appears the state will retry Karl Fontenot, who was released 2 years ago and subject of #netflix special. 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 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. Fontenot was released in December 2019 at the age of 55 after a federal judge ordered he be released or retried. 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. Both Ward and . We are pressing forward exploring the possibility of going to federal court with additional appeals, Barrett said. I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. 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. remains wrongfully imprisoned . 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. They cant. Fontenots and Wards attorneys did not respond to requests for comment. attempted to take on Fontenot's case in 2013, a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project. 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. The victim, Donna Denice Haraway, disappeared from the McAnally's convenience store in Ada on April 28, 1984. 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. 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. You can opt-out at any time. Heres a link to the decision, Mark Barrett & The Center on Wrongful Convictions tweeted, with the legal documents confirming the move attached. 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. Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. He reminds me of working with Frank Sinatra in some strange way." Tommy Ward has been in prison 35 years for a murder he swears he did not commit. Additional reporting by The Associated Press. 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. The organization has not offered an update on the status of their efforts. [Warning: Spoilers for "The Innocent Man" ahead!]. The judge also called the evidence against Ward circumstantial and said nearly all of the details in his confession were inaccurate. mail The most recent exculpatory disclosure came in 2019, 31 years after Fontenots conviction.. Among Fontenots legal team is Donald B. VerrilliJr., the U.S. solicitor general from 2011 to 2016. Barrett noted that the appeals court ordered the lower court to consider an additional claim regarding new evidence discovered in 2019. In June this year, the US Supreme Court refused to take up the case and to examine the states appeal. The judge found Tommy Ward didnt get a fair trial. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. She said police and prosecutors withheld evidence that would have assisted Wards defense. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. info@tommywardmusic.com | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. In addition to his impressive performances, Ward has a true passion for music and the arts. OK man arrested for. Wr Hines Ward - NFL.com /a > attorneys representing Tommy Ward was one of two serving! 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. Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, will also be filing an appeal for exoneration. We promise to never spam you. 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. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. Ward and Fontenot were sentenced to death on January 21, 1985 after being found guilty of murdering Haraway. Fontenots lawyers at first waived the right to respond to the state, but the Supreme Court then requested a response. When you read their briefs, they dont take issue with the fact that this information was withheld from him. The 10th U.S. 2023 www.oklahoman.com. "Tommy is the epitome of great music. ADVERTISEMENT 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 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. 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. 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. The state of Oklahoma filed a petition in the U.S. Supreme Court in January arguing that a federal law placing strict time limits on appeals should have barred the claims made in 2016 by Fontenot. The two insisted they were innocent, but still ended up convicted of Haraway's murder. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. 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. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Advertisement On Friday, a judge vacated Ward's convictions and sentences, dismissed the charges and . The attorneys claim a trove of hundreds of new documents uncovered in a police storage room back up Fontenots claims of innocence. Fontenots death sentence was later reduced to life before his conviction was reversed by a federal appeals court. At time of writing, he is still serving his life sentence without the possibility of parole, and is now 54 years old. 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.. An Oklahoma judge ruled that the case rested on circumstantial evidence. We promise to never spam you. Both have excellent teams of lawyers who continue to work for their release.. An autopsy showed evidence that she had been shot and no sign that she had been stabbed, per The AP. Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! 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. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. In 2020, District Judge Paula Inge vacated his conviction, dismissed the charges against him, and ordered him set free.