More:Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot. Oct 28, 2022. Its clear as day.. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. Haraways body was located after the convictions. When you read their briefs, they dont take issue with the fact that this information was withheld from him. She said police and prosecutors withheld evidence that would have assisted Wards defense. 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. By: Dana Hertneky. An autopsy showed evidence that she had been shot and no sign that she had been stabbed, per The AP. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. 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. Ward is the subject of a Netflix docuseries and a book by John Grisham. 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! 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 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. This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. 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. 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. But now, Wards release has been blocked by the state Attorney Generals Office. We promise to never spam you. 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.. 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 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. It was based on the 2006 true-crime book The Innocent Man: Murder and Injustice in a Small Town by John Grisham. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. 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. Fontenot was released from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. Ward's newly released EP "From This Moment On," (2022) produced by LeCoq Records, showcases his stunning vocal abilities . 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. Position: WR Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 College: Rutgers Hometown: Canton, PA High School: Canton HS More damningly, Haraway had not been been stabbed as the young men had described. Subscribe and Follow on Facebook and YouTube for the latest music. 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. The Official YouTube Channel of 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. 2022 Reader's Choice Winners . 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. Local prosecutors again secured their convictions, based largely on their confessions. You can opt-out at any time. Fontenot was released in December 2019 at the age of 55 after a federal judge ordered he be released or retried. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. 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. In both Ward and Fontenots cases, judges issued rulings excoriating investigators for withholding favorable evidence from defense attorneys. Ada store clerk Denice Haraway was abducted and killed on April 28, 1984. . Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. The judge said newly discovered evidence about Fontenots alibi and other suspects in the murder provided solid proof of his probable innocence. Tuesday, July 6th 2021, 11:00 pm. Ward remains in prison as the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals weighs his case. 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. 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. The 10th U.S. 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. This contradicted the confessions, which stated that Haraway had been stabbed to death. The state court of criminal appeals voted unanimously to reinstate Tommy Ward's murder conviction. mail She decided to vacate Wards conviction and life sentence, and ordered his release. Ward is a hardworking and dedicated artist who continues to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. 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. 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 state also claims witnesses saw men matching Ward and Fontenots descriptions in the convenience store where Haraway worked before she disappeared. At time of writing, he is still serving his life sentence without the possibility of parole, and is now 54 years old. The convictions were based almost entirely on accounts they said they retrieved from dreams. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna Denice Haraway. YOU'VE REACHED YOUR MONTHLY ARTICLE LIMIT. The most recent exculpatory disclosure came in 2019, 31 years after Fontenots conviction.. The. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. 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 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. The newlywed college student worked as a clerk there at night. Barrett noted that the appeals court ordered the lower court to consider an additional claim regarding new evidence discovered in 2019. Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. Karl Fontenot, Tommy Ward. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. Courtesy. Ward and Fontenot were both granted a retrial a few years later, and again found guilty of Haraway's death. "Tommy is the epitome of great music. 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. Tommy Ward, 61, and Karl Fontenot, 58, were . Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna "Denice" Haraway. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. 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. 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 . Fontenot's case was picked up by The Innocence Project in 2011, but there's . The two insisted they were innocent, but still ended up convicted of Haraway's murder. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. Ward has also had a widely celebrated opening act run for comedy legend Louie Anderson during his tenure at the Plaza Hotel. Additional reporting by The Associated Press. The judge also called the evidence against Ward circumstantial and said nearly all of the details in his confession were inaccurate. 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. Oklahomas Court of Criminal Appeals, however, argued that the district court had abused its discretion in that instance. 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. In June this year, the US Supreme Court refused to take up the case and to examine the states appeal. 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. More to come. 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. 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. OK man arrested for. In 2020, District Judge Paula Inge vacated his conviction, dismissed the charges against him, and ordered him set free. SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER, FIRST TAKE, 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book. As a nonprofit news organization,The Frontieris funded by tax-deductible donations made by people who support quality journalism. Fontenots and Wards attorneys did not respond to requests for comment. 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. Fontenot was released from prison about one year ago after a federal judge found he also didnt receive a fair trial. 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 Oklahoma attorney generals office, which appealed Inges order, declined to comment on Thursdays ruling. Fontenot. Ward remained in prison while the state appealed the ruling, The Associated Press reported at the time. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Ward's accurate description of the blouse was the only information that he gave that was correct in his confession, Barrett said. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna Denice Haraway. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. 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. 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 Department of Corrections via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. I didnt even know what the word 'statement' or 'confessing' meant 'til they told me I confessed to it. Tweet Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. "They have now been in prison for 31 years, serving hard time for a murder committed by someone else. He's very disappointed that he's still in prison for a murder he didn't commit, Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, said Tuesday. However, she would never be seen alive again. sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! The attorneys claim a trove of hundreds of new documents uncovered in a police storage room back up Fontenots claims of innocence. ADVERTISEMENT Please refer to our. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. 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. Tommy's legal team dedicated to freeing Tommy Ward from prison for a crime he did not commit.. Fight for his release from jail crime Netflix Series was released back in 2018, and temporary. Both Ward and Fontenot would go on to recant their confessions. 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'. The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. 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. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. 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. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and filming for Halloween Ends to release on October 14, 2022 with! 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. 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. 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. Share 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. have asked the court of appeals . Ward was featured in the Netflix. Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. "They said I had a choice to write it or tape it. PublishedDecember 26, 2020 at 10:50 AM CST, KGOU | Denice Haraway of Ada, Oklahoma went in for an ordinary day of work at her convenience store job on April 28, 1984. 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! I received Christmas cards last week from both Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot, so we keep in touch," Grisham said. - QUINCY JONES, 27 time GRAMMY-award-winning producer "A fine singer A lovely, silky voice." We cant do it without your support. Timmy Ward gamelogs for the 2022 season. 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. Ward was convicted alongside Karl Fontenot for murdering Donna Harraway in Ada. His conviction is the subject of the Netflix docu-series "The . 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. 19 talking about this. - STEVE WYNN, founder Wynn Resorts "I just saw Tommy in Las Vegas at a corporate event and I was BLOWN AWAY. remains wrongfully imprisoned . a man whose murder conviction in Oklahoma was overturned, Fontenot and Thomas Ward were convicted of killing Ada convenience store clerk Donna Denice Haraway in 1984, which became a Netflix documentary series, Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot, Human remains found, Oklahoma white supremacist leader might be connected, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. 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. 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 victim, Donna Denice Haraway, disappeared from the McAnally's convenience store in Ada on April 28, 1984. 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. She was 24. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. 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. All rights reserved. But one day before Ward's release, a temporary stay,. 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. 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.

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