Position: WR Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 College: Rutgers Hometown: Canton, PA High School: Canton HS Newson6.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, Thomas Ward, known to the public as Tommy Ward, was convicted in 1999 of the 1984 murder of Donna Denice Haraway in Ada, Oklahoma. 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 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. 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. 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. She decided to vacate Wards conviction and life sentence, and ordered his release. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. 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. Fontenot was released in December 2019 at the age of 55 after a federal judge ordered he be released or retried. Tommy Ward has been in prison 35 years for a murder he swears he did not commit. The victim, Donna Denice Haraway, disappeared from the McAnally's convenience store in Ada on April 28, 1984. 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. 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. 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. 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. Ward and Fontenot were sentenced to death on January 21, 1985 after being found guilty of murdering Haraway. 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. Oklahoma Attorney General's Office Appeals Release Of Tommy Ward. Please refer to our. 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 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. Courtesy Netflix. 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. Appears the state will retry Karl Fontenot, who was released 2 years ago and subject of #netflix special. - BART TORRES, 99.7FM The Highway Vibe. 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 most recent exculpatory disclosure came in 2019, 31 years after Fontenots conviction.. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. 7726 5241 Dial by your location +1 346 248 7799 US Are allowed finish! 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. Tuesday, July 6th 2021, 11:00 pm. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. He's very disappointed that he's still in prison for a murder he didn't commit, Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, said Tuesday. 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. 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 convictions were based almost entirely on accounts they said they retrieved from dreams. To the extent that this could be the next Sinatra of our time." The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. 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. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. 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. Ada store clerk Denice Haraway was abducted and killed on April 28, 1984. . 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. 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. Ward is the subject of a Netflix docuseries and a book by John Grisham. "Everything about their confession has been proven wrong by the discovery of the body," attorney Janet Davis noted in the documentary. Tommy Ward to be set free . An autopsy showed evidence that she had been shot and no sign that she had been stabbed, per The AP. Barrett noted that the appeals court ordered the lower court to consider an additional claim regarding new evidence discovered in 2019. 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. Ward was featured in the Netflix. 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. Timmy Ward gamelogs for the 2022 season. 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 has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. I received Christmas cards last week from both Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot, so we keep in touch," Grisham said. 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.. sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. In June this year, the US Supreme Court refused to take up the case and to examine the states appeal. Heres a link to the decision, Mark Barrett & The Center on Wrongful Convictions tweeted, with the legal documents confirming the move attached. 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. 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! 2023 www.oklahoman.com. and his videos on social media have racked up millions of views. The attorneys claim a trove of hundreds of new documents uncovered in a police storage room back up Fontenots claims of innocence. 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.. It was later upheld when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the state's appeal. 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 newlywed college student worked as a clerk there at night. 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. An Oklahoma judge ruled that the case rested on circumstantial evidence. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. He often uses his platform to raise awareness for various charitable causes and uses his talents to give back to his community. She was 24. 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. 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 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. All rights reserved. At time of writing, he is still serving his life sentence without the possibility of parole, and is now 54 years old. 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. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. Among Fontenots legal team is Donald B. VerrilliJr., the U.S. solicitor general from 2011 to 2016. "They have now been in prison for 31 years, serving hard time for a murder committed by someone else. That evidence includes previously undisclosed suspects and whether police provided Ward with information about the victim's blouse, which prosecutors said he had described. "They said I had a choice to write it or tape it. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. "Tommy is the epitome of great music. Wr Hines Ward - NFL.com /a > attorneys representing Tommy Ward was one of two serving! Please refer to our. 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. More damningly, Haraway had not been been stabbed as the young men had described. 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. 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. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. 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. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Tommy Ward is still behind bars waiting for an appeal. 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. Fontenot is free on bond as the appeals process plays out. John 3:16. This is new info, and were trying to figure what this means right now. Also Read: 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book. Fontenot and Thomas Ward were convicted of killing Ada convenience store clerk Donna Denice Haraway in 1984. - STEVE WYNN, founder Wynn Resorts "I just saw Tommy in Las Vegas at a corporate event and I was BLOWN AWAY. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal . The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. The organization has not offered an update on the status of their efforts. You can opt-out at any time. 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. Ward was convicted in the case in 1989 along with a co-defendant named Karl Fontenot. This contradicted the confessions, which stated that Haraway had been stabbed to death. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, will also be filing an appeal for exoneration. 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. We promise to never spam you. Denice Haraway of Ada, Oklahoma went in for an ordinary day of work at her convenience store job on April 28, 1984. 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. 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. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Donate to The Frontier to support local independent investigative journalism. @WardInnocentMan. Ward was convicted alongside Karl Fontenot for murdering Donna Harraway in Ada. 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.. A state judge overturned Wards conviction in 2020, but the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office has appealed the ruling. ADVERTISEMENT 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. OK man arrested for. The Court of Criminal Appeals ordered Tommy Ward, 60, to remain imprisoned while the state appeals the lower courts ruling that he be released. Fontenot, 57 and Tommy Ward, 61, were both twice convicted in Haraways murder. 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. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! mail Both Ward and . 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. In a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project, the author discussed their fates. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. The Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. He is now 58 years old and says he will not admit guilt even if it means improving his chances at parole. 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. 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. Since the age of 16, Ward has had the opportunity to work alongside industry veterans and legends.