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 from prison after a federal judge in Oklahoma ruled in 2019 that the state committed numerous constitutional violations. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna "Denice" Haraway. - STEVE WYNN, founder Wynn Resorts "I just saw Tommy in Las Vegas at a corporate event and I was BLOWN AWAY. 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. 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.. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and filming for Halloween Ends to release on October 14, 2022 with! The Oklahoma attorney generals office, which appealed Inges order, declined to comment on Thursdays ruling. 2022 Reader's Choice Winners . 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. Tommy Ward was one of two men serving a life sentence for the 1984 murder of Denice Haraway in Ada. 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 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. and his videos on social media have racked up millions of views. 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. At time of writing, he is still serving his life sentence without the possibility of parole, and is now 54 years old. Ward was featured in the Netflix. Fontenot, Wards co-defendant, was ordered released by a federal judge in 2019, and the state is also appealing that order. 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. Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Ward has also had a widely celebrated opening act run for comedy legend Louie Anderson during his tenure at the Plaza Hotel. More damningly, Haraway had not been been stabbed as the young men had described. 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. Position: WR Height: 6-0 Weight: 190 College: Rutgers Hometown: Canton, PA High School: Canton HS Ward and Fontenot were sentenced to death on January 21, 1985 after being found guilty of murdering Haraway. 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 has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. Haraway was working as a clerk in a convenience store when she went missing in Ada in 1984. Share. Instead, she had died from a gunshot wound. Fontenot was released from prison about one year ago after a federal judge found he also didnt receive a fair trial. 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. Courtesy. - BART TORRES, 99.7FM The Highway Vibe. 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. He is 54 years old and is being held at the at the North Fork Correctional Center in Sayre in Oklahoma. 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. 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. 7726 5241 Dial by your location +1 346 248 7799 US Are allowed finish! Courtesy Netflix. Tweet A federal judge in Muskogee overturned Fontenot's conviction in late 2019. Tommy's legal team dedicated to freeing Tommy Ward from prison for a crime he did not commit.. Ward's accurate description of the blouse was the only information that he gave that was correct in his confession, Barrett said. 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. Tommy Ward has been in prison for 35 years and was supposed to be released today after a judge dismissed Ward's murder conviction. In addition to his impressive performances, Ward has a true passion for music and the arts. 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. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. As a nonprofit news organization,The Frontieris funded by tax-deductible donations made by people who support quality journalism. The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. 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. "Tommy is the epitome of great music. 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. Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal . Advertisement On Friday, a judge vacated Ward's convictions and sentences, dismissed the charges and . Karl Fontenot, Tommy Ward. 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. 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.. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Thomas Ward, known to the public as Tommy Ward, was convicted in 1999 of the 1984 murder of Donna Denice Haraway in Ada, Oklahoma. 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. 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. Keep up-to-date with everything that happens in your world. Fontenot's case was picked up by The Innocence Project in 2011, but there's . All rights reserved. Subscribe and Follow on Facebook and YouTube for the latest music. 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. Appears the state will retry Karl Fontenot, who was released 2 years ago and subject of #netflix special. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. 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. 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. Ward is currently still in prison while the appeals process continues. 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. Critically acclaimed singer, musician, and entertainer. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. The attorney generals office now has 20 days to respond. 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 Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. In a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project, the author discussed their fates. 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. 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. 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.. He is now 58 years old and says he will not admit guilt even if it means improving his chances at parole. 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. Ward's case was the focus of the Netflix documentary "The Innocent Man, " which was released in 2018. Heres a link to the decision https://t.co/21UQag7LEi, Tommy Ward: The Innocent Man (@WardInnocentMan) December 19, 2020. Timmy Ward gamelogs for the 2022 season. His conviction is the subject of the Netflix docu-series "The . More to come. Fontenot was released in December 2019 at the age of 55 after a federal judge ordered he be released or retried. "They said I had a choice to write it or tape it. Fontenots conviction was overturned in 2019, and he was freed pending an appeal by the state. 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 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. 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. Ada store clerk Denice Haraway was abducted and killed on April 28, 1984. . 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. 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. 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. attempted to take on Fontenot's case in 2013, a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project. 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. 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. More:Oklahoma Army veteran gets probation for role in Jan. 6 US Capitol riot. A spokeswoman for Attorney General John OConnor declined to comment on the pending cases. info@tommywardmusic.com | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. 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. 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.. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Which they did after I taped the statement," Fontenot said almost immediately after his interrogation, as described in Grisham's book. Ward's attorney, Mark Barrett, will also be filing an appeal for exoneration. 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. He often uses his platform to raise awareness for various charitable causes and uses his talents to give back to his community. Fontenots death sentence was later reduced to life before his conviction was reversed by a federal appeals court.