Ada store clerk Denice Haraway was abducted and killed on April 28, 1984. . 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. 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. Fight for his release from jail crime Netflix Series was released back in 2018, and temporary. 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. 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 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. Also Read: 'The Innocent Man': Netflix Sets December Launch for Docuseries Based on John Grisham Book. Attorneys representing Tommy Ward continue to fight for his release from jail. Advertisement On Friday, a judge vacated Ward's convictions and sentences, dismissed the charges and . Barrett noted that the appeals court ordered the lower court to consider an additional claim regarding new evidence discovered in 2019. Tommy has been recommended for parole at least twice, but turned down by the board in Oklahoma. [Warning: Spoilers for "The Innocent Man" ahead!]. 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. 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. By: Dana Hertneky. Breaking news: Judge orders Tommy released and vacates his conviction. Fontenot's case was picked up by The Innocence Project in 2011, but there's . John 3:16. Fontenot is free on bond as the appeals process plays out. They cant. OK man arrested for. Fontenot, Wards co-defendant, was ordered released by a federal judge in 2019, and the state is also appealing that order. The state also claims witnesses saw men matching Ward and Fontenots descriptions in the convenience store where Haraway worked before she disappeared. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. 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'. 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. Donate to The Frontier to support local independent investigative journalism. 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. Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the judges ruling last year, saying that, Almost no evidence connected him to the crime other than his own videotaped confession, a confession that rang false in almost every particular., The appeals court said Fontenot has brought forth new evidence that is sufficient to unlock the actual innocence gateway and to allow his substantive claims to be heard on the merits. Karl Fontenot, Tommy Ward. 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. Fontenot. The convictions were based almost entirely on accounts they said they retrieved from dreams. His conviction is the subject of the Netflix docu-series "The . Fontenot was sentenced to death again but Ward was sentenced to life in prison, according to The Oklahoman. He often uses his platform to raise awareness for various charitable causes and uses his talents to give back to his community. "Tommy is the epitome of great music. 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. Subscribe and Follow on Facebook and YouTube for the latest music. 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. 2022 Reader's Choice Winners . 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 Innocent Man, released by Netflix in 2018, looked at two murder cases having taken place in Ada in the 1980s, including the one which resulted in Wards conviction. Haraway was working as a clerk in a convenience store when she went missing in Ada in 1984. Tommy Ward is a critically acclaimed singer and entertainer from Las Vegas who has a deep love and appreciation for legendary musicians and crooners. Fontenot has been released pending a decision from the United States 10th Circuit Court of Appeals. 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. Last week, a Pontotoc County District Court judge ordered Tommy Ward be released from prison. Among Fontenots legal team is Donald B. VerrilliJr., the U.S. solicitor general from 2011 to 2016. 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. Ward is the subject of a Netflix docuseries and a book by John Grisham. Ward remains in prison as the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals weighs his case. As a nonprofit news organization,The Frontieris funded by tax-deductible donations made by people who support quality journalism. Share. 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 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 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. sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. Newson6.com is proud to provide Oklahomans with timely and relevant news and information, Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Forget Me Not EP available now on all major platforms. An autopsy showed evidence that she had been shot and no sign that she had been stabbed, per The AP. Fontenot, 57 and Tommy Ward, 61, were both twice convicted in Haraways murder. Both Ward and Fontenot would go on to recant their confessions. 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 Official YouTube Channel of Tommy Ward. 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. Ward and Fontenot were both granted a retrial a few years later, and again found guilty of Haraway's death. 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. Wards attorneys said its far too late for Ward to receive a fair trial. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. 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.. 19 talking about this. 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. 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. sharing the stories, pictures and loves of Oklahomans across our great state. The most recent exculpatory disclosure came in 2019, 31 years after Fontenots conviction.. I agree with TheWrap's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy and provide my consent to receive marketing communications from them. mail Fontenots and Wards attorneys did not respond to requests for comment. - QUINCY JONES, 27 time GRAMMY-award-winning producer "A fine singer A lovely, silky voice." Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! "They have now been in prison for 31 years, serving hard time for a murder committed by someone else. Heres a link to the decision, Mark Barrett & The Center on Wrongful Convictions tweeted, with the legal documents confirming the move attached. In both Ward and Fontenots cases, judges issued rulings excoriating investigators for withholding favorable evidence from defense attorneys. Ward's newly released EP "From This Moment On," (2022) produced by LeCoq Records, showcases his stunning vocal abilities . 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. 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. Ward's accurate description of the blouse was the only information that he gave that was correct in his confession, Barrett said. 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. Tommy Ward was one of two men serving a life sentence for the 1984 murder of Denice Haraway in Ada. Please refer to our. A federal judge in Muskogee overturned Fontenot's conviction in late 2019. The organization has not offered an update on the status of their efforts. Subscribe for the latest music videos, performances, and more!Tommy's new album "From This Moment On" available n. At time of writing, he is still serving his life sentence without the possibility of parole, and is now 54 years old. Oklahoma seeks to uphold the murder conviction of Karl Fontenot in the murder of Donna Denice Haraway. 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. 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