You have permission to edit this article. Send Flowers. Haraways body was discovered west of Ada, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) from the location identified by Fontenot and she was fatally shot not stabbed, as he had said. The State lacked a plausible motive and had no physical evidence linking Mr. Fontenot to the crime, it said. In early 2019, a trove of previously-unreleased case documents were uncovered at the Ada Police Department by Wards attorneys. On Friday Shanahan told reporters Ward was diagnosed with a concussion after the game and is in concussion protocol. After not playing in 2020 and undergoing Tommy John surgery in June of '21, Ward made 13 starts across four Minor League levels while going 0-2 with an 2.28 ERA in 51 1/3 frames this past season. A federal appeals court has upheld a decision to overturn the conviction of one of two men in the 1985 kidnapping and murder of an Ada convenience store worker. You may send condolences to the family at www.fcfhs.com. Tommy Ward's life has not been the same since Larry Ruvo saw the teenager's future 2 years ago. In a 190-page opinion, U.S. District Judge James H. Payne ruled in 2019 that Fontenot did not receive a fair trial because of numerous constitutional violations. One way to activate is to join us on The Reawaken America Tour. BROOKS, William Apr 12, 1937 - Feb 16, 2023, BORING, Johnnie Feb 10, 1923 - Feb 19, 2023, ARTHUR, Kenneth Feb 1, 1953 - Feb 19, 2023, Roff sophomore provides boost off the bench, Foul play helps Kiowa slip past Sasakwa in Class B, Byng bounces Sulphur for fourth time in 4A Regional, Roff boys bury No. Oklahoma City Police Department Enforces New Bricktown Curfew, Okla. During his confession, which occurred during the final 30 minutes of the interrogation and was the only videotaped portion of the questioning, Ward said Haraway was wearing a button-up blouse with blue flowers printed on it, according to court records. His life will be celebrated at Lakewood Funeral Home on Saturday, July 27 at 12 Noon with visitation one hour prior. A spokesman for the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office said the states attorneys were still reviewing the 178-page order by the 10th Circuit. Subscribe and Follow on Facebook and YouTube for the latest music. Stay up to date with NFL player news, rumors, updates, analysis, social feeds, and more at FOX Sports. Outside candidates. Denice doesnt have a famous, wealthy author/film producer or people seeking five minutes of fame to stand up for her, the family said. The six-part true crime Netflix series was released back in 2018, and . The opinion also noted that the evidence suppressed by prosecutors included a potential suspect who had made obscene phone calls to Haraway at the convenience store where she worked in the weeks before her abduction. Candidate Tommy DeWeese (Nonpartisan) Kevin Kasel (Nonpartisan) James (Toodles) Ritchie (Nonpartisan) Incumbency information for this election was not available. Back in December a Ponotoc County judge overturned Wards conviction saying prosecutors withheld evidence in the case. A panel of judges finds that prosecutors had an extremely weak case against Karl Fontenot. For more information on The Frontier, visit readfrontier.org. The state, represented by Attorney General Mike Hunters office, has appealed the Fontenot decision to the 10thCircuit Court of Appeals, where the case is still pending. 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. You can cancel at any time. Courtesy 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. While Fontenot has been free on bond since late 2019, Ward remains incarcerated. Tommy Ward has been in prison for 35 years and was supposed to be released today after a judge dismissed Ward's murder conviction. As a nonprofit news organization,The Frontieris funded by tax-deductible donations made by people who support quality journalism. The ruling found that there was evidence of Fontenots innocence, including statements provided by other witnesses that placed Fontenot at a party at the time of Haraways disappearance, a string of obscene phone calls to Haraway before her disappearance, and affidavits from witnesses stating that Fontenot did not resemble the individuals who were seen in the store during Haraways disappearance. By Eric Shorey Denice Haraway of Ada, Oklahoma went in for an ordinary day of work at her convenience store job on April 28, 1984. The Oklahoma attorney general is appealing the ruling. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.. Faith Chapel Funeral Homes - North Chapel. The newlywed college student worked as a clerk there at night. 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. 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. He is now 58 years old and says he will not admit guilt even if it means improving his chances at parole. Ward was retried in 1989 and sentenced to life in prison. Ward was featured in the Netflix. We promise to never spam you. He said the clerk left with them after Ashley flirted with her. We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. Murphy said one of the issues in the opinion that stood out was the courts findings that the confession offered by Fontenot one of the biggest pieces of evidence that led to his conviction was likely a false confession. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Tommy Lee Ward, 76 Resides in Huntington, WV Lived In Port Crane NY, Binghamton NY Related To Rachel Ward Also known as Thomas Lee Ward, T Ward Includes Address (7) Phone (1) See Results Tommy A Ward, 88 Resides in Jacksonville, FL Related To Melissa Ward, Danielle Ward, Trent Ward, Clay Ward Also known as Thomas A Ward Includes Address (1) Fontenots death sentence was later reduced to life and Wards conviction has also been overturned, although he remains in prison while the state appeals. Fontenot and co-defendant Tommy Wards 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. Fontenot was retried in 1988 and again sentenced to death. Murphy said she was pleased with the outcome. 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! Both are model prisoners. 10K (XC) 31:18.9. These violations of Mr. Wards state and federal constitutional rights, along with newly discovered evidence of Mr. Wards innocence, require that Mr. Ward be granted relief. He ordered Fontenot to be permanently released from custody or granted a new trial. Share. A federal judge in Muskogee overturned Fontenots conviction in late 2019. Fontenot was retried in 1988 and again sentenced to death. The victim, Donna Denice Haraway, disappeared from a McAnally's convenience store in Ada on April 28, 1984. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Investigators said, after Wards confession, they contacted Haraways mother inquiring about the blouse, and her mother contacted Weldon, who then gave the description to police. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A federal appeals court has upheld a federal judges reversal of the murder conviction of an Oklahoma man whose case was featured in the book and television series The Innocent Man.. Ward and Fontenot were sentenced to death on January 21, 1985 after being found guilty of murdering Haraway. 2022. . The family questioned whether the judges actually watched the videotapes of the confessions. Engage via Email. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. When you read their briefs, they dont take issue with the fact that this information was withheld from him. You have permission to edit this article. Winning a state high school title is an amazing achievement for a high . John Grisham continues to correspond with both men. Fontenots attorney, Tiffany Murphy, told The Frontier she told Fontenot about the appeals court decision on Tuesday and that he was very excited and glad to hear it.. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections via AP), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Thomas Ward On Friday, former Ada resident Thomas Jesse Ward, convicted of a murder he insists he did not commit, was ordered to be set free after more than 35 years in custody. The appeals court opinion points out discrepancies in the states case and found that evidence favorable to Fontenot was withheld by the prosecution. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. * Led implementation of the first ISMS at Google . 1. pietrodleone May 19, 2021 12:17 pm . The investigators seem to have taken on the roles of prosecutor, judge and jury, determining that the only relevant evidence was evidence which fit their theory of the case, Inge wrote. However, in 2019, Wards attorneys began to uncover evidence that police may have known about the blouse prior to Wards confession. Both Ward and Fontenot claimed their confessions were coerced and steadfastly maintained their innocence. Forget Me Not EP available now on all major platforms. Tommy Ward, also had his conviction overturned in state court, but . Tommy Ward Former Ada resident Thomas Jesse Ward, convicted of a murder he insists he did not commit, was ordered on Dec. 18 to be set free. Ward and the Angels agreed on a one-year, $2.75 million contract Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. He was born on July 9, 1948 to Tom and Winnie Miller Ward. The family of a murdered Ada woman is blaming Netflix now that both murder convictions in the infamous 1984 case have been thrown out. The victim, Donna Haraway, disappeared from a convenience store where . At his second trial, he claimed he was at a party. evidence to link them to the crime . Tuesday, they filed a brief with the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. 2023 www.oklahoman.com. But, she does have her family, the Attorney General of the State of Oklahoma, friends and many good people that worked to find her killers and bring them to justice that will never forget her or who is responsible for her death.. On April 28, 1984, Haraway, a 24-year-old clerk at McAnallys convenience store in Ada, went missing. Were very happy, Karl is ecstatic, and were just waiting to see what happens next, Fontenots attorney, Tiffany Murphy told The Associated Press on Thursday. They were both later sentenced to life in prison. The judge ruled that Fontenot had legitimate claims of innocence and that investigators knew a confession he made but later recanted was of dubious validity. Ward and Fontenot have spent nearly 35 years in prison. The Oklahoma attorney generals office, which appealed Inges order, declined to comment on Thursdays ruling. attempted to take on Fontenot's case in 2013, a 2017 interview with The Marshall Project. OKLAHOMA CITY The family of a murdered Ada woman is blaming Netflix now that both murder convictions in the infamous 1984 case have been thrown out. 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.. A federal judge in Muskogee overturned Fontenot's conviction in late 2019. "The investigators seem to have taken on the roles of prosecutor, judge and jury, determining that the only 'relevant' evidence was evidence which fit their theory of the case," Inge wrote. 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. Its important to recognize this is now the second court saying this confession is not backed up by anything, its refuted at every turn.. 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