Diane Ward -- Found Deceased 9/21/09 -- Bob Ward Convicted Of Second Degree Murder

Documents Released In Isleworth Killing
Ward Enters Not-Guilty Plea In Wife's Death

ORLANDO, Fla. -- More than 150 pages of documents were released on Tuesday in the case of a millionaire accused of killing his wife in an Isleworth mansion.

Bob Ward is accused of killing his wife, Diane Ward, in their Isleworth Mansion in September. In a report released Tuesday, a medical examiner said the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, that the death appeared to be a homicide and that it appeared she was shot at close range.

PDF: Investigative Report PDF: Motion

The documents were released just before noon and indicated Ward showed several different faces on the night he was arrested. They also revealed that both Bob and Diane Ward were scheduled to answer questions in connection with Ward's land development company's bankruptcy the day after Diane Ward died. An attorney representing the bankruptcy's creditors said the questions were to be about what happened to the corporate assets.

Detectives said Ward appeared relaxed and at ease inside an interview room, and they said he put his feet up and appeared to fall asleep, saying he did not need water and that he was "perfect."

But Ward also told investigators and detectives that he was worried about his children and not himself.



"Tomorrow, somehow I have to do damage control with the children. That's the most important thing," he said.

The investigation report also detailed an e-mail Ward sent to a local attorney who represented creditors from Ward's bankrupt land development company around the same time. The e-mail blamed the attorneys for his wife's death and said Ward wanted to kill himself.

According to the documents, the e-mail read, "You (expletive)! I hope you are happy. Diane killed herself this evening. Go to hell."

A transcript of Ward's 911 call after the shooting indicated that when an operator asked Ward if he was sure his wife was not breathing, he said, "She's dead ... She's done ... I'm sorry."

When Ward was asked if he purposely did this, he said it was an accident. He said the gun just went off. He said Diane was on the floor and he didn't know how it happened.

In the investigation report, Detective Brian Cross said he spoke with Paula Saare, Diane Ward's sister. Cross said that when he told Paula Saare that her sister was dead and that Bob Ward would be charged with her death, Saare responded by pleading, "Just make it an accident." She said that Bob Ward had been under a lot of stress. Cross explained that Diane did not die as the result of an accident, and, according to the investigation report, Saare asked if Cross could make it an accident if he talked to Ward again.

Ward also called Glenn Saare, his brother-in-law. In an interview, Saare said Ward called him and said that Diane was dead and that he was at the sheriff's office or jail. Ward told Saare he couldn't go into details, but asked Saare to make sure his girls were OK. Saare said he couldn't remember whether Ward said her death was accident or suicide. Saare said he was in shock, and that although Ward was surely also in shock, he was calm.

Saare said that he had heard Ward make comments about "putting a bullet in his head" and that he blamed himself for the bankruptcy. Saare said he had never heard Diane threaten to harm herself or had any indication that Ward would hurt her.

Saare was also asked if Ward had any serious health issues. There had been rumors that she may have been terminally ill, but Saare said he was not aware of any.

Detectives also interviewed Ward's former girlfriend, Diane Callahan. She said that in the five years she dated Ward in the early '90s, he drank heavily and once popped three Valium in his mouth, washing it down with alcohol. She also said he got violent when he was drunk, and during one disagreement, he was so enraged he tore a bedpost off with his hands and beat her unconscious with it.

Ward was released from jail on bond, but he must wear an ankle monitor and stay within 300 feet of his home at night.

Also on Tuesday, Ward filed a written plea with the court of not guilty in the case.

Attorney Turns Over Ward's BlackBerry To Authorities

WESH 2 News confirmed Tuesday afternoon that, after prosecutors had filed a motion seeking Bob Ward's BlackBerry, his attorney has turned it over to authorities. Read Motion Filed Earlier

The phone was being sought because, according to the motion, Ward was given his BlackBerry -- found in his driveway by police -- in order to call his attorney, Liz Green, while at the sheriff's office headquarters. The motion said Ward was allowed to e-mail, text and call people who were not his attorney while under observation.

When Green arrived at sheriff's office headquarters, the motion said she took his watch, cash and the Blackberry, but did not notify police she was taking the phone. The motion said that it believes Ward made incriminating statements with that phone and that acting as his attorney, Green did not have the authority to take it.

The motion filed earlier said Green had since refused to turn over the phone, but it was surrendered Tuesday afternoon.

Green has not returned calls from WESH 2, but in published reports she said she did not hold on to Ward's cell phone in a attempt to hide anything but rather, she had concerns that problems could arise down the road regarding attorney client privilege.

Documents: Isleworth Murder Suspect Smiled, Sighed

ORLANDO, Fla. -- On the same day James "Bob" Ward entered a plea of not guilty, documents were released in the case of the Isleworth man accused of murdering his wife (read them all). Tuesday, Ward pled not guilty to shooting his wife. He filed the plea in the second-degree murder case and remains free on a $100,000 bond.

DOCUMENTS: 156 Pages Released 10/20/09
MOTIONS: Compel DNA | Compel Blackberry

The documents released on the same day of his not guilty plea show Ward was in an upbeat mood and very relaxed when detectives talked to him at the Orange County Sheriff's Office headquarters on the night his wife, Diane, was shot and killed. Even though Ward had blood on his shoes, he smiled. When he was told his wife had been pronounced dead, he sighed.

“James Ward was smiling, and seemed to be in an upbeat mood,” a detective wrote in the investigative report that was released as part of 156 pages of evidence.

Eyewitness News was there when Ward was taken into custody at his Isleworth mansion after the deadly shooting of his wife Diane and there was a reddish stain on the back of his shirt. Ward did not answer a detective's question as to whether it was wine or blood, but the documents released Tuesday show Ward calmly asked detectives whether it was blood on his shirt when he was at the sheriff's headquarters.

SEE WARD'S MANSION: Aerial Images

Ward told detectives just minutes after the shooting "it has been a nightmare but we probably need to get a lawyer in here."

At one point, he put his legs up on a chair and appeared to be asleep. He also told investigators "somehow I have to do damage control with the children. That's the most important thing."

Ward repeatedly told a 911 operator that he had shot his wife, but then changed his story. What he said during various phone calls he made from the interrogation room ranged from "Diane is dead. It's not real pretty right now" to "it was an accident and I will tell you more about it later" to "Diane killed herself.”

Ward told the 911 operator that he had called five minutes after the shooting. One of the things he said to the 911 operator when he was asked whether his wife was breathing was, "She's dead. She's done."

But investigators say he never gave them an explanation as to what happened. Investigators performed a gun residue test on Ward's hands while he was at the sheriff's office. He first said he shot his wife and then said she shot herself after a struggle over the gun. The medical examiner says the shooting is not consistent with a suicide or a gunshot during a struggle.

The new documents also show that Ward's ex-girlfriend told investigators that he was physically abusive with her and abused alcohol and drugs in combination, which lead to the end of their five-year relationship. She said Ward also had pointed a gun at her.

INTERVIEWS IN DOCUMENTS REVEAL DETAILS

It appears Ward did not want to let go of money the court says belonged to his companies and his creditors, but not him. The U.S. bankruptcy trustee said Ward's companies and his family were intertwined in a complex relationship; his daughter's trust funds owned a percentage of the parent corporation.

The day after the shooting, Diane and Bob Ward were supposed to answer tough questions under oath about what happened to his companies' money. Ward told his wife's sister's husband that he did not want anyone to take what Ward apparently perceived as his and his family's money, even though the U.S. bankruptcy trustee told investigators that there were concerns Ward took money from his companies for his family's personal use.

Ward’s brother-in-law told investigators Ward had not received a paycheck in more than a year. His in-laws lived in one of his developments in Georgia and run the homeowners’ association.

Ward’s brother-in-law also told investigators that Ward had repeatedly said he should put a gun to his own head to get the family out of the financial difficulties that he created, but told investigators he didn't believe Bob or his wife Diane would do anything to hurt themselves, and Bob never said anything about hurting his wife.

Brother-in-law Glen Saare said Ward put up with things from his wife that Saare would not have put up with, but he did not explain what he meant by that.

Ward's ex-girlfriend told investigators Ward looked her up for lunch recently and told her his wife Diane continued to spend despite the bankruptcy problems. She described both the Wards as heavy drinkers.

Legal analyst Doug Dorner says Ward's financial stress could become a key issue in the case.

“I think it's something that both sides of the case is going to latch on to and use it as a strength, either a strength or a weakness,” Dorner said.

PROSECUTORS FILE MOTION FOR PHONE, DNA

Prosecutors filed a motion in the murder case (read motion)Tuesday accusing Ward's bankruptcy attorney of taking his cell phone without telling detectives after it had been deemed as evidence in the case.

Investigators had packaged Ward’s Blackberry as evidence the night of the shooting, but gave it back to Ward that night when he said his lawyer's phone number was programmed into the phone. But in Tuesday’s motion, prosecutors say he gave the phone to his bankruptcy attorney that night and she took it with her without telling detectives and has refused to hand it over.

Prosecutors say Ward used the phone to call and text several people other than his lawyer that night and they want the phone back.

In another new development in the case, prosecutors want Ward to turn over his DNA samples (read motion). Prosecutors say investigators have found DNA on the gun used in the shooting and, if Ward’s DNA is on the gun, it's very relevant to the case.

http://www.wftv.com/news/21349291/detail.html

Bob Ward trial: Jurors hear closing arguments, will deliberate Friday

By Anthony Colarossi, Orlando Sentinel
5:34 p.m. EDT, September 22, 2011

The defense attorney representing James Robert "Bob" Ward, the millionaire accused of killing his wife in their Isleworth mansion, told jurors during closing arguments Thursday that the uncertainty in the case amounts to reasonable doubt.

Lawyer Kirk Kirkconnell told an Orange County jury that perhaps there was a struggle for the gun Sept. 21, 2009, the night Diane Ward was shot in the face in her master bedroom.

"She could have been trying to commit suicide," he said. "She could have been trying to shoot him."

Read more: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/crime/os-bob-ward-trial-day-six-20110922,0,2713477.story

I was unaware there is a Diane Ward thread here.

I have followed this case closely as it unfolded in 2009.

WFTV, WESH, FOX35 - Orlando and CNN have streamed this trial live. I've been able to watch most of it live.

It is apparent Bob Ward has a short fuse. When his daughter, Sarah, was testifying, Robin Wilkinson (Prosecutor) asked her a question and Bob slammed his hand (some have reported fist) on the table. It startled Sarah. His display of anger was in the presence of the jury.

Yesterday, outside the presence of the jury, Bob Ward shouted something when the attorneys were talking to Judge Jenifer Davis, presiding judge.

Wow! Judge Davis was not even impressed with Ward's behavior. She admonished Ward and gave him the "do right."

At the beginning of the trial, specifically in the Opening Statement, the Defense indicated the jury would be hearing blah, blah, blah from Bob Ward.

Today Bob Ward, under questioning by Judge Davis, stated he would not be testifying.

I guess his Defense team figured Ward would probably blow up in anger when the Prosecutor would question him.

I am disappointed that Ward did not testify. I was looking forward to his testimony and how he'd put his spin on things.

Judge Davis is suppose to read the instructions to the jury tomorrow and will hand down the case for deliberations. The trial is scheduled to resume at 8:30 a.m. EDT Friday.

Ann - Tx wrote:I was unaware there is a Diane Ward thread here.

I had forgotten about this thread until I stumbled across it today.

Live Stream and Chat with Tony Pipitone

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/29271039/detail.html

Bob Ward: Jury goes home for the night after a long day of deliberations

Jury undecided on fate of millionaire accused of killing his wife

By Amy Pavuk and Anthony Colarossi

10:16 p.m. EDT, September 23, 2011

The jury in the murder case of Robert "Bob" Ward went home tonight without deciding whether the millionaire was innocent or guilty in the shooting of his wife two years ago.

Circuit Judge Jenifer Davis received a note from jurors shortly after 9:30 p.m. saying: "In order to make a sound, rationale decision, we think rest is needed."

Davis told the jury to return at 8:45 a.m. Saturday.

Read more: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-bob-ward-verdict-possible-20110923-47,0,6768448.story

Ward Jury Will Continue Deliberating Saturday

Posted: 8:31 am EDT September 22, 2011
Updated: 2:34 am EDT September 24, 2011

WFTV - Orlando, FL

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- The six jurors who are deliberating in the Isleworth murder trial of Bob Wardwere sent home shortly before 10 p.m. Friday without having reached a verdict.

Jurors listened to jury instructions Friday from the judge overseeing Bob Ward's murder trial before heading to the jury room at about 9 a.m. Deliberations continued well into the evening Friday.

Read more and view video:

http://www.wftv.com/news/29264916/detail.html



Bob Ward in court

Verdict in Bob Ward trial! (per Tony Pipitone - Click2Orlando)

Will be read at 11:30 a.m. EDT

Direct Links to feed at 11:30:

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/29285533/detail.html
Click2 Orlando - Live Stream and Chat wit Pipitone
~~~~

http://www.wftv.com/video/29227704/index.html
WFTV Live Stream
~~~~

Note: If you get a blank video box, it is because it is not streaming. I think they will start the stream just prior to 11:30 a.m. EDT

Ward found GUILTY - Second Degree murder with a firearm. (as charged!)

Ward was fingerprinted in Court, handcuffed and removed from the court room by the deputies.

Judge Davis has set his sentencing for Nov. 8, 2011 at 1:30 p.m. EDT.

State indicated they will need 15 to 20 minutes and Defense does not know how much time they will need at this time (prior to Judge Davis sentencing).

Yes! Justice has been served for Diane Ward by the jury finding Bob Ward guilty as charged!

Thank you Orange County jurors!

Thanks for the updates Ann.

http://www.wftv.com/news/29268561/detail.html
WFTV Orlando, FL Updated: 11:45 am EDT September 24, 2011

Jury Finds Bob Ward Guilty Of Killing Wife
~~~

As I post this, I notice the sentencing date as 11-9-11. It is incorrect. The date is 11-8-11. Perhaps WFTV will correct this soon.
_____________

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/29289846/detail.html
Click2Orlando Orlando, FL UPDATED: 11:49 am EDT September 24, 2011

Bob Ward Guilty Of 2nd-Degree Murder
Sentencing Schuduled For Nov. 8

Jury Finds Bob Ward Guilty Of Killing Wife

Posted: 1:58 pm EDT September 22, 2011
Updated: 12:20 pm EDT September 24, 2011

WFTV - Orlando, FL

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. -- Millionaire developer Bob Ward, who lived in the same central Florida neighborhood as Tiger Woods and other celebrities, was convicted Saturday of murdering his wife in their mansion.

The six jurors deliberated almost 12 hours over two days before finding Bob Ward guilty of second-degree murder. The two-week trial took place in the same courthouse where the Casey Anthony case was tried this summer.

Ward was stoic as the verdict was read. Before the verdict, he hugged his two college-aged daughters as the women wept.

He faces up to life in prison when he's sentenced in November.

Read more:

http://www.wftv.com/news/29268561/detail.html



Bob Ward in court

Bob Ward: Millionaire found guilty of 2nd-degree murder
Developer convicted in 2009 shooting death of his wife


James Robert "Bob" Ward, left, and Mallory, his daughter, wait as the jury in Ward's murder case returns to court the morning of Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011. (Red Huber, Orlando Sentinel / September 24, 2011)


By Anika Myers Palm, Orlando Sentinel
Orlando, FL

12:10 p.m. EDT, September 24, 2011

James Robert "Bob" Ward was just found guilty of fatally shooting his wife inside their Isleworth mansion two years ago.

After deliberating for more than 13 hours over two days, a six-member Orange County jury found 63-year-old Ward guilty of second-degree murder.

Sentencing is set for Nov. 8.

Prosecutors said Ward, a wealthy developer whose company was in bankruptcy and his sprawling home in foreclosure, shot Diane Ward in the face Sept. 21, 2009.

Attorneys made their closing arguments Thursday, the sixth day of testimony in the trial.

Read more:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/crime/os-bob-ward-trial-verdict-20110924,0,3275747.story

Bob Ward has been booked into Orange County Jail, Orlando, FL:




WARD, JAMES ROBERT

Booking Number: 11037062
Race: White
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: 03/24/1948
Last Known Address: 5277 Isleworth Country Club Drive., Windermere, Fl 34786

Cell: BRCMBFNA
Date Booked: 09/24/2011
Time Booked: 12:33pm
Number of Holds: Violent Offender

Notes: None

Charges

Case Sequence: 817
Case Status: Presentenced
#Bond Amount: 0.00
Police Case Number: n/a
Court Location: CIRCUIT
Arresting Agency: n/a
Charge/Court Case Number: Second Degree Murder
482009CF13977OA
__________________________

Source:
http://apps.ocfl.net/bailbond/default.asp?BookNumber=11037062&ID=6824493196275
Orange County Jail - Orlando, FL Orange County Incarcerations Name & Personal Information

Bob Ward’s conviction: He didn’t get the Casey Anthony treatment

posted by Hal Boedeker on September, 24 2011 11:54 AM
Orlando Sentinel - Orlando, FL

Millionaire developer Bob Ward’s conviction this morning didn’t receive the same scrutiny from television as Casey Anthony’s acquittal this summer.

Ward was found guilty of second-degree murder in the 2009 shooting of his wife, Diane. He will be sentenced Nov. 8.

The live reading of the verdict could be found on Central Florida News 13 as well as WFTV-Channel 9 and WOFL-Channel 35, which interrupted their regular schedules. WKMG-Channel 6 relayed the bulletin via a crawl. The broadcast stations quickly returned to their lineups.

The camera focused on the Ward daughters, Mallory and Sarah, who were in tears. Jacqueline Fell of News 13 said both daughters, “while their father was being handcuffed, … whispered through tears, ‘I love you, Dad.’ One of the Wards’ daughters said ‘that bull expletive’ and then they were rushed out of the courtroom.”

Read more:

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2011/09/bob-wards-conviction-he-didnt-get-the-casey-anthony-treatment.html

Just goes to prove, no matter how much money one has it is not enough to cushion the blow of a guilty verdict...Was the jury afraid of repercussions if they said not guilty...I'm sure that it crossed their minds...I'm not saying he is innocent by no means as he admitted that he shot his wife...

I wish folks would just forget about Casey Anthony and move on.

In the above article, Bob Ward's defense attorney, Kirk Kirkconnell, indicated that it is probably difficult for any one in the state of Florida to get a fair trial (not verbatim; but that is what it amounts to). There are trials going on every day in the Orange County Court House - Orlando and all over Florida.

If Ward had been found not guilty, I wonder if Kirk would have made that comment.

The jury deliberated for over 15 hours in a trial that took less than two weeks. They asked about evidence, asked that the DNA testimony be read back from both the State's and Defense's witnesses.

Kirk and others need to realize that all jurors are not like the Casey Anthony jurors who did not deliberate and review the evidence per some of the jurors' comments.

If I had been a juror in the Bob Ward trial, Casey Anthony would not have even entered my mind. The trial had nothing to do with her!

The jury did their job. Listen to the testimony and evidence introduced, deliberate, and convict according to the instructions (law) by Judge Jenifer Davis. It is not a complicated process. I am speaking from personal experience as I have served as a juror in several felony cases.

I commend the jurors in the Bob Ward trial. I will be shocked and stunned if any of those jurors would make a statement that the Casey Anthony trial influenced their verdict of guilty. How ludicrous!

The State proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt.

I notice on a national level some of the HLN shows are comparing Dr. Murray's jury selection and upcoming trial to Casey Anthony's trial. Why? Dr. Murray's trial is in California; Anthony's trial was in Florida. These two states do not have identical state law!

I think some of the networks are riding the trail dust of the Anthony trial for ratings! The Anthony trial is a done deal! Sadly, Anthony was not found guilty but are some of the attorneys going to say their client's jury was influenced by the outcome of the Anthony trial? Are the "talk show heads" going to flap their jaws that Casey Anthony's trial influenced the outcome of the Ward trial and other trials? We shall see!

I just can not even imagine a jury deliberating in the Ward trial and discussing the outcome of the Anthony trial during deliberations. It is apparent there were not imbeciles on the jury.

I agree Ann. I doubt that juries are going to start convicting innocent people just to avoid the backlash and criticism that the Anthony jury received.