John Freeland

Case overview

John T. Freeland Jr. was sentenced to death for the 2009 murder of Carolyn Ward, 61, in Henderson. Freeland kidnapped Ward and shot her on a deserted lane in Pinson. He was convicted of first-degree murder, especially aggravated kidnapping, and tampering with evidence earlier in the year, following a three-day bench trial in January.

Freeland later filed motions for a new trial, for a judgment of acquittal, and to set aside the death penalty. Madison County Circuit Judge Roy Morgan Jr. denied the motions in an Aug. 1 ruling and made the death sentence effective on May 23, 2011.

Timeline

• March 7, 2009 — Authorities said John T. Freeland and Marcus Thompson kidnapped Carolyn Ward outside a Henderson grocery store; Freeland shot her in the head while she lay in a ditch, and the pair stole her car.
• January — A three-day bench trial took place; Freeland was convicted of first-degree murder, especially aggravated kidnapping, and tampering with evidence.
• Aug. 1, 2011 — Judge Roy Morgan Jr. ruled that the evidence at trial was sufficient to sustain the convictions and addressed Freeland’s motions challenging statements to police and the constitutionality of the death penalty.
• May 23, 2011 — Judge Roy Morgan Jr. sentenced John T. Freeland Jr. to death by lethal injection.
• May 24, 2011 — The execution by lethal injection was described as the sentence for the 2009 murder.
• July 22, 2011 — A motion for a new trial was to be made in Morgan’s courtroom.
• August 3, 2011 — A judge denied several motions filed by Freeland’s attorneys, including a motion for a new trial and one to set aside the death penalty.

The offence

Authorities said John T. Freeland and Marcus Thompson, 40, kidnapped Carolyn Ward, 61, on March 7, 2009, outside a Henderson grocery store. After the kidnapping, Freeland shot Ward in the head while she lay in a ditch, and the two stole her car.

Authorities said Ward was kidnapped and shot on a deserted lane in Pinson. The sentencing also reflected Freeland’s “substantial role in Ward’s killing.”

Investigation

Investigators said evidence included video surveillance showing Freeland approaching Ward in the parking lot of a Fred’s store on March 7, 2009. Surveillance from Fred’s and surrounding stores showed Freeland and Thompson following Ward’s vehicle in a blue Buick Roadmaster.

Police found items after searching Freeland’s car, including a gun, a blue bandana, a black bandana, two pairs of gloves, a black skull cap, and a black ski mask. Gunshot residue was found on both pairs of gloves.

Freeland’s fingerprints were found on the back of Ward’s license plate recovered from the area where her vehicle had been burned.

Authorities said analysis of the gun and cartridge cases found near Ward’s body showed that the cartridge case was fired from the gun in Freeland’s car.

Authorities also said Freeland gave a statement admitting his participation in Ward’s kidnapping and murder, and he admitted to burning Ward’s vehicle.

During Monday’s proceedings, a Jackson police sergeant testified that Freeland said he killed Ward because she saw his and Thompson’s faces.

Trial

Freeland’s trial occurred as a three-day bench trial in January. Judge Roy Morgan Jr. convicted Freeland of first-degree murder, especially aggravated kidnapping, and tampering with evidence.

In his motion for a new trial, Freeland said the court erred in admitting his statements to police. He argued that the statements were given without the advice of counsel and that he was confused as to the purpose of the statements. Judge Morgan ruled that Freeland was properly informed of his rights and voluntarily waived those rights before making statements to police.

Freeland also challenged the constitutionality of the death penalty, arguing that the penalty in this case amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. Judge Morgan said he would not change the sentence.

Judge Morgan stated:

“This court stands by its earlier finding that the statutory aggravating circumstances outweighed the mitigating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt,”

Freeland’s attorney, Angela Hopson, said during Monday’s hearing that testimony showed Freeland came from a stable home and argued he should be allowed to live so his family—including two children—could visit him in prison. Hopson also said Freeland was taking the sentence “as well as you can expect.”

At sentencing, Judge Roy Morgan Jr. cited “aggravating circumstances” including Freeland’s past conviction of a violent felony and his “substantial role in Ward’s killing.”

Before delivering the sentence, Morgan said:

“May God have mercy on your soul,”

Sentencing

Judge Roy Morgan Jr. sentenced Freeland to death by lethal injection for the 2009 murder of Carolyn Ward.

Freeland also received additional sentences: 25 years for tampering with evidence and especially aggravated kidnapping in Ward’s case.

In discussing sentencing, Assistant District Attorney Jody Pickens said Freeland picked Ward as a victim because he viewed her as easy prey for stealing a car to use for other robberies. Pickens also said Ward was no physical threat to the pair and made closing-arguments remarks about Ward.

Pickens said:

“She gave freely of herself, gave her time, her concern, not just to her family,”

Appeals

Freeland filed motions including a motion for a new trial, for a judgment of acquittal, and to set aside the death penalty. In an Aug. 1 ruling, Judge Roy Morgan Jr. said the evidence proven at trial was sufficient to sustain Freeland’s convictions. Morgan denied Freeland’s motion for a new trial and his challenge to setting aside the death penalty.

Hopson said a motion for a new trial would be made July 22 in Morgan’s courtroom.

Outcome

John T. Freeland Jr. was sentenced to death by lethal injection for the 2009 murder of Carolyn Ward.

Aftermath and related proceedings

Marcus Thompson faced separate proceedings. Tashundra Mosley, 29, was set to testify in Thompson’s September murder trial before she was sentenced on charges of facilitating first-degree murder, facilitating especially aggravated kidnapping, conspiracy to commit aggravated robbery and tampering with evidence. Thompson faced the same charges as Freeland, but the state was not requesting the death penalty in his case.

District Attorney General Jerry Woodall thanked sheriff’s offices in Chester County and Madison County, the Henderson and Jackson police departments, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for their help in the case. Woodall said:

“I think the (outcome) was based on the facts, well reasoned and appropriate,”

Other details

Freeland was described as being in custody on a 12-year sentence for robbery.

During Monday’s proceedings, several people testified about Carolyn Ward. Her nurse likened Ward to a character from “The Andy Griffith Show.” Rhonda Hunt said:

“If anybody were to close their eyes and think about (Ward), they would think about Aunt Bee — the sweetest, most giving person God could create,”

A principal at an elementary school where Ward volunteered said she tutored children and bought clothing items for kids in need. The 300 children at the school affectionately called her “Granny,” said Jimmy Dyer, the now-retired principal of West Chester Elementary School in Henderson. Dyer said:

“She had a great influence on all of us,” “She was either a mother figure or grandmother figure to all of us in that building.”

Among Monday’s witnesses for the defense were Freeland, his mother, stepfather and brother. Freeland’s mother, Renee Johnson, went through his childhood pictures and school report cards and described changes after he moved out of their home.

Renee Johnson said:

“After he moved from home, he had a personality change, and (I) had no idea who he was hanging around,”

In his testimony, Freeland apologized for letting Thompson use his car the day Ward died but said he was not there when Ward was murdered. Freeland denied parts of previous statements he made to police and said he only had details about the case after hearing them from Thompson.

Freeland said:

“I just wanted to speak to my family and loved ones as well as the family of Mrs. Ward and express my apologies for the entire situation,” “I just wanted to basically say I’m sorry for any and everything, the hurt, the pain.”

Hopson said Thompson coaxed Freeland into robbing a Dollar General Store two days before Ward’s death.