Prosecutors Hopeful Judge Will Sentence Convicted Murderer To Life In Prison

A Mayes county couple hopes they're one step closer to justice, after their son was murdered four years ago.

A jury convicted Michael Ward of first-degree murder and recommended a life sentence.

However, Ward's attorneys had a unique request to try to get Ward a shorter sentence.

Sean Allen's mom and dad, Eileen and Bobby White, said Sean was only 35 years old and had his life taken away by Michael Ward.

Eileen and Bobby White remember their son Sean Allen as someone who loved others.

"Unfortunately, he was murdered, and that was the hardest day of my life," Eileen said.

Sean was shot in the back and killed by Michael Ward in 2018.

The two were neighbors and had an ongoing property dispute in Spavinaw.

"He loved to draw he loved to help people he would let anyone stay with them who needed a place," said Eileen.

Ward was found guilty and the jury recommended life in prison.

Ward's defense attorneys asked a judge if two of the jurors on the case could testify on Ward's behalf, at Ward's sentencing hearing.

"The defense team had indicated they found some jurors and wanted those jurors to testify, to ask for something less than life imprisonment," said prosecutor Isaac Shields.

The judge said it would be unacceptable for jurors to be brought back to the courtroom but said she believes she has the power to shorten Ward's sentence.

"We will be asking the court to a full life sentence, that he spends every bit of that life sentence," Shields said. "Even if he gets parole, Sean Allen will never be coming back."

"Our hope is he gets the time he was allotted by the jury," Bobby said. "Life is life. Our son doesn't have life."

Three weeks after Sean was killed, Eileen and Bobby's other son Michael White, died in a horrific crash.

Eileen and Bobby want to move on from this chapter in their lives.

"I go to the cemetery to visit my son, and no parent should go to the cemetery to visit their children," Eileen said.

"He was loved," she said. "I want people to know."

Ward's sentencing hearing is set for February 23. His defense team didn't want to comment.