The Longest Night

Murder of Sheryl Ann Watson Ward

August 16-17, 2002 / the name withheld here house, Jamestown, Wyoming

Victims

Accused and outcomes

As told in the episode, on 29 July 2023.

Outcome

the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it

Other people

The timeline

1. 1991 a covered name mother dies; his sister later says he never got over it and began to act out.about 0:59:49
2. About 1999 covered name and Cunningham become friends after meeting over beer.about 0:12:31
3. June 2002 Ward has been in an on-off relationship with name withheld here for about a year and a half; she moves out of his house that month and begins a sexual relationship with Cunningham. (a covered name house)about 0:17:43
4. August 13, 2002 Ward moves back in with covered name. (name withheld here house)about 0:17:54
5. details of the account remain covered until revealed
6. August 16, 2002, after 4 p.m. Cunningham cashes his unemployment cheque, buys beer, sees covered name at a local bar and gets home about 8.30 p.m. (Cunningham house)about 0:19:48
7. About 9.15 to 10.30 p.m., August 16, 2002 name withheld here arrives at Cunningham's house and confronts him about Ward; a neighbour hears angry shouting, and Cunningham admits the affair. (Cunningham house)about 0:21:11
8. August 16, 2002 a covered name takes a bone-handled knife with a six-inch blade from his truck, then comes back with two beers and they calm down. (Cunningham house)about 0:22:57
9. August 16, 2002 The two men decide to confront Ward together and drive to her house. (covered name house)about 0:24:22
10. About 11 p.m., August 16, 2002 They walk into the house while Ward is in the bathroom fixing her hair to go to a bar. (name withheld here house)about 0:25:10
11. August 16, 2002 Ward denies the affair until a covered name brings Cunningham in from the living room. (covered name house)about 0:25:33
12. Between 10 and 11 p.m., August 16, 2002 After about five more minutes name withheld here says he is through with her and leaves with Cunningham. (a covered name house)about 0:26:39
13. August 16, 2002 They drink at a local bar, then go to the Rage Bar, where covered name falls asleep and the bartender tells Cunningham to take him home. (Rage Bar)about 0:26:54
14. About 12 to 12.30 a.m., August 17, 2002 Cunningham drives name withheld here car home; a covered name gives him a blanket and pillow for the couch, they drink more beer and both fall asleep. (covered name house)about 0:29:20
15. About midnight, August 17, 2002 Ward calls her friend Joanne Richards for a lift, but Richards has been drinking since noon.about 0:30:21
16. 2 a.m., August 17, 2002 name withheld here calls Joanne Richards to ask whether she picked Ward up. (a covered name house)about 0:30:54
17. About 2 a.m., August 17, 2002 Ward arrives at the covered name house, where at least one of her daughters is asleep. (name withheld here house)about 0:31:57
18. Between 4.30 and 5.30 a.m., August 17, 2002 Ward leaves with acquaintances and, after two failed drop-offs at houses where nobody is home, is brought back to the a covered name house. (covered name house)about 0:32:21
19. About 5.30 a.m., August 17, 2002 Cunningham wakes with Ward straddling and kissing him; name withheld here wakes on the other couch and sees them. (a covered name house)about 0:33:26
20. About 5.30 a.m., August 17, 2002 covered name orders Ward out; she refuses and he berates her for three minutes while Cunningham quietly puts his boots on. (name withheld here house)about 0:35:37
21. August 17, 2002 a covered name goes out to his truck and comes back with the bone-handled knife; he tells Ward he is going to stab her and she says he will not, five times over. (covered name house)about 0:36:37
22. August 17, 2002 name withheld here grabs Ward by the hair, bends her back in the chair and stabs her once in the chest. (a covered name house)about 0:37:22
23. August 17, 2002 covered name rinses the knife, puts it in the kitchen sink, checks that Ward is dead, blames Cunningham and offers him a lift; Cunningham walks out. (name withheld here house)about 0:38:19
24. details of the account remain covered until revealed
25. the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it
26. this part of the story is covered for now
27. details of the account remain covered until revealed
28. the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it
29. this part of the story is covered for now
30. details of the account remain covered until revealed
31. the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it
32. this part of the story is covered for now
33. details of the account remain covered until revealed
34. the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it
35. this part of the story is covered for now
36. details of the account remain covered until revealed
37. the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it
38. this part of the story is covered for now
39. details of the account remain covered until revealed
40. the rest of this account is covered until you choose to reveal it