Atlanta developer James Robert Ward Arrested For Wifes Murder
The real estate downturn has caused many, many casualties in the past few years. Today it looks like it just may have contributed to another one. James Robert Ward, an Atlanta developer who lost his business, is accused of killing his wife in their temporary home in Orlando, Florida.
Ward’s company, Land Resources, went under last year in the midst of the downturn.
The 8,858-square-foot mansion in the Isleworth Country Club that Ward owned with his wife where her murder occurred was previously owned by Arnold Palmer.
Deputies said they found Diane Ward, 55, dead inside the couple’s home at the posh Isleworth Country Club community, which is also home to golfer Tiger Woods and basketball star Shaquille O’Neal. She had a gunshot wound to the head, according to an Orange County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit.
Ward called 911 around 8 p.m. Monday night and said “I just shot my wife. She’s dead,” according to the affidavit. Ward told dispatchers his wife was dead in the master bedroom and the gun was in the nightstand, the affidavit states. Moments later, Ward was arrested.
He is being held without bond and scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. Wednesday, jail spokesman Allen Moore said.
Ward moved to the Orlando area after his Atlanta company, Land Resources Group, filed for bankruptcy last year. As CEO of Land Resources, Ward managed 250 employees and oversaw the development of 35 subdivisions and 19 resort-style communities, including the one on the Cumberland Island National Seashore. The 1,000-acre Cumberland Harbour marina complex was built after years of legal battles between developers and environmentalists in Georgia. ajc.com.
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Comment by Jane on 28 September 2009:
The man is a danger to society. Lock him up and throw away the key.
Comment by Lisa on 28 September 2009:
I just saw a taped jail video of a man with the same name who was in the midst of receiving a visit from his daughter and sister-in-law – daughter was dancing and joking for him and he was pretending to strip with a smile on his face? What kind of family is this, anyway???
Comment by Steve on 30 September 2009:
I saw that video too! What is wrong with some people??
Comment by janice on 30 September 2009:
The daughter’s behavior is so bizarre I wonder if she is in shock. What kind of child, upon hearing her mother is dead, acts like this? And the sister of the victim just sat there, as if nothing strange were going on??? This is will be interesting to see how it plays out. The only possible scenario I could envision besides murder were if the wife were terminally ill and chose to end her life. But a gunshot wound to the head? A husband dancing?
Unreal.
Comment by chris on 30 September 2009:
As they say “What goes around comes around’ I hope this piece of garbage rots in jail. Thats where he belongs after robbing his investors . He should of did us all a favor and blew his brains out after he shot his bitch wife and saved the taxpayers money.
Comment by chris on 30 September 2009:
Too bad this piece of garbage didn’t blow his brains out after he shot his bitch wife. What goes around comes around as they say. He would of done us all a favor and saved the taxpayers some money.
Comment by FL Resident Nearby on 14 October 2009:
Most of the people with money get their lives messed up with their greed and need to impress all their country club “friends” who could not care less. It is a trap that social climbers from poor beginnings seem to inflict on the rest of us. Huntsville, AL and Dallas, TX are two other areas to avoid like the plague, as well. FL would be the last place to move to. The laws are not enforced if you live on the good side of town. Our local news is now run almost entirely by a Muslim with no concern whatsoever for the original American Caucasian or for any other sector but for their new bogus “president” and FL Seminole Indians who EACH GET $150,000 per each family member just for being “native American.” Where is the lack of discrimination in the people stealing from the Upper Middle and other TAX SLAVE CLASSES? We are all going down if we do not return to justice for all…including the TAXED TO DEATH WHITE PEOPLE.