Bio

David Junior Ward was born on November 3, 1961, in Pitt County, North Carolina. He was the oldest of eight children in a poor family. His father worked on local farms and took David to work with him from a young age. David began picking cucumbers at the age of nine and harvesting tobacco at twelve.

David's childhood home was often filled with strong emotions and conflict. He witnessed many fights between his parents, which sometimes led to injuries. His father usually laughed off these incidents and only occasionally punished the children, mostly through beatings. Despite this, David considered his childhood happy and typical.

David admired his father, describing him as a good role model who did not abuse his family or use drugs. However, when David was fifteen, his father passed away. This loss led David to become emotionally isolated, yet he soon took on the responsibility of caring for his mother and siblings.

He worked various jobs to support his family, including a job as a janitor at his school. David attended school in the afternoons but eventually dropped out in the eleventh grade because he felt overwhelmed by his responsibilities. He later expressed regret about leaving school, as he had enjoyed it.

Along with working, David also cared for his blind grandmother. He would visit her regularly to help with chores and prepare meals. Over time, David held multiple manual labor jobs but experienced health issues from some of them, such as working with asbestos.

His legal troubles began as a teenager when he started using drugs at age thirteen. This lifestyle eventually led to acts of theft to support his addiction, which landed him in jail several times. In 1983, David began a relationship with Rosa Lee Knight, and a year later, they welcomed a daughter named Kevette. Despite his challenges, David tried to maintain a close relationship with his daughter through letters and visits, even while in prison.

Throughout his life, David continued to support his family, including his mother, who suffered a stroke.

Murder Story

On April 3, 1991, David Junior Ward and Wesley Harris planned to rob Dorothy Mae Smith as she returned home from her convenience store. Dorothy had just closed the store at 10:30 PM and was driving her pickup truck home. After closing the store, she filled a money box with $4,000 and collected her personal belongings. She also picked up a firearm before heading home.

When Dorothy arrived home, she parked in her driveway, and as she got out of her truck, Ward and Harris ambushed her from the bushes. They shot her multiple times with their firearms. After the shooting, Harris took the cash box containing the money, and both men fled the scene.

The next day, Ward was arrested on unrelated charges. During questioning, he confessed to his involvement in the robbery and murder. He told police about his plan with Harris and led them to Harris's residence, where they found the stolen money and the weapons used in the crime.

Both men were charged with first-degree murder and robbery. Harris was tried first, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison. A month later, Ward faced trial. His defense team was inexperienced in capital cases, which impacted the outcome. The only evidence against Ward was his own confession. Despite the lack of physical evidence connecting him directly to the crime, he was convicted and sentenced to death on April 14, 1992.

Ward remained on death row until his execution by lethal injection on October 12, 2001. His last meal was a T-bone steak, tossed salad, French fries, Texas toast, and iced tea.