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Murder Suspect Dances In Jail House Video

Jail house video released on Saturday is revealing new details about a man charged in a high profile Orange County murder. James Ward is accused of killing his wife in their upper-class Isleworth home.


VIDEO REPORT: Strange Behavior During Jail Visit
JAILHOUSE VIDEO: Visit #1 | Visit #2 | See Images
PHONE CALL: Suspect Calls Family From Jail
FAMILY VISITS: See Images | Watch Raw Video
INTERVIEW: Woman Describes Family's Visit

Ward seemed in good spirits in his first video recorded visit on Friday. The man who is accused of murdering his wife Diane in their million dollar Isleworth home was doing a comical dance and strip tease for his daughter Mallory Ward and his sister-in-law Paula Saare.

The two have made three visits to Ward without saying a word to the media.

“It means so much for me to see yours and Mallory's face,” James Ward said on the video.

Saare was quick to remind Ward that they were being recorded.

Last week, Orange County investigators say Ward told 911 that he had shot and killed his wife in their bedroom. He later changed to his story and said it was suicide.

During the jail visit, Ward and his family spent most of the time catching up and talking about people who would be good character witnesses. But Ward did mention his wife.

“You know we both had a wonderful person in Mom and I can't believe she's not here,” James Ward said.

SUSPECT, FAMILY LAUGH IN JAIL
Visit #1 | Visit #2 | See Images

The real estate developer is in jail on no bond, but he made several statements saying that wouldn't last for long.

“Hopefully I will be out of this place next week,” he said.

The sheriff's office said it will release video of the second jail house visit on Monday. There was also a 15 minute phone call released where Ward seemed surprised when his sister-in-law told him his story made national news.

WFTV legal expert Bill Sheaffer says the video of a visit with his daughter and dead wife's sister could hurt Ward's defense.

Sheaffer says prosecutors will argue the laughing and dancing seen on the video recording is not consistent with grieving for your dead wife.

Even Ward's sister-in-law Paula Saare warned him about his bizarre behavior when she and his daughter Mallory visited him in the Orange County jail last week.

"No, I wouldn't do that," said Paula Saare.

As Saare reminded Ward the visits are recorded, he kept waving, dancing, modeling his jumpsuit and even expressed concerns about the conditions in his cell, pointing out there is no water in his toilet.

"I'm right here in the Ritz," Ward told his daughter.

"Such a lifestyle change for you. I can only imagine. I know you're missing a bidet," said Ward's daughter, Mallory.

WFTV legal analyst Bill Sheaffer says right now Ward should be more worried about the major impact his unusual behavior will now have on his murder case.

"His behavior seems to be very callous that his wife of 23 years is dead," said Sheaffer.

His daughter and sister-in-law have not spoken with the media, but during their visits offer him words of encouragement and support.

"You look good and seem really good and that means a lot to me," Mallory Ward told her father.

Bill Sheaffer also tells Eyewitness News that he believes it is likely that prosecutors will release more evidence in their case against Ward in order to prevent him from bonding out of jail.

More video recordings from Ward's family visits are expected to be released Monday.

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