A 64-year-old Richmond man is facing serious charges after police say he restrained his wife with tape to a basement chair so he could watch football upstairs without interruption. The allegations, drawn from a criminal complaint, have spread quickly online and drawn attention for the unusual motive tied to Sunday Night Football.
Terry Ward was arrested following a domestic disturbance call around 11:30 p.m. on October 11, 2026, at a home in the 2200 block of Maplewood Avenue. According to reports citing the complaint obtained by Virginia Statewide Incidents, his wife told officers he used tape to restrain her to a chair in the basement and left her there. She estimated the time at 30 to 45 minutes. Officers noted marks and tape residue on both of her arms.
The criminal complaint includes an alleged admission. The officer wrote that
“Ward Terry stated that he did indeed tied his wife, [name omitted], to a chair and place her down in the basement.”
Sources familiar with the case told Virginia Statewide Incidents that Ward wanted to watch the football game upstairs in peace.
Reports consistently describe the restraint as involving “tape.” The specific type is not detailed in the available accounts, though the viral framing and some headlines have referred to duct tape.
Ward is charged with felony kidnapping and misdemeanor assault against a family member. Public documents from various sources reveal that his court date is scheduled for November 10, 2026, at Richmond Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Prior arraignments and bail hearing dates have been rescheduled. All these are only allegations, and Ward is not yet found guilty.
Sources including Daily Loud, Complex, and many more have reported the story, emphasizing the connection to football. While responses online included jokes about the love of sports, some argued that the story is actually about allegations of domestic abuse and restraint. Various media outlets such as the Daily Mail and Dangerous Minds have reported on the story, mentioning that the story was originally broken from the local incident tracker and the complaint.
The story is still unfolding. Official documents would reveal what happens next. Allegations of domestic violence must be handled carefully, no matter what the motives are.
