Billy Jack Haynes (Image: WWE)
Former professional wrestler Billy Jack Haynes, known as William Albert Haynes Jr., has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder following the fatal shooting of his wife, Janette Becraft.
Haynes, 70, was taken into custody and is currently held at the Multnomah County Detention Center, facing charges of second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon. The Portland Police Bureau announced the arrest in a news release on Wednesday.
Authorities responded to a report of gunfire at the couple’s residence in Oregon on February 8. Upon arrival, police had a standoff with Haynes, initially under the impression he was armed. As a result, law enforcement established a perimeter around the property and issued a shelter-in-place order to neighboring residents. Once officers gained entry to the house, they discovered the lifeless body of Haynes’ 85-year-old wife. A subsequent examination conducted by a medical examiner determined that she had died from a gunshot wound, confirming her death as a homicide.
A neighbor of Haynes spoke to local Fox affiliate KPTV and mentioned that the former wrestler had recently been hospitalized due to broken ribs sustained in a fall. They also noted that Becraft had been dealing with dementia prior to her tragic death. After the incident, Haynes was taken to a local hospital for treatment of a medical condition unrelated to the homicide or his interaction with law enforcement.
Haynes gained prominence in the professional wrestling world in the 1980s and competed in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), which later became World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). After a career spanning two years, Haynes retired from wrestling in 1996. He faced off against notable opponents such as Hercules Hernandez, Ric Flair and Randy “Macho Man” Savage.
Haynes was among a group of former professional wrestlers who filed a lawsuit against the WWE which alleged “egregious mistreatment” and claimed that the organization failed to adequately protect its athletes from head injuries that result in severe brain damage. The class-action lawsuit was ultimately dismissed in 2019.
Haynes is expected to make his initial court appearance on Thursday, as reported by KPTV.
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