Former WWE wrestler Billy Jack Haynes charged with second-degree murder in connection with wife's death

Shania Russell
·2 min read
41
Former WWE wrestler Billy Jack Haynes charged with second-degree murder in connection with wife's death

She was found dead in their Oregon home in February.

Former pro-wrestler Billy Jack Haynes has been charged with second-degree murder for allegedly shooting his wife, Janette Becraft.

The 70-year-old ex WWE star, whose full name is William Albert Haynes Jr., has been booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center on charges of murder in the second degree and unlawful use of a weapon after his wife was found dead in their home, the Portland Police Bureau said in a news release on Wednesday.

<p>MediaPunch/Shutterstock</p> Billy Jack Haynes

MediaPunch/Shutterstock

Billy Jack Haynes

Officers responded to reports of gunfire at the couple’s Oregon home on Feb. 8. Police engaged in a tense standoff with Haynes, thinking he was still armed, which led officers to set up a perimeter around the residence and issue a shelter-in-place order to Haynes' neighbors. When they gained entry to the house, authorities discovered the body of Haynes' 85-year-old wife, who a medical examiner later determined died of homicide by gunshot wound.

The ex-wrestler was transferred to a local hospital, where he was treated for “a medical condition unrelated to the homicide or his contact with law enforcement,” according to police.

Speaking to local Fox affiliate KPTV, one of Haynes' neighbors said he was recently hospitalized for broken ribs after suffering a fall. They also noted that Becraft had been suffering from dementia before her death.

Haynes rose to prominence in the world of professional wrestling in the 1980s, competing in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) — later renamed World Wresting Entertainment (WWE) — for two years before retiring in 1996. He wrestled under the name Billy Jack Haynes and notably faced off against the likes of Hercules Hernandez, Ric Flair, and Randy “Macho Man” Savage.

He was one of several former pro wrestlers who sued the WWE, alleging "egregious mistreatment" and claiming that it hadn’t sufficiently protected its athletes from head injuries that cause serious brain damage. The class-action lawsuit was dismissed in 2019.

Haynes is reportedly scheduled to make his first court appearance on Thursday, reports KPTV.

Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.

Related content:

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.