Former professional wrestler Billy Jack Haynes was taken into police custody for the murder of his elderly wife this week.
Wrestler Billy Jack Haynes suspected of wife’s murder
William Albert “Billy Jack” Haynes, 70, known in the wrestling world as Billy Jack Haynes, allegedly fatally shot his 85-year-old wife, Janette Becraft, in their Portland, Oregon, home on February 8.
Haynes, a notable figure of the Portland wrestling sphere and familiar to older fans from his WrestleMania III days in the late eighties, is currently suspected in the slaying of Becraft, who was reportedly suffering from dementia.
The morning altercation escalated into a drawn-out confrontation with law enforcement after tactical units converged following reports of gunfire at the residence.
Despite initial resistance from Haynes, who barred himself inside the home, the incident concluded two hours later without violence, when he voluntarily exited and was subsequently detained by authorities.
When they were finally able to get inside, authorities discovered Becraft, who had died of a gunshot wound.
Details concerning the motive behind the slaying have not been disclosed, and as of now, Haynes awaits formal charges against him
Wrestler Billy Jack Haynes made it big in the late eighties
Haynes hit the height of his professional wrestling career in 1986, when he fought with WWF superstar Randy Savage in the Intercontinental Championship.
In the two years that would follow, he feuded with Hercules Hernandez in a series of battles culminated in 1988’s Wrestlemania III.
He retired in 1996, ending a nearly two decade-long career marked by battles in New Japan Pro Wrestling and stints at WCW and USWA.
Haynes then retreated to a quieter life in Portland with Becraft at his now ill-fated residence.
Oddly, Haynes knew Beacraft from childhood, when he became best friends with her son, Tod Becraft, at nine-years-old.
Tod, who also professionally wrestled under the name Tod Ruhl, was the son of Becraft and her late husband Dwight.
When Dwight died, she remarried her son’s best friend an undetermined time later. Tod also eventually passed in 2021.
Wrestler Billy Jack Haynes’ neighbors stunned by homicide
Neighbors are shocked by the tragedy, particularly because they thought that Haynes was “a sweetheart of a guy.”
Steve Odri said that he often hung out with the retired wrestler at the couple’s home.
“We’ll sit down and have a beer,” he remarked. “He was just your average Joe guy to me, and one of my favorite heroes when I was kid.”
Next door neighbor Breelyn Matthieu helped take care of Becraft throughout her struggle with dementia, and stayed with her the week before her murder while Haynes was in the hospital.
The former Wrestlemania star suffered a fall and was hospitalized with broken ribs, but abruptly checked out to be with his wife.
“He said he came home because he couldn’t stand being away from her,” Matthieu stated.
Authorities confirmed that Haynes has been taken into custody and currently remains under medical care at a local hospital for conditions unrelated to the apparent homicide or his interactions with the police.
His transition to jail is pending upon discharge from the hospital, the timing of which remains undetermined, and his charges will be publicized following his booking.
