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Former WWE star Billy Jack Haynes, 70, charged with murder after 85-year-old wife found dead at family home
He competed at WrestleMania III alongside Hulk Hogan and Andre The Giant
A FORMER WWE star has been charged with the murder of his wife after her body was found in their home.
William Albert Haynes Jr., 70, better known by his wrestling name Billy Jack Haynes is accused of shooting his wife Janette Becraft, 85, dead at their US home on February 8 in Portland, Oregon.
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The shooting led to a tense two hour police standoff, with Haynes refusing to hand himself over as cops swarmed his house.
The ex-wrestler eventually handed himself over and was taken into custody.
After police searched the property, the body of his wife was recovered from the home.
Haynes was then taken to hospital where he was treated for a medical condition unrelated to the incident.
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Upon his release from hospital on Wednesday he was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Centre on charges of murder in the second degree and unlawful use of a weapon.
Police said on the day of the incident: “He is in police custody at a local hospital while he is being treated for a medical condition unrelated to the homicide or his contact with law enforcement.
“Once he is released from the hospital he is expected to be booked into jail. Haynes’ charges will be released once he is booked.”
As of yet, no motive has been released for the alleged murder.
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Haynes performed at Wrestlemania III in 1987 alongside the likes of Hulk Hogan, "Macho man" Randy Savage and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.
He went on to retire from wrestling in 1996 after stints in New Japan Pro Wrestling, WCW and USWA.
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According to reports in the US, Becraft was the mother of fellow wrestler Tod Ruhl, who was Haynes' best friend.
Ruhl died in 2021 and he went on to marry the fellow wrestler's mother in 2022.
Haynes was reportedly married three times before Becraft, including a marriage to English wrestler Jeanie Clarke, who performed as Lady Blossom.
After the shock incident earlier this month, Kim Becraft Finlay, Becraft's daughter, wrote on Facebook: “You are now flying with the Angels. They are lucky to have such a beautiful soul. Love you Mom.”
Her niece, Sue Becraft, referenced unspecified past abuse as she wrote: “When a family member is murdered, as my Aunt Jan was this past Thursday morning in Portland, all that comes flooding back is the endless work her daughter did to get her away from her abuser.
“Hearing the pain and heartbreak in her voice as she tells me ‘He shot her this morning, she didn’t make it’.
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“She loved her mother deeply and did all she could, but services she called to help her, only failed her and Jan.”
Haynes and Becraft's neighbor Brelynn Matthieu told media on the day of the shooting: “I was pretty decently close to both of them and loved them very much. It’s a really sad day, all around.”
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