Billy Jack Haynes arrested, expected to be charged with wife’s murder

After a multi-hour standoff Thursday morning, former WWE wrestler and Portland, Oregon, standout Billy Jack Haynes was confirmed Saturday as the suspect that was arrested in the fatal shooting of his wife, Janette Becraft.

Early reports had the 70-year-old Haynes simply identified as “a former wrestler.”

Those same reports had Haynes as uncooperative, prompting a shelter in place order for the surrounding neighborhoods at 6000 SE 100th Avenue in Portland. Police were called to the residence at approximately 10 AM local time following reports of gunfire.

Eventually, local authorities got Haynes (Willam Albert Haynes) to come out and into police custody in a local hospital where he remains as of this writing, being treated for an unrelated medical condition.

“Once he is released from the hospital, which may be days from now, he is expected to be booked into jail. Haynes’ charges will be released once he is booked,” Portland police released as part of a statement.

Afterward, authorities entered the home to find the body of 85-year-old Becraft with the local medical examiner later confirming the cause of death was homicide by gunshot wound.

Becraft was Haynes’ second wife. 

He came to regional prominence in the Pacific Northwest during the early-1980s, eventually making his way to the then-WWF from 1986-1988 where he spent his time in the mid-card. He had a short run in WCW as Black Blood and worked various indies before his retirement.

Haynes hasn’t wrestled since 1995. He was part of the eventually dismissed concussion lawsuit that began nearly a decade ago.