James "Whitey" Bulger Jr., the infamous Boston gangster, met a brutal end within the walls of the U.S. Penitentiary Hazeltonin West Virginia. His death, shrouded in mystery, poses lingering questions about justice. Ailing and wheelchair-bound, the 89-year-old mob boss was ruthlessly attacked on October 30, 2018, using a padlock wrapped in a sock as the deadly weapon.
Held in "Misery Mountain," as inmates grimly nickname the high-security federal facility, Bulger's demise unfolded in a shocking manner. Video evidence captured two inmates, one being a notorious mafia hitman known for his disdain towards informants, entering Bulger's cell on the fateful morning. The assault marked the third prisoner death at Hazelton in a matter of months, raising concerns about the safety within the institution.
Bulger had been swiftly transferred to Hazelton from a federal center in Oklahoma Cityjust a day before the fatal attack. The circumstances surrounding this unusual transfer, seemingly diverting him from a facility better suited for his medical needs, adds another layer of intrigue to the case. Despite the FBI officially investigating the death as a homicide, no charges have been filed against any suspects.
Shelley Murphy, a seasoned Boston Globe reporter who covered Bulger for decades, points out the lingering uncertainties in the attack. The first being the peculiar transfer that exposed Bulger to increased vulnerability, and the second, the absence of charges against the assailants. Bulger's family has initiated legal action, seeking financial restitution from the Department of Justice, asserting that he was intentionally placed in harm's way within the confines of Hazelton.
Whitey Bulger, the notorious Boston crime figure, had managed to survive a series of heart attacks during his time in prison. However, authorities surprisingly upgraded his medical condition, suggesting an improvement in his health. This reevaluation paved the way for his transfer to the U.S. Penitentiary Hazelton, deemed a "lower-level facility" with enhanced medical care capabilities.
The decision to upgrade Bulger's health status remains shrouded in mystery, leaving many questioning the motives behind such a move. Equally puzzling is the choice not to keep him in a prison known to be a safer environment for informants, such as the Coleman II penitentiary in Florida, where he had spent a significant portion of his incarceration.
A former federal prison warden expressed bewilderment, stating, "What I don’t understand is why the Federal Bureau of Prisons would transfer a super high-publicity inmate, who is a known snitch, to general population of a high-security prison," in an interview with the Associated Press.
As the events leading up to Bulger's death remain elusive, reactions to his demise were immediate and unequivocal. Family members of his victims openly celebrated, with Tommy Donahue, whose father fell victim to Bulger, expressing, "He deserved a slow death, and that’s what I hope he got," on CBS.
Whitey Bulger's reign of terror spanned from 1973 to 1985, during which he led the Winter Hill Gang in Somerville, northwest of Boston. His victims included rivals like Paul McGonagle, whose remains were discovered in 2000, decades after disappearing. Bulger's chilling words, "Drink up, Paulie," were recounted during his trial.
Beyond being a crime boss, Bulger operated as an FBI informant, contributing to the downfall of his federal handler. His cooperation with law enforcement in the '70s through the '90s provided crucial information about an Italian-American crime family in Providence, ensuring his immunity from prosecution.
In a stark contrast to Whitey's criminal pursuits, his brother William rose to political prominence, becoming the president of the Massachusetts Senate. However, their paths diverged when William was forced out of his high-paying university job for failing to assist in the investigation of his fugitive sibling.
After 16 years on the run with his girlfriend Catherine Greig, Whitey Bulger and Greig were apprehended in 2011 in Santa Monica, California. While Greig pleaded guilty to charges related to harboring a fugitive and identity fraud, she remained loyal and never turned on Whitey. Recent reports suggest that she has been living with members of his family.
In November 2013, the notorious Boston gangster, Whitey Bulger, faced justice with a sentence of two life terms plus five years for orchestrating a criminal enterprise deemed "unfathomable" by U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper. At 84, he spent a significant portion of the ensuing five years in a Sumterville, Florida prison before being transferred to West Virginia.
The grim spotlight returned to Bulger in the wake of his murder at Hazleton, focusing on two Massachusetts inmates with ties to organized crime: Fotios “Freddy” Geas, a notorious hitman known for his aversion to deceitful figures like Bulger, and Paul J. DeCologero. Both were captured on film entering Bulger's cell shortly before the guards discovered the lifeless 89-year-old. However, with no camera inside the room, the events leading to Bulger's demise remained enigmatic.
Questions loomed large: Were Geas and DeCologero responsible for Bulger's death? Would the government pursue charges against them or others involved? Could Bulger's murder potentially go unpunished?
The scrutiny intensified following the apparent suicide of pretrial detainee Jeffrey Epstein in Manhattan in August 2019. Federal prison officials found themselves under increased pressure to ensure the safety of those in their custody, raising concerns about accountability within the prison system.
As investigations into inmate deaths often unfold over extended periods, the reasons for such delays can range from a lack of conclusive evidence to the government carefully considering the pursuit of a death penalty case against identified suspects.
Shelley Murphy,a Boston Globe reporter, noted that historical precedent does not garner much sympathy within or outside the criminal justice system for a man like Bulger, serving time for multiple violent murders. His double life, leaving behind a trail of victims while secretly cooperating with the FBI, led to even his associates turning against him when his duplicity was exposed.
As the narrative unfolded, an update on August 18, 2022, revealed that three men, including Fotios Geas and Paul J. DeCologero, were charged with murdering Bulger. Sean McKinnon, also a fellow inmate, faced charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. The delay in charging the suspects, despite their swift identification, remained unclear, marking a significant development in the four-year-old case.
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