x
Breaking News
More () »

Former pro wrestler Billy Jack Haynes in custody after allegedly shooting, killing wife

Police identified the suspect Saturday as the victim's husband, William Albert Haynes Jr, also known as Billy Jack Haynes, a former professional wrestler.

PORTLAND, Ore. — An 85-year-old woman is dead, and her husband — a retired WWE wrestler — in custody, after police responded to a "possible shooting" at a home in the Lents neighborhood of Southeast Portland Thursday morning. 

Just before 10 a.m. officers were called to a home on Southeast 100th Avenue, near Southeast Yukon Street and Southeast Henry Street. Officers tried to contact a suspect who was inside the house, who may have been armed with a gun, but the man wasn't cooperating, police said. 

The Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) and the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) also responded to the scene. Portland police had asked people living in the area to stay inside and lock their doors.

After two hours of negotiations, William Albert Haynes Jr, who is also known as Billy Jack Haynes, was detained. Officers found his wife, Janette Becraft, shot to death inside the home. Her family has been notified of her death.

Credit: Portland Police Bureau
Undated photo of Janette Becraft provided to Portland police by family members.

Haynes, 70, was widely known in national wrestling circles in the mid-1980s, notably in the World Wrestling Federation and Westlemania III. He debuted in 1982 and retired in 1996.

Haynes is in police custody at a local hospital, where PBB said he is being treated for a medical condition unrelated to the shooting. PBB said once Haynes is discharged from the hospital, he is expected to be booked into jail and his charges revealed.

Credit: Deborah Thomas
Billy Jack Haynes

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Detective Ryan Foote at ryan.foote@police.portlandoregon.gov, (503) 823-0781, or Detective Travis Law at Travis.Law@police.portlandoregon.gov, 503-823-0395, and reference case number 24-31552. 

Follow KGW on social media: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Download the KGW News app: Download for iPhone here | Download for Android here

 Stream newscasts for free on KGW+ on Roku, Amazon Fire and Apple TV: How to add app to your device here

See a typo in this article? Email web@kgw.com for corrections.

Before You Leave, Check This Out