Former professional wrestler William Albert “Billy Jack” Haynes Jr. has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of his wife, Janette Becraft, in their home in Portland, Oregon. The incident occurred on February 8, when police responded to reports of gunfire in the Lents neighborhood. Haynes, 70, barricaded himself inside the residence and refused to come out, prompting the involvement of SWAT teams. After a two-hour standoff, he was taken into custody without incident. Police discovered Becraft's lifeless body inside the home.

Haynes, who performed as Billy Jack Haynes during his wrestling career, had a notable run in the World Wrestling Federation (now known as World Wrestling Entertainment) from 1986 to 1988. He even participated in the renowned Wrestlemania III event in Detroit in 1987. However, his wrestling career eventually came to an end in 1995 after brief stints in smaller promotions.

The couple was well-known in the local community, with Haynes often sharing stories from his wrestling days with fans. Becraft's son from a previous relationship, Tod Becraft, was a childhood friend of Haynes. After her first husband passed away, she married the wrestler, who was 15 years her junior. The couple was described as a fixture in the neighborhood.

Neighbors expressed shock and sadness over the tragedy. Brelynn Matthieu, who knew the couple well, described it as a "huge tragedy." She expressed her close relationship with both Haynes and Becraft, stating that she loved them very much.

Following the arrest, Haynes was taken to a local hospital for treatment of a medical condition unrelated to the homicide or his contact with law enforcement. He remains in police custody at the hospital, and his charges will be announced once he is booked into jail.

The Portland Police Bureau has not provided further details about the case, citing an ongoing investigation. It is unclear whether Haynes has legal representation at this time. The police have also respected the family's request for privacy during this difficult time.

Haynes' arrest comes after a tumultuous post-wrestling career. In 2018, he claimed to have witnessed the beating death of two teenagers in Arkansas in 1987, allegedly carried out by corrupt local police during a drug deal. However, his recollections were never substantiated. In 2021, Haynes and several other former wrestlers filed a lawsuit against the World Wrestling Entertainment, accusing the organization of failing to protect them from head injuries. The Supreme Court declined to take on the case after multiple appeals.

The wrestling community and fans of Billy Jack Haynes have been left shocked and saddened by the news of the alleged murder. Neighbor Steve Odry, who used to watch Haynes wrestle, expressed his disbelief at the situation.

As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of Janette Becraft and awaits further developments in the case against Billy Jack Haynes.