Billy Jack Haynes Declared Unfit To Stand Trial On Murder Charge

Former WWE wrestler Billy Jack Haynes (real name William Albert Haynes) has been declared unfit to stand trial over his wife's murder, a judge has ruled.

Judge Angela Lucero in Multnomah County, Oregon ordered Haynes be sent to the Oregon State Hospital on Wednesday, ruling that he is unfit to assist in his own defence, KATU News in Portland has reported. The order was issued following a report from a certified evaluator who looked into Haynes' behaviour, statements from Haynes' attorneys, and stipulations from both the defence and prosecutors that stated Haynes was unfit.

Haynes is accused of murdering his wife Janette Becraft on February 8, 2024 and he has been charged with second-degree murder and unlawful use of a weapon. Haynes was arrested after a two-hour standoff with police, at which point it was discovered that Becraft had died from a gunshot wound.

Neighbours claimed that Becraft had been in decline from dementia leading up to the shooting and the incident came as a shock to those who knew the couple.

Haynes' trial is slated to begin in December 2025 although this is now in doubt as he could be committed to the Oregon State Hospital for between one and three years.

As a pro wrestler, Haynes was a mainstay in the Portland area. He worked for WWE from the mid-to-late 1980s and famously faced Hercules Hernandez at WrestleMania III as part of their feud over the Full Nelson. Haynes also had a brief run in WCW in 1991 as Black Blood and last wrestled for the Memphis-based USWA before retiring in 1996.