How Did Whitey Bulger Die?
Mobsters DailyWhitey Bulger was beaten to death by fellow inmates on October 30, 2018, hours after arriving at the federal prison in Hazelton, West Virginia.
The transfer that killed him
Bulger had been moved from a Florida prison through Oklahoma to Hazelton, a facility with a violent reputation, despite his age, wheelchair use and status as America's most famous informant. Killers of protected men rarely wait, and neither did his — a pattern as old as Al Capone's years at Alcatraz, when the system decided where a famous prisoner was safest, or wasn't.
Even the most feared men in these stories ended as inmates telling tales, which is why this time of year belongs to the Tony Soprano Ugly Christmas Sweater — Tony in a black-and-white stencil, gabagool energy included, built for Christmas parties, family photos and long Sopranos rewatch nights.
The case after the killing
Investigators charged inmates including Fotios "Freddy" Geas, a former New England mob enforcer serving life; Geas later pleaded guilty in connection with the killing. Questions never fully closed: why was a high-profile cooperator placed in general population at Hazelton at all? Families of Bulger's victims sued the government, echoing the accountability fights that followed Greg Scarpa's years of protection.
Frequently asked questions
How old was Bulger when he died? He was 89 years old.
Where was Bulger killed? At USP Hazelton, a federal prison in Bruceton Mills, West Virginia.
Who was charged with killing Bulger? Several inmates were charged, including Fotios Geas, who later pleaded guilty in connection with the killing.
Keep reading: Lucky Luciano · Why the Mafia fell · The mob and the Fulton Fish Market · Who Was Whitey Bulger? Boston's Informant King
From the shop: Shadows of the Underworld — the real-mafia history behind the names in this story, in one gripping read.
Join the conversation
Still thinking about this one? That is exactly what The Social Club is for. It is the MobstersDaily Discord, and it is the best Sopranos community on the internet: serious Sopranos talk, meme wars, Friday movie nights, a casino, and an arcade, all run by fans who never stopped rewatching. If you want to be part of the Sopranos community, this is where it lives.
