Former professional wrestler William Albert Haynes III, known widely as Billy Jack Haynes, is scheduled to stand trial this December on charges including Murder in the Second Degree related to the February 2024 death of his wife, Jan Becraft. This update, along with comments from Haynes himself, was revealed in the latest episode of ViceTV’s “Dark Side of the Ring,” which featured an interview conducted with Haynes from the Portland, Oregon jail where he is currently held.
In the interview segment shown on “Dark Side of the Ring,” Haynes, 70, expressed love for his late wife, stating he loved Becraft “with all his heart.” The episode explored a theory that Becraft suffered from dementia, leading to speculation the killing might have been perceived by Haynes as an act of mercy. Haynes himself commented on the legal proceedings, stating he felt “good about his chances at trial” and believed he had been “overcharged” by prosecutors. Becraft’s family did not respond to requests to participate in the program.
Haynes was arrested on February 8, 2024, following a tense two-hour standoff with police at his home in the Lents area of Portland. Authorities responded to reports of gunshots, and after Haynes was taken into custody, his wife, Janette Becraft, 85, was found deceased inside the residence. The Medical Examiner later determined her cause of death was homicide by gunshot wound. Haynes was subsequently indicted on charges of Murder in the Second Degree and Unlawful Use of a Weapon. He has pleaded not guilty and remains incarcerated.
A neighbor interviewed by local news station KPTV FOX 12 at the time confirmed Becraft had ongoing dementia and described the situation as “a tragedy all around.”
Billy Jack Haynes was a prominent figure in professional wrestling, particularly in the 1980s. He rose to stardom in Don Owen’s Pacific Northwest territory based in Portland, Oregon. His most notable national run was with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from 1986 to 1988, where he feuded with Hercules Hernandez over the full nelson submission hold, culminating in a match at WrestleMania 3. He also worked for Jim Crockett Promotions, World Class Championship Wrestling, Championship Wrestling from Florida, and briefly in WCW under a mask as Black Blood in 1991. Trained by Stu Hart, Haynes was known for his impressive physique and rugged in-ring style.
However, Haynes’ career was also marked by controversial departures from promotions, allegedly sometimes refusing to lose matches. Greg Valentine has publicly recounted a story attributing Haynes’ 1988 WWF firing to an incident involving alleged GHB use on a team flight. In later years, Haynes became known for making outlandish claims during shoot interviews, including alleging he trafficked cocaine during his WWF run and witnessed the infamous “Boys on the Tracks” murders in Arkansas.
Haynes was also one of the first wrestlers involved in the class-action lawsuit against WWE regarding Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), which was ultimately dismissed. In his 2014 filing, Haynes alleged he suffered from depression and exhibited symptoms of dementia he attributed to his wrestling career.
His arraignment for the current charges is scheduled for May 28, 2025, with the trial now slated for December 2025.
