The Gangster known as 'Whitey' Bulger, real name James Bulger was found unresponsive in his West Virginia prison cell Yesterday Morning. The New York Times wrote, "He was found unresponsive at 8:20 Tuesday morning, according to a statement from the federal Bureau of Prisons." They went on to write that "He was pronounced dead by the Preston County Medical Examiner. The statement did not indicate a cause of death."
Bulger had only been transferred to Hazelton Penitentiary, in Bruceton Mills, on Monday. The BBC wrote "His death comes on the same day that he was transferred to the Hazelton penitentiary in West Virginia," and continued by stating that the "Boston-based WFXT-TV, a Fox affiliate, reports that Bulger was killed hours after being admitted to the general inmate population at the facility."
Although no official statement has been given for Bulger's cause of death, The New York Times stated that "An inmate with mafia ties is now under investigation for Bulger's killing, three sources briefed on the incident told the Boston Globe." This was the last of many transfers for Whitey Bulger, who had also spent time in Oklahoma City, Tuscon and Florida, with no reason given for any of the moves.
His death came shortly after his arrival at Hazelton, and the cause is suspected to be a murder.
A life on the run
Whitey Bulger was perhaps most known for evading arrest for sixteen years before he was finally arrested in California in 2011 and eventually convicted of eleven murders in 2013. The New York Times wrote, "His conviction and life sentence for gruesome crimes brought a final reckoning of sorts," also writing Bulger's career ended as "One of America’s most notorious underworld figures, the heir to a nation’s fascinations with Dillinger, Capone and Gotti."
Bulger was not alone while on the run from Police but was joined by his girlfriend Catherine Greig who went on the run with her lover in 1995 after having dated since the seventies.
Greig who is still incarcerated at a minimum security prison in Minnesota. Greig was sentenced to eight years for her part in harbouring a fugitive and identity fraud; she is set to be released in 2020. It is not known if she has been made aware of Bulger's death.
Ironically Whitey's Brother William Bulger became a powerful local Politician for the Democrats, who in 1978 became president of the Massachusetts State Senate and later President of the University of Massachusetts.
However, despite his power, The BBC wrote: "The politician always denied any knowledge of his brother's crimes, but maintained that he loved his brother and could never betray him to law enforcement," it was also believed that many of those in law enforcement turned a blind eye to Bulger due to his informant connections to them.
Infamous media influence
James 'Whitey' Bulger became infamous throughout his career as both a Boston Gangster and Police Informant becoming a media sensation and in a way, he became America's version of The Kray Twins or a modern-day Al Capone. Much like his predecessor's many books were written and documentaries were made about his life, as well as the 2015 feature-length Film Black Mass starring Johnny Depp as Whitey Bulger.
"Black Mass" made almost $100 million (78.3 million Pounds) at the box-office, showing that society is still just as infatuated with the criminal underworld as they always have been. In 2014 a documentary by Joe Berlinger titled “Whitey: The United States of America v. James J.
Bulger,” was released with accounts from those who knew Bulger. The New York Times reviewed the documentary, and wrote how it dispelled “nostalgic or romantic notions about the old Boston underworld.”
