(Un)Lucky Thirteen #6
Murder Beyond the Mat
Written by Mark Adam Haggerty
WARNING: EXPLICIT LANGUAGE AND CONTENT. READER DISCRETION ADVISED.
I grew up in a small town on the east coast spanning no more than three miles across; where everybody knew everybody for better or worse, and the biggest threat to our simple way of life was driving while drunk and flunking out of college. Then in 2006 a middle-class suburban family was responsible for drowning their teenage daughter's newborn baby in the toilet just moments after it was born—we discovered that evil was all around us, and began to lock our doors each night. Vince McMahon and bookers around the planet would have audiences believe that supernatural entities such as the Undertaker and Kane represent malevolence in its darkest form, but it's a different sort of �Demon' that takes control once the cameras stop rolling. With all due respect to those who've passed from any number of ailments, today's Unlucky Thirteen is counting down the most horrific events in wrestling history—this is "Murder Beyond the Mat."
13. Scott Hall's Self Defense
We begin with a tragic case of self-defense that has haunted one WWE Hall of Famer for over thirty years. Before he was Razor Ramon, Scott Hall was an average wrestler traveling the territories from the AWA up in Minnesota down through the southernmost reaches of the nation. In 1983 after working an event in Florida, Scott was enjoying his evening at a local nightclub in Orlando, when a scuffle in the parking lot turned deadly. What had begun as a drunken skirmish resulted in the second party drawing a pistol. With very little time to think, his reflexes and instinct to survive kicked in, prompting Scott to wrestle the gun away from the assailant. He managed to retrieve the weapon but in turn fired, fatally wounding the man right then and there. Scott Hall was brought up on second degree murder, but the charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence. In 2011 after years of speculation, Scott Hall came clean and admitted the ordeal during an ESPN interview.
12. Jimmy Snuka in Lehigh Valley
I guess �83 was a big year for accidental murder, because it was on May 10, 1983 that Nancy Argentino was pronounced dead after spending the evening with her boyfriend, WWF Superstar "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka. Snuka was performing that evening at the Lehigh Valley Agricultural Hall in Allentown, Pennsylvania where after the event, he checked into a local motel with his girlfriend. Several hours later Snuka called 9-1-1 when Nancy was "non-responsive." She arrived at the hospital where she was declared dead. Doctors and forensic analysts determined Argentino died of "undetermined cranial cerebral injuries," while coroners found dozens of cuts and bruises consistent with domestic abuse. Although the parents of Nancy Argentino won a default judgment against Snuka, the case was never closed. The case was officially reexamined in 2013, and sent to a grand jury in 2014 but "Superfly" is still a free man.
11. Four Justifiable Homicides, Acquitted for Assault & Battery
ECW was rough but—okay, check this out: “I don’t care if the motherfucker dies! He’s white. I don’t like white people. I don’t like people from Boston. I’m the wrong nigga' to fuck with." I figure the best way to begin is to examine the type of person we're dealing with. Jerome Young was a professional bounty hunter before he became a wrestler; with four justifiable homicides to his credit, the "Gangsta" known on the street and in the ring as "New Jack" is one of the most violent performers in wrestling history. While the court documents are "sealed," keeping us from discovering the truth behind who �Jack justifiably killed, we have no shortage of evidence as to what sort of depravity he's willing to sink, should he be so inclined. In 2003 �Jack was involved in an independent hardcore match against 69-year old Gypsy Joe. Joe head-butted New Jack forcefully in the nose, and no-sold the majority of �Jack's offense. So what is a Gangsta' to do other than dismantle an elderly man in a very ruthless, very
real
way? New Jack left Gypsy Joe in a pile of his own blood while the fans at ringside were thirsty for New Jack's. Perhaps the more famous instance in which �Jack gained notoriety was the "Mass Transit Incident," in which he assaulted an untrained 17-year old during an impromptu tag team match. When the fans in New England jeered the actions of �Jack, he responded with the aforementioned quote. Who's to say how many people New Jack has
murdered
, but it's safe to say nobody would want to wind up on his bad side as he's already been acquitted once.
10. "The Gentleman" Chris Adams
The young fans of sports entertainment might not recognize some of the names on today's countdown, and perhaps that's for the better. But the "Gentleman" Chris Adams was an iconic figure during the waning days of the territory system, and was responsible for training several Texas legends including "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Chris Adams was born in England but made his name at the Dallas Sportatorium with Frit Von Erich and World Class Championship Wrestling. In April of 2000 a semi-retired Chris Adams was found unconscious alongside his girlfriend Linda Kaphengst in their Texas home, both had overdosed on a combination of alcohol and GHB. Chris made a full recovery while Linda unfortunately died; in 2001 Chris Adams was indicted for manslaughter, but wouldn't make it to trial. On October 7, 2001 Adams was at home in Waxahachie, Texas having drinks with a fellow independent performer by the name of Brent Parnell. The two began to argue and when things became physical, a gun was introduced by Parnell. The trigger was pulled and the "Gentleman" Chris Adams was mortally wounded, shot point blank in the chest. Police arrived and Parnell admitted to shooting Adams, but was later acquitted after it was determined self-defense.
9. Verne Gagne & Helmut Gutmann
Verne Gagne will forever be remembered as the legendary founder of the AWA, a multiple-time world champion, and an amateur worthy of Olympic contention. But unfortunately, the twilight years of Verne's life have been marred by unforeseeable controversy. In 2009 Verne Gagne was living in a retirement facility in Bloomington, Minnesota. A former multi-millionaire living in his own palatial estate, Verne was now a victim of his own mind after succumbing to crippling bouts of dementia. On January 26th, 2009 Verne was sitting at a table alongside fellow community resident Helmut Gutmann. Without but minor provocation, Gagne employed his amateur background and body slammed the 97-year old onto the cold hard floor—Gutmann would later die of his injuries on Valentine's Day. Investigators said that it wasn't a wrestling hold, "but more of a shove and push." On March 12th it was announced that due to Verne's current mental state, he would
not
be charged with murder but would be remanded to the custody of his daughter and her family.
8. The Satan's Choice Motorcycle Club
If you've never heard of Ion Croitoru then you aren't alone, as he was more commonly known as K-9, an enhancement talent for the WWF during the 1990s. Croitoru will never be regarded as a great in-ring performer, but will go down for eternity as the only professional wrestler who ever blew up a police station—in real life. When he wasn't working for Vince McMahon, Ion Croitoru was the president of the Hamilton, Ontario chapter of the "Satan's Choice Motorcycle Gang." Before you start assuming ol' K-9 is just another "Wild Hog," then think again; in 1996 he and his fellow gang members planted explosives in the Hamilton police station and caused nearly $133K in damage. Then in 2006 lawyers Lynn and Fred Gilbank were shot execution style with a shotgun for their part in relocating a witness involved in a "Satan's Choice" trial. Prosecutors believed the hit was perpetrated by Croitoru himself. Ion was brought up on charges of first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, but the charges were dropped later that year after several pieces of evidence mysteriously vanished—including witness testimony.
7. The Mafia Killed Dino Bravo
You might remember him as the only WWF Canadian Champion in history, coming to the ring each night with either Frenchie Martin or Jimmy Hart proudly displaying the blue and white of the Quebec flag. But Dino Bravo wasn't French-Canadian as many might have suspected, he was an Italian immigrant making his home in Vimont, Laval, Quebec. Like many highly visible Italian stars of his day, Dino Bravo became entrenched with the Mafia, even marrying into the family of Montreal Crime Boss Vic Cotroni. Dino became involved with a cigarette smuggling operation that apparently infringed on some neighboring territories. On March 10th, 1993 Dino Bravo was found dead in his home watching hockey, the victim of 17 gunshot wounds—ten to the torso, and seven to the head.
6. Developmental Defect
The most recent name on our countdown is a former developmental athlete by the name of Brian Michael McGhee. If you don't remember Brian McGhee, he appeared briefly under the ring name "The Future" DT Porter in Central Florida. Unfortunately for Brian, he was let go from his developmental deal which reportedly sent him on a downward spiral into a catastrophic depression. On the morning of July 24, 2013, a witness reported seeing McGhee walk up to the apartment of his girlfriend Bianca McGhaughey. When McGhaughey opened the door, McGhee was said to have "punched her" in the stomach, leading her to scream in pain. The witness ran off to call the police and upon returning to the scene of the crime, found Bianca McGhaughey struggling to breathe outside of her home, with a knife stuck in her stomach. McGhee hopped in his Pontiac Grand Prix and hit the road, leading police on a high speed chase through the downtown Tampa area. While eluding the officers, Brian called his mother and sister and admitted what he had done. He then confessed his crime to police on hand with his family, who insisted he stop the car before anybody can get hurt. Before he could heed the detectives' advice, Brian Michael McGhee crashed the car and was captured by the pursuing officers.
5. The Yakuza and a Japanese Icon
The most celebrated sports figure in the history of Japan is the world-renowned professional wrestler Rikidozan. Rikidozan was a Korean-born Japanese wrestler who also dabbled in sumo, and managed to take an entire nation by storm. His celebrity grew through the 1950s and early �60s to mythical heights transcending what we consider possible for wrestlers today. On December 8th, 1963 Riki' was partying in a Tokyo nightclub with friends and fellow wrestlers. Amidst the excitement, a Yakuza assassin by the name of Katsuji Maruta darted out of the darkness and stabbed Rikidozan in the stomach with a sharp narrow blade. Reports indicate that the grand champion threw Maruta out of the club himself and continued drinking and partying until morning. When he finally saw a physician he was told that the wound was nothing to worry about. However unbeknownst to Rikidozan or his doctor, the blade was soaked in urine, a Yakuza practice meant to cause infection—which it did. Rikidozan was hospitalized and died of peritonitis on December 15th, 1963. The assassin was sentenced to seven years in prison, and spent the remainder of his life atoning for his crime by visiting the sacred grave of Rikidozan.
4. The Death of Bruiser Brody
Puerto Rico has a rich heritage both as part of the United States of America and the world of professional wrestling. Long-time promotor and WWE Hall of Famer Carlos Colon has had an empire on the island dating back several decades, but a tragic day in the summer of 1988 would alter the course of Puerto Rican wrestling forever. Bruiser Brody was a phenomenal athlete—built like a tree and tougher than steel, Brody never signed a contract and instead made his living as a journeyman wrestler. He was apparently owed north of $40,000 by promotors in Puerto Rico, and after biting his tongue and biding his time, Brody was ready to collect. On July 16th, 1988 Brody was beckoned into the back shower stall by Jose Huertas Gonzales, better known inside the squared circle as Invader #1. Gonzales wanted to discuss the finish to an upcoming match, and talking about private matters in the shower was customary in the wrestling locker room. Several seconds later, witnesses reported hearing a loud groan from Brody followed by Gonzales exiting the stall. Brody was surrounded by a pool of his own blood and carried down to the waiting ambulance by Tony Atlas, who reportedly witnessed the entire altercation. Brody died before anything could be done, and on his death bed told Atlas: "Tell my son I love him. And tell my wife, I love her too." Jose Huertas Gonzales was arrested and charged with first degree murder, later reduced to involuntary homicide. When the trial came around, Tony Atlas refused to speak on behalf of his fallen brother Bruiser Brody. On the opposing side, Carlos Colon came to the defense of Gonzales, speaking out
against
the deceased. It wasn't long before Gonzales was acquitted and free to live his life, while Bruiser Brody lost his.
3. The Benoit Tragedy
Where do you begin to discuss a horrendous situation that we all saw unfold together? While there are certainly some "superstars" you might not know on this week's countdown, anybody who read the word "murder" had to be expecting this story. I remember when it happened; I was in Best Buy in Bridgewater, New Jersey perusing the bargain big in the DVD section when I got an email saying Raw was cancelled because the Benoit family had been murdered. What? We all watched from my parent's living room as the WWE presented a three-hour broadcast dedicated to the life and career of Chris Benoit. Then the next night on ECW, everything changed—Vince McMahon appeared before the show and informed us that we'd basically seen the last of Chris Benoit. What really happened over the course of those three days down in Fayetteville, Georgia? On June 22, 2007 Chris Benoit is believed to have murdered his wife, Nancy Benoit, by wrapping an electrical cord around her neck and applying pressure to her back with his knee. She was found in her bed with blood pooling beneath her head, no irregular toxicology to suggest she was drugged during the execution. Benoit sent several texts between murders, including some to Chavo Guerrero claiming that Nancy and their son Daniel were sick with food poisoning. It is believed that Saturday morning is when Chris killed his son Daniel, first by sedating him with Xanax and then asphyxiating the 7-year old in his own bed. Investigators found no blood around Daniel as they did with his mother, but alongside both bodies were individual copies of the Bible. It was Sunday morning between 3:51 and 3:58 that Chris Benoit sent out a slew of texts, telling the recipients: "Dogs in the enclosed pool area. Garage side door is open." Later that morning the world heavyweight champion formerly known as the "Crippler," set his weight machine to its highest resistance and created a noose with the available pulley. That is where police found Chris Benoit, hanging in his own exercise room. While there was no suicide letter available at the scene of the crime, Chris's father Michael Benoit later found a hand-written note inside another family bible. It read simply: "I'm prepared to leave this Earth."
2. La Mataviejitas AKA the Old Lady Killer
It would seem as though most wrestling-related murders happen between close relations after a heated dispute goes violently wrong, but Juana Barraza is one such worker who is responsible for at least eleven murders, with more than thirty others still left unresolved. Barraza entered this world to ill-fated circumstances; her mother reportedly sold her at a young age for only three bottles of beer—to a man that raped her unmercifully until she became pregnant four times. Juana Barraza attempted to defy the odds and appeared on the Mexican wrestling scene as La Dama del Silencio AKA "The Silent Lady." The impressive Luchadora gained notoriety for her impressive physique, a trait she would later use to become one of the most successful serial killers in Mexican history. Outside of the ring, Barraza would be known throughout the media as La Mataviejitas or "The Old Lady Killer." The Mexican media soon began to cover an apparent string of violent acts against women in their sixties and beyond. Most of the women were either bludgeoned or strangled, and in some cases even sexually violated. The wave of murder continued from the late 1990s through 2005 when Juana Barraza was finally arrested. For years the police had been tracking men and transvestites as witnesses continued to describe the professional wrestling murderer as a "manly woman." She only admitted to four of the killings, denying her involvement in the rest despite a litany of evidence mounted against her. On March 31st, 2008 Juana Barraza was sentenced to 759 (that's not a typo) years in a Mexican Penitentiary for 11 counts of first degree murder. Detectives and prosecutors in Mexico City are still investigating the additional murders.
1. The Case of Douglas Whitton
I first read the sad story of Douglas Whitton on another website that refused to give the details as to what
exactly
happened. I was curious of course and decided that I would not shield my readers from the truth. That being said, please be warned as this is undoubtedly the most disturbing case yet. Douglas Whitton was a moderately successful independent wrestler from the Mississippi-area who became enamored with the dark side of professional wrestling. Douglas never made it to the WWE or WCW because he developed a penchant for partying that landed him in a drug-rehab facility before anybody ever learned his name. Assuming that he was better, Douglas checked himself out of rehab and lived life on the streets, heading south toward the warm weather of New Orleans. Whitton made friends with a family at a Louisiana church after arriving in Cajun Country. Once the good-hearted Christians learned that Douglas was living on the street, they offered their home to the seemingly kind-natured stranger. Douglas lived with Owen Reeves, Gail Coulan and her son Joey Whitehead, as well as another room mate named Joseph Donovan for weeks, maybe even months, depending on various sources. On the morning of October 16th, 1997 each member of the household rose from their bed but only Douglas Whitton went to sleep that night. The events would unfold according to a secondary source who testified that Whitton admitted them as follows: Douglas was unbalanced due to his vapid drug and alcohol abuse and took offense to Gail Coulan's harmless teasing. On the afternoon of October 16th, Coulan made fun of Whitton's hair which caused Whitton to snap and attack the woman. The two were alone in the house, and the 300+ pound professional wrestler had no problem subduing the much-smaller Coulan. He began by smashing her skull with a nearby rock, and continued the torment by stabbing her repeatedly both with a steak knife and a "frog gig." For those who don't know, and I didn't either, a "frog gig" is a pole with a razor sharp jagged end used to kill and capture frogs down on the bayou. As he finished the job on Coulan, Joseph Donovan arrived home from work and lunged at Douglas Whitton with a knife. Whitton got the upper hand and bludgeoned Donovan beyond facial recognition with the same rock he used on Coulan. Now halfway through a household of four, Whitton decided to finish the rest of the family. When Owen Reeves arrived home he was met with a brick to the back of the skull—beaten until his face caved in. The last person for Douglas Whitton to kill was the 9-year old son of Gail Coulan, Joey Whitehead. Reports indicate that Whitton disposed of the child by stabbing him in the chest and wrapping him in a blanket so that he would suffocate. Before all was done, Whitton slit the throat of each individual, despite all four being dead. Douglas Whitton continued to live in the house for several days, even leaving to go shopping and to attend the
movies
. He eventually stole a checkbook from Owen Reeves and moved into a nearby motel. After days of missing work, both Donovan and Reeves' co-workers called the police who found a house full of flies wrought with human decay. The bodies were going through advanced decomposition due to the ferocity with which they were beaten. Police reports say that each body was crawling with hundreds of maggots. Douglas Whitton was eventually captured when two acquaintances assisted police in apprehending him outside the nearby motel. After a short trial, Douglas Whitton was sentenced to life in prison on February 26, 1999.
I figured it might be interesting to take a break from counting down mustaches and face paint, and instead focus on some more serious subject matters. But after doing the research and learning how dark some of these stories truly are, I think I'll stick to more lighthearted material. Thank you for joining me on this very special, very unlucky edition of the "Lucky Thirteen." My name is Mark Adam Haggerty, reminding you to bookmark my author page at Cheap-Heat to guarantee you'll never miss a column or countdown
