On October 30, 2018, one of America’s most infamous crime bosses, James “Whitey” Bulger, met a violent end in a West Virginia prison. But how did the final day of this notorious gangster unfold before his brutal demise?
The Final 24 Hours of Whitey Bulger” refers to the last day in the life of James “Whitey” Bulger, the notorious Boston mob boss and FBI informant who was murdered in prison on October 30, 2018, at age 89.
Bulger, serving two life sentences plus five years for 11 murders and other crimes, had been incarcerated at several federal prisons since his 2011 arrest after 16 years on the run.
By late 2018, his health was declining—he was in a wheelchair and had heart issues.
He’d also been marked as a target in the prison system for being both a rat (FBI informant) and a notorious killer.
October 29, 2018 – The Day Before His Death
Bulger was being transferred from USP Coleman II in Florida to USP Hazelton in West Virginia, a high-security federal penitentiary nicknamed “Misery Mountain” for its violence.
The transfer reportedly followed disciplinary issues and threats he’d made to prison staff.
Bulger arrived at Hazelton in the afternoon or early evening and was placed in the general population, not protective custody—despite his reputation and vulnerability.
