Transcript for Lawyer blames Federal Bureau of Prisons for Whitey Bulger slaying
And we’re learning more about who authorities believe killed notorious crime boss Whitey bulger behind bars and how it was done. He was serving life in prison after 16 years on the run, and had just been transferred to a new prison. Tonight, the fellow inmate who allegedly used a padlock inside a sock. ABC’s gio Benitez from Boston now. Reporter: Tonight, that key question, did notorious Boston mobster Whitey bulger get whacked behind bars? Just 24 hours after being transferred to a new prison in West Virginia, he was found severely beaten, according to “The New York Times.” Officials telling “The times” he was attacked with a padlock stuffed inside a sock. You’re going to be responding to the maximum security. They advise cpr in progress. Reporter: One of the key suspects in the killing, mob hitman Freddy geas, who is serving a life sentence at that West Virginia prison for the murder of another member of a crime family. A former prosecutor telling “The Boston globe”, “Freddy hated rats.” Bulger was K as a so-called snitch, believed to have been an FBI informant who provided information about his rivals. He was also responsible for at least 11 murders, spending 16 years on the run with his girlfriend, until their capture in 2011 in Santa Monica. Bulger’s attorney now pointing the finger at the federal bureau of prisons, saying they turned a life sentence into a death sentence. One of the victims of bulger’s gang, Debra Davis, killed when she was just 26. Her brother Steven speaking with us tonight. Do you feel at peace now with his death? Very much so. He’s where he belongs, in the dirt where he put a lot of other people. All right, gio Benitez with us tonight. You reported there, he was transferred less than 24 hours before the murder. Do we know why he was transferred? Reporter: Well, David, sources say that he was moved there because of medical reasons, but now investigators really want to know tonight how he could have ended up dead almost immediately after walking into that prison. David? Gio, thank you.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
