Actor Woody Harrelson’s father, Charles Harrelson, was a convicted hitman who was given a life sentence after killing a federal judge in 1979.
Charles Harrelson was charged with the murder after evidence revealed that drug kingpin Jimmy Chagra, whose case was about to come up before “Maximum John,” had paid him $250,000.
Chagra, worried about the sentence that was soon to be imposed by Judge Wood, apparently conspired with his wife and brother to hire Harrelson to carry out the murder. Shattered bullet fragments found at the scene were traced to a .240 Weatherby Mark V rifle—the type recently purchased by Harrelson’s wife, Jo Ann. Harrelson, who had a prior conviction for murder
The murderer used a high-powered rifle and a scope to kill Wood outside of his home in San Antonio as the judge went to get into his car. It was the first time in American history a sitting federal judge was assassinated.
An intense manhunt ensued, and the FBI finally caught Charles Harrelson and arrested him for murder.
Woody Harrelson had no idea about his father’s checkered occupation until he was listening to the radio one day.
The murderer used a high-powered rifle and a scope to kill Wood outside of his home in San Antonio as the judge went to get into his car. It was the first time in American history a sitting federal judge was assassinated.
An intense manhunt ensued, and the FBI finally caught Charles Harrelson and arrested him for murder.
Woody Harrelson had no idea about his father’s checkered occupation until he was listening to the radio one day.
Chagra, the drug lord, was acquitted of conspiracy charges in connection with the assassination. He supposedly entered the witness protection program for helping the feds on other drug cases. It helped that Chagra’s brother was a defense attorney who made a lot of money. The theory was that if Chagra himself was innocent, shouldn’t Harrelson also be not guilty of murder?
A judge didn’t agree with Harrelson’s lawyers and the elder Harrelson spent the rest of his days behind bars.
At one point during his life sentences, the elder Harrelson made the audacious claim that he assassinated John F. Kennedy. No one believed him and he later recanted, explaining that the confession was “an effort to elongate my life.” However, Lois Gibson, a well-known forensic artist, identified Harrelson as one of the “three tramps,” who were three mysterious men photographed shortly after the JFK assassination. Their involvement in JFK’s death has often been linked to conspiracies theories.
Charles Harrelson died of a heart attack in prison in 2007.
A judge didn’t agree with Harrelson’s lawyers and the elder Harrelson spent the rest of his days behind bars.
At one point during his life sentences, the elder Harrelson made the audacious claim that he assassinated John F. Kennedy. No one believed him and he later recanted, explaining that the confession was “an effort to elongate my life.” However, Lois Gibson, a well-known forensic artist, identified Harrelson as one of the “three tramps,” who were three mysterious men photographed shortly after the JFK assassination. Their involvement in JFK’s death has often been linked to conspiracies theories.
Charles Harrelson died of a heart attack in prison in 2007.
