He may be best known for playing a lovable bartender on Cheers, but Woody Harrelson's family harbors a dark secret. His father, Charles Voyde Harrelson was a mafia hitman. Woody had no contact with his father from 1968, when Woody was just seven years old. In 1981 Charles made headlines when he was arrested for assassinated John H Wood, Jr; the first federal judge to be murdered in the 20th century.
Charles had spent most of the time between 1968 and 1981 in prison, having been tried for the murders of several Texans, all unbeknownst to Woody and his mother.
Judge Wood was shot in a parking lot in San Antonio, Texas. The hit was ordered by drug dealer Jamiel Chagra, who was due to appear in front of Judge Wood on the day of the murder. Judge Wood had earned the nickname "Maximum John", for his harsh punishment of drug offenders.
An anonymous tip-off, and a hidden tape conversation between Jamiel Chagra and his brother linked Harrelson to the killing. He was arrested for the murder, after a length, cocain fueled stand-off with police. After his arrest, Harrelson admitted to not only killing Judge Wood, but the 1963 killing of President John F Kennedy - A murder which had took place in Harrelson's operating ground of eastern Texas.
Harrelson later recanted both the murders, claiming it to be an effect of the drugs. Jamiel Chagra, testified that Harrelson had previously told him about killing Kennedy, and even drew maps of where he took the shot from. Chagra did however add that he never believed Harrelson's story to be true.
In 1995, Charles attempted to escape from Atlanta federal penitentiary along with two other inmates. They climbed out using a makeshift rope, but we spotted by guards. The men surrounded after a warning shot was fired. Harrelson spent the rest of his life in a Colorado supermax prison. He reconnected with his son, Woody who tried unsuccessfully to secure a retrial. Charles Harrelson died of a heart attack in 2007, aged 68.
Charles had spent most of the time between 1968 and 1981 in prison, having been tried for the murders of several Texans, all unbeknownst to Woody and his mother.
Judge Wood was shot in a parking lot in San Antonio, Texas. The hit was ordered by drug dealer Jamiel Chagra, who was due to appear in front of Judge Wood on the day of the murder. Judge Wood had earned the nickname "Maximum John", for his harsh punishment of drug offenders.
An anonymous tip-off, and a hidden tape conversation between Jamiel Chagra and his brother linked Harrelson to the killing. He was arrested for the murder, after a length, cocain fueled stand-off with police. After his arrest, Harrelson admitted to not only killing Judge Wood, but the 1963 killing of President John F Kennedy - A murder which had took place in Harrelson's operating ground of eastern Texas.
Harrelson later recanted both the murders, claiming it to be an effect of the drugs. Jamiel Chagra, testified that Harrelson had previously told him about killing Kennedy, and even drew maps of where he took the shot from. Chagra did however add that he never believed Harrelson's story to be true.
In 1995, Charles attempted to escape from Atlanta federal penitentiary along with two other inmates. They climbed out using a makeshift rope, but we spotted by guards. The men surrounded after a warning shot was fired. Harrelson spent the rest of his life in a Colorado supermax prison. He reconnected with his son, Woody who tried unsuccessfully to secure a retrial. Charles Harrelson died of a heart attack in 2007, aged 68.
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