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James 'Whitey' Bulger: Captured

The News: Law enforcement officials arrested fugitive Boston gangster James “Whitey” Bulger on Wednesday, June 22, 2011, in Santa Monica, Calif., capping a 16-year international manhunt that exposed the FBI's corrupt relationship with its underworld informants.

Bulger, a "top echelon" informant before fleeing, was arrested with his longtime girlfriend, Catherine Greig. Here's our complete coverage of the arrest and its aftermath:


The Arrest And Court Proceedings:

James "Whitey" Bulger, in a booking photo obtained exclusively by WBUR
James "Whitey" Bulger, in a booking photo obtained exclusively by WBUR

-- FBI Arrests James ‘Whitey’ Bulger In California

The arrest came just days after the government began circulating pictures of Greig on daytime TV in a new campaign to find the fugitive crime boss.

-- Listen: Reporter On The Scene Describes Bulger Arrest

Los Angeles Times reporter Andrew Blankstein said Bulger and Greig lived in an area of retirees "where you could easily blend in."

-- Storify: Updated Coverage Of The ‘Whitey’ Bulger Arrest

Using the news reporting tool Storify, WBUR's Martha Bebinger offers live coverage of the arrest fallout.

-- Bulger Appeared ‘Calm, Collected’ After Arrest

Set to return to Boston, fugitives Bulger and Greig waived their rights to a removal hearing during their appearance in federal court in Los Angeles Thursday.

-- Listen: FBI Special Agent: Bulger, Greig Were ‘Masters Of Disguise’

The apprehension of Bulger and Greig was said to reflect “the fruits of a collaboration” among a number of federal agencies.

-- Bulger Expected Back In Mass.

Gangster Bulger, nabbed in California, made a quick return to Boston's federal court.

The top-left, third-floor apartment is where Bulger and Greig were arrested in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP)
The top-left, third-floor apartment is where Bulger and Greig were arrested in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP)

-- Tip That Led To Bulger Arrest Came From Iceland

WBUR confirmed that the tip that led the FBI to Bulger’s apartment came from a woman living in Iceland, according to law enforcement sources.

-- Bulger Asks For Public Defender In Boston

The longtime boss of the Boston mob returned home to South Boston as a prisoner of the U.S. government.

-- Listen: Former Federal Prosecutor Says Bulger Will Get Public Defender

The former South Boston crime boss is asking for a court-appointed attorney. At least one former federal prosecutor thinks Bulger will eventually get a team of lawyers paid for by taxpayers.

-- Judge To Rule This Week On Bulger Attorney

Judge Mark Wolf noted that Bulger’s co-defendants were all granted court-appointed attorneys when they were tried in 1997 on the charges Bulger now faces.

-- Bulger May Cooperate To ‘Settle Scores’

“If there’s anybody he feels betrayed by, he has the perfect opportunity right now. Those people include FBI people that he thinks did not stay loyal to him, that ratted on him, or the mobsters."

In this courtroom sketch, Bulger and Grieg are shown during their arraignment in Los Angeles. (AP)
In this courtroom sketch, Bulger and Grieg are shown during their arraignment in Los Angeles. (AP)

-- Bulger Came Back To Boston For ‘Unfinished Business’

To his arresting officers, Bulger said he returned "armed to the teeth" several times during his 16 years on the run so he could "take care of some unfinished business."

-- Bulger’s Girlfriend Hires High-Profile Defense Attorney

“The big goal for the government is to get names,” one defense attorney said of Greig's defense.

-- Feds Drop ’94 Bulger Indictment To Focus On Murder Charges

Prosecutors have dropped the 1994 indictment to focus on a later indictment that charged the newly captured fugitive for his alleged role in 19 murders.

-- Bulger Trail Cooled As Some FBI Tips Weren’t Pursued

WBUR has learned that one tip to the FBI five years ago came from a spot just four blocks from Bulger's apartment in Santa Monica.

-- Bulger Lawyer Seeks To Consolidate Indictments

Bulger’s temporary lawyer accuses the government of “gaming the system” because in choosing which indictment to pursue, it’s choosing which judge will hear the case.

With his brothers looking on, Bulger enters not guilty pleas in federal court. Bulger's attorney, J.W. Carney Jr., stands with his client. (Margaret Small for WBUR)
With his brothers looking on, Bulger enters not guilty pleas in federal court. Bulger's attorney, J.W. Carney Jr., stands with his client. (Margaret Small for WBUR)

-- Calls For Investigation Of The FBI After Bulger Arrest

After years of criticism and doubt that its agents really were looking for him, the FBI may have expected Bulger’s arrest last week to help lift the cloud, but it's done the opposite in some circles.

-- Judge Drops ’94 Indictment; Bulger Gets Court-Appointed Lawyer

In two hearings, judges approved a motion to drop one of two indictments against Bulger and ruled that the former mob boss meets requirements for a taxpayer-funded attorney.

-- Bulger Pleads Not Guilty On 19 Murder Counts

Bulger pleaded not guilty to a racketeering indictment that accuses the reputed former crime boss of participating in 19 murders.

-- Bail Hearing For Bulger’s Girlfriend Stretches Past 1 Day

At a hearing, federal prosecutors laid out a trail of newly discovered evidence against Bulger and Greig. It was so long, it forced the judge to schedule a second day.

-- Bulger Victims Speak Of Pain, Loss At Greig’s 2nd Bail Hearing

Greig has been returned to jail after a magistrate decided not to decide, for now, whether she should be released on bail. In still another and emotional departure from the normal, the families of some of Bulger’s alleged victims were allowed to testify against Greig’s release.

-- ‘Whitey’ Bulger’s Girlfriend Pleads Not Guilty

In a brief appearance, Greig pleaded not guilty on a charge of conspiracy to harbor and conceal a fugitive.


Reaction:

-- ‘Whitey’s’ Brother, William Bulger, Has No Reaction To Arrest

“Whitey” Bulger was one of Boston’s most notorious mobsters. His younger brother, William, was one the most powerful politicians in Massachusetts.

Barbara Gluck lived just down the hall from James "Whitey" Bulger in California. (Monica Brady-Myerov/WBUR)
Barbara Gluck lived just down the hall from Bulger in California. (Monica Brady-Myerov/WBUR)

-- For Some In Bulger Manhunt, Capture Seemed Impossible

Among those doubters was the former head of the Massachusetts State Police, Tom Foley, who helped build the case against Bulger and fellow mobster Steven Flemmi.

-- Capture of Boston Gangster Could Mean More Scandal

If Bulger decides to cut a deal with prosecutors, he could implicate an untold number of local, state and federal law enforcement officials, according to investigators who built his racketeering indictment.

-- Listen: Victim’s Daughter ‘Shocked’ After Hearing Of Bulger’s Arrest

South Boston resident Luanne Litif was 20 years old when she says she found her father, Louis Litif, shot dead and stuffed into the trunk of his car.

-- Bulger Brothers Exchange Smiles In Court Reunion

William Bulger, once one of the most powerful politicians in Massachusetts, says seeing his gangster brother in court was an “unusual experience.”

-- ‘Whitey’ Bulger’s Neighbors In Shock Over Arrest

Santa Monica neighbors say they’d often see "Charlie" and "Carol Gasko" walking the beach bluff in the mornings and evenings. His landlord also had no suspicions.

-- Listen: Bulger Court Appearance Left Families ‘Stirred Up’

Many of the families of Bulger’s alleged victims were in attendance at Boston's federal courthouse. Bulger’s appearance affected the families greatly.

-- Those Caught In Bulger’s Trail Look For Peace

James "Whitey" Bulger
James "Whitey" Bulger

“Now that Whitey’s captured, we’re hoping finally my father will be able to rest in peace," said Shawn Donahue, son of Michael Donahue, who was allegedly killed by Bulger or an associates.

-- The FBI Agent Who Really Wanted ‘Whitey’

A former agent reflects on Boston's FBI office during the "Whitey" era.

-- William Bulger Faces His Brother’s Legacy

Now that the reputed former mob boss is back and behind bars, troubles seem to be just starting for rest of his family.

-- Former Associate Braces To Testify Against ‘Whitey’ Bulger

For 25 years, Kevin Weeks, "Whitey's" right-hand man, had a close-up view to murder and a supporting role in beatings, extortion and intimidation.


Multimedia:

-- Timeline: The Life Of 'Whitey' Bulger

-- Slideshow: Bulger Caught On Camera

-- Evidence In Pictures: ‘Whitey’ Bulger’s Money, Gun Collection

-- Listen: FBI News Conference On Arrest

-- Read: The Indictment On Bulger

-- Video: FBI PSA That Led To Bulger Tip


Related Content:

-- Eyewitness: ‘It Was Absolutely Bulger I Saw’ In 2006

-- Commentary: It’s Not The Same Boston Whitey Left In 1994

-- Listen: Bulger Biographer: ‘Whitey Was An Experienced On-The-Road Gangster’

-- Bulger’s Run Almost Textbook Case Of Evasion

-- New England Mafia Is Weakened But Still Pursued

-- Here & Now: When Actor Robert Mitchum Met 'Whitey'

-- Radio Boston: Why Age-Advanced Sketches Looked Nothing Like The Real ‘Whitey’

This program aired on June 24, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.

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