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Notorious Boston mob boss James "Whitey" Bulger, 89, was murdered in October 2018. The killing took place immediately after his transfer to a West Virginia prison. 

Bulger was the ruthless leader of the South Boston-based Winter Hill Gang. He was arrested in 2011 in Santa Monica, California after living on the lam for 16 years. He was convicted in 2013 for a myriad of crimes, including 11 murders. 

Bulger, 89, was wheelchair-bound at the time of his death. And court papers identify the weapon used as a” lock in a sock.”  Combination locks and socks are available to purchase at the prison commissary.

3 charged in mob boss murder

McKinnon and his cellmate, Fotios "Freddy" Geas,55, along with Paul J. DeCologero,48, were charged all charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. 

Geas,  and DeCologero,  were also hit with aiding and abetting first-degree murder by a federal prisoner serving a life sentence. And assault resulting in serious bodily injury. 

And McKinnon, 36, was also charged with making false statements to a federal agent. 

During last week’s detention hearing Assistant U.S. Attorney Hannah Nowalk described to the court McKinnon’s phone call with his mother. 

He told her that the "higher profile" inmate was Bulger. His mother reportedly asked him to stay away from the gangster.

"I can’t," McKinnon responded. 

His mother was concerned that he would get in trouble. But according to Nowalk, he reassured her that “Oh don’t worry. Oh, I don’t plan it." 

 Magistrate Judge Philip Lammens then ordered McKinnon be held behind bars until the trial.

Prosecutors claim McKinnon was alerted that Bulger was being transferred to the USP Hazelton facility.

Sean McKinnon was the inmate charged with being the lookout while 2 others beat Bulger to death. His phone calls on a recorded prison phone line are under review.

McKinnon’s attorney claims “no conspiracy

McKinnon’s public defender, Christine Bird, claims that the phone call doesn’t prove McKinnon’s involvement in a murder plot.

And says that "the entire unit was alerted that Whitey Bulger was coming to the unit." 

"The fact that his roommate was a henchman has nothing to do with him. He didn’t select his roommate. The fact that he knew that doesn’t really tell the Court that he was involved in the conspiracy." Bird added.

Nowalk told the judge there is surveillance video of Geas and DeCologero going into Bulger's cell. They entered 6 minutes after he was wheeled in early in the morning. 

The footage also shows that McKinnon can see Bulger's cell while the other two alleged murderers were inside for seven minutes. Two hours later Bulger was found dead according to Nowalk.

Prosecutors also claim to have an inmate witness who claims both McKinnon and DeCologero admitted to the murder and told him that McKinnon was their lookout.