Second mobster suspected in James 'Whitey' Bulger's death

Nov. 2 (UPI) -- A second mobster has been connected to the death of organized crime boss James "Whitey" Bulger, who was fatally beaten in a West Virginia prison.

Paul J. DeCologero, who belonged to the North Shore crime group, is now a suspect in Bulger's death along with Fotios "Freddy" Geas. The two are accused of brutally beating the wheelchair-bound Bulger with a padlock inside of a sock, law enforcement officials familiar with the matter told the Boston Globe.

Bulger, a Boston crime boss, died less than 11 hours after being transferred to the U.S. Penitentiary Hazelton in West Virginia. DeCologero and Geas were also notorious Massachusetts mobsters. Some have questioned why Bulger, 89, wasn't placed in isolation initially until they could determine whether the general population posed a threat to him.

Bulger was a secret FBI informant while he led South Boston's Winter Hill Gang. At the time of his death, he was five years into two life sentences for the murders of 11 men and women in Massachusetts, Oklahoma and Florida. He did time in Oklahoma and Florida before being moved to West Virginia.

Geas may have wanted revenge because Bulger was an informant that helped frame his friend for murder. DeCologero, who was sentenced to 25 years for a racketeering and conspiracy charge related to the dismemberment of a 19-year-old woman, was done in by former mobsters who became government witnesses, including his father.

The U.S. Attorney's Office at the Northern District of West Virginia and FBI confirmed that Bulger's death is being investigated as a homicide.

"To protect the integrity of the investigation, no further details will be released at this time," authorities said in a joint statement.

Since Bulger died Tuesday, the U.S. Penitentiary Hazelton has suspended inmate visitations until further notice. No explanation was given.