Daughter Of Slain Tulsa Businessman Testifies Against 'Whitey' Bulger

Thirty-two years after her father was murdered at Tulsa's Southern Hills Country Club, the daughter of a Tulsa businessman testified in federal court.

Wednesday, July 17th 2013, 9:50 pm

By: News On 6


Thirty-two years after her father was murdered at Tulsa's Southern Hills Country Club, the daughter of a Tulsa businessman testified in federal court.

The daughter of Roger Wheeler, a Tulsa, Okla., businessman prosecutors say was killed by James "Whitey" Bulger's gang took the stand Wednesday. Pamela Wheeler said that in the months before her father was killed in 1981, he wanted to sell one of his businesses, World Jai Alai, a legal sports betting operation.

Pamela Wheeler said her father had bought the business less than two years earlier, but was disappointed in its financial performance and had been trying to sell it just before he was killed.

Convicted hit man John Martorano testified earlier in the trial that he shot Wheeler between the eyes after the executive finished a round of golf at a Tulsa country club. Wheeler was killed after John Callahan, the former president of World Jai Alai, said he was concerned that Wheeler had figured out he had been skimming profits.

Martorano testified that Callahan asked him to kill Wheeler, a hit Martorano said was sanctioned by Bulger after Callahan said he would make payments to Bulger and Flemmi.

Bulger, now 83, is accused in a 32-count racketeering indictment of playing a role in 19 killings in the 1970s and '80s while he allegedly led the Winter Hill Gang. He is also charged with money laundering and extortion.

6/17/2013 Related Story: Ex-Hitman: I Was Heartbroken Bulger Was Informant

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