Is John Connolly Still Alive? The Story of the Controversial FBI Agent

John Connolly, once hailed as a promising FBI agent of Boston, was tied to the notorious leader of the Winter Hill Gang, James “Whitey” Bulger, and Steve Flemmi, unraveled the most shocking corruption scandals of American law enforcement history.

Well, many people still ask; Is John Connolly still alive? The answer is yes. As of 2025, John Connolly is alive, though he is living an ordinary life today without the prestige he once enjoyed.

In this article, we will delve into everything we can about the former FBI agent. Let’s get ready with us and unwind the controversial story of John Connolly.

Who is John Connolly?

John Joseph Connolly Jr. is an American former FBI agent. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on August 1, 1940. However, he became infamous for his corrupt relationship with notorious mobster James Whitey Bulger and fellow gangster Steve Flemmi, for saving them from investigations, prosecution, and enabling their criminal enterprise. Apart from this, he had a strong connection with the Winter Hill Gang. Here is a detailed profile summary of a fallen FBI agent:

John Connolly as an FBI agent

After earning degrees from Boston College and later from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, he joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1968. Connolly quickly established himself as a skilled agent and became a rising star in the FBI’s Boston office for his investigations.

However, his career took a fateful turn when he developed a secret partnership with Bulger and fellow gangster Stephen Flemmi to work as his informants. Through the connections with mobsters, he easily dismantled the Italian Mafia in Boston.

Association with Whitey Bulger & Federal Charges

Although Connolly made connections with informants to expose his intelligence in law enforcement, but sooner it soon twisted into something far darker. Over time, his relationship with Bulger went far beyond standard informantion handling. Moreover, he warned Bulger about investigations and even assisted in running his criminal empire.

By 1998, his secret partnership with Whitey had started to emerge. He was indicted on his first federal charges in 2002 for racketeering, obstruction of justice, and lying to an FBI expert. With his huge involvement in tipping off Bulger and Flemmi and telling them to fly, he was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

His Involvement in the Murder Case

Despite federal charges, he had a prominent role in a 1982 murder. It was the murder of a wealthy businessman, Roger Wheeler, who was shot in his own car. Upon case investigations, it was depicted that it was Bulger and associates who ordered him to be shot to protect their profits from a World Jai Alai gambling scheme. However, Connolly was not a part of the crime directly, but his actions made him complicit in Wheeler’s death by protecting the murderers.

In 2008, Connolly was convicted in Florida of second-degree murder for his involvement in the Wheeler case. The jury ordered a 40-year imprisonment for him. This incident stunned the entire law enforcement community because an FBI agent, once sworn to uphold the law, was now found guilty of having a secret partnership with gangsters.

Is John Connolly Still Alive?: Imprisonment and Release

Connolly spent more than a decade behind bars. During his imprisonment, he continued to insist on his innocence by stating that he was unfairly blamed for wrongdoings. Moreover, by the end of 2010, his health had declined significantly. So he was asked for permission to serve the remaining punishment on home confinement due to fears of contracting COVID-19 in 2020.

Although a Miami-Dade judge initially declined the request. But in February 2021, he was eventually granted a medical release with the belief that he was terminally ill with cancer and had only a few months to live.

To the surprise of many, he survived, and as of 2025, he is alive and continuing his convalescence in his Massachusetts home with his wife, Elizabeth. Despite the medical release, Connolly will remain under the supervision of law enforcement until 2047, stated in the newspaper, Boston Herald. At present, he is weak and no longer a public figure.

Conclusion

In the end, people are still curious to know Is John Connolly Still Alive or has died. Let’s break it to you that he is still alive, but living as a completely unknown person. Instead of being a young FBI agent in Boston, he is a remnant of a scandal that continues to fascinate and haunt the American public.

FAQs

Ques 1) Is John Connolly Still Alive?

Ans1) Yes, he is alive, though his health is largely impacted by cancer.

Ques2) Where is John Connolly living now?

Ans) After the medical release in 2021, he returned to his home in Massachusetts, but will remain under supervision till 2047.

Ques3) Is Black Mass a true story?

Ans) Black Mass is the true story of James White Bulger, a powerful gangster who became an FBI informant to eliminate rivals. The film mainly portrays the unholy alliance between Bulger and his childhood friend, John Connolly, who offered him protection in exchange for intelligence against the Italian mafia.

Ques4) Is John Connolly married?

Ans) Yes, he was married in 1988 to Elizabeth L. Moore, a court stenographer who worked at the FBI headquarters in Boston.