Property Managers: Whitey Bulger Lived At Santa Monica Apartment For 15 Years

June 23, 2011 3:10 PM

Police and FBI surround the apartment building in Santa Monica, Calif., where fugitive crime boss James “Whitey” Bulger and his longtime companion Catherine Greig were arrested, Wednesday evening, June 22, 2011. The two were arrested without incident, the FBI said. Bulger was the leader of the Winter Hill Gang when he fled in January 1995 after being tipped by a former Boston FBI agent that he was about to be indicted. (AP Photo/David Zentz)

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SANTA MONICA, Calif. (CBS/AP) – Two property managers at the Santa Monica apartment complex where Boston mob boss James “Whitey” Bulger lived with his girlfriend say the pair moved in about 15 years ago and paid the rent in cash.

Whitey Bulger and his girlfriend Catherine Greig were arrested at their home in Santa Monica, California on Wednesday after more than 16 years on the run.

The managers, who asked their names not be used because they didn’t want additional attention from the media, told The Associated Press on Thursday that the couple moved in around 1996.

Photos: Whitey Through The Years

The managers recalled the couple, who went by the names Charles and Carol Gasko, as ideal tenants who always paid their rent on time.

Bulger was lured out of the apartment in a ruse, officials said Thursday.

Property Managers: Whitey Bulger Lived At Santa Monica Apartment For 15 Years

FBI agents stand in the ground floor parking garage of the apartment building in Santa Monica, Calif. where Whitey Bulger was arrested. (AP Photo/David Zentz)

Read: Learn More About Whitey’s Background

Bulger lived on the third floor of The Princess Eugenia, a three-story, 28-unit building of one and two-bedroom apartments near a bluff that overlooks the Pacific Ocean.

Andrew Blankstein, a UMass-Amherst graduate who now writes for the Los Angeles Times, said Bulger’s apartment is just three blocks from the beach.

“It’s rent controlled, which makes it a place where a lot of retirees live. It would be an easy place, if you came here to hide out, you could blend in.”

Santa Monica property records show the apartment had a rent-controlled rate of $1,145 a month.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030′s Joe Mathieu talks to Blankstein

Blankstein said the building is quickly becoming a tourist site for New Englanders.

“There were a half a dozen people from the Boston-area who showed up, kind of curious about what happened.”

“This is actually a very nice neighborhood, that’s just north of the Wilshire Boulevard area of Santa Monica. It’s very thickly settled, a fairly upscale neighborhood,” Aaron Lewis, a former reporter who lives in the area, told WBZ NewsRadio 1030.

“(It’s) about three blocks from the cliffs that overlook the beach. Not exactly a place where you would go if you wanted to lay low. There’s certainly a lot of people walking around on the sidewalks and not too far away is the 3rd Street Promenade, which is a very popular attraction for tourists.”

WBZ NewsRadio 1030′s Karen Twomey reports

Lewis said neighbors described Bulger as an unassuming older man who some say went by the name “Charlie.”

Timeline: A Life Of Crime

A look at Bulger’s apartment from Google Street View:

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(TM and © Copyright 2010 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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Wizard

Yaaay!
Three cheers fer the FBI !!!
Robert Kingsley

What amazes me is that 2 blocks away from his residence is what they call the 3rd st. promenade, which is like fanuel hall, an outdoor shopping and restaurant venue near Santa Monica pier and a small amusement park, noted by it’s ferris wheel. I lived out there for 15 years until recently and could have walked by this old couple for all I know at a Starbucks amonst the crowd. WOW.
Doreen Petersen

It’s about time!!! Never really bought into the theory he was dead! Billy Bulger knows more than he’s saying. BRAVO FBI!!! Well done!

Lori

Considering Billys daughter lived right down the street from her dear old Uncle Whitey… Yeah, I’d say Billy knew more then he is saying… I also say the people “looking” for Whitey know more then they are saying.

Val

Howie Carr is going to be out of his mind today! I can’t wait until 3pm just to hear him!!! Nice job on getting this slug off of the streets!!!
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SteveS

The apartment building looks familiar. Santa Monica? Old Couple? Were they the ones renting the downstairs apartment to Janet Wood, Chrissy Snow, and Jack Tripper? I bet that Jack’s friend Larry turned them in. Can’t trust a used-car salesman.

Cheryl Roarke

@Steve LOL

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jl

what am i going to do now with all my “where in the world is whitey and bin laden?” tshirts?
Joe

I have always believed the FBI knew where he was and looked the other way because of what he knew. That press conference just strengthens my beliefs. All they did was have all the agencies pat one another on the back. There is so much more to this story it will be mind boggling when it comes out and a script Hollywood couldn’t even come up with.

My thought? He’s dying needs medical attention, his girlfriend is fed up and he made the call and said I’m done. They purposely release the FBI ad on Monday and get a “anonymous” tip on Tuesday and grab him on Wednesday. Really FBI? That’s what you want is to believe?

Lori

I was saying the SAME thing to my husband when they “caught” him.

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Joe Bates

He must be suffering from Alzeimers so that he is no longer cpable of testifying… the FBI does not want this man to speak about their previous relationship. That is why they did not arrest him until today.
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Mike Nicholas

Interestingly enough there were reports of Whitey being see leaving the theatres in San Diego after a showing of The Departed. Guess that was one sighting that could have been true.
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Jessica

Oh, gosh, I used to manage this property in ’97! The “Gaskos” did pay cash. Too bad I missed out on the millions…
La Sua Rsv Mille

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