Roy Mitchell plays a pivotal role in Judas and the Black Messiah, but the biopic only scratches the surface when it came to the FBI agent. Jesse Plemons portrays the character in Shaka King's film depicting the rise and murder of real-life Black activist Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya). Serving as the chairman of the Black Panther Party's Illinois chapter, Hampton is viewed as a radical threat in the eyes of the FBI. Mitchell then cuts a deal with a petty criminal to act as an informant, which eventually sets off a series of events leading to Hampton's death.
In King's take on the historical period in the late '60s, Mitchell enlists William "Bill" O'Neal (Lakeith Stanfield) to infiltrate Hampton's chapter in exchange for dropped charges involving a stolen car. As O'Neal gathers information on the Black Panther Party members in Chicago, Mitchell offers bonuses for his work. The FBI agent eventually becomes concerned when he sees signs of O'Neal's authentic belief as one of Hampton's most loyal comrades. Before O'Neal can lose sight of his primary mission, Mitchell orders his informant to drug Hampton shortly before the Chicago police raid the chairman's apartment, killing him as he slept. As one final reward, Mitchell gives O'Neal money and the keys to a gas station he now owns to begin a new life.
Though Judas and the Black Messiah is based on a true story, some aspects of King's movie present a unique look into history. That said, Mitchell's relationship with O'Neal is one of the more accurate depictions in the biopic. The FBI agent was said to have an extraordinary ability to connect with others. Like the movie, Mitchell built trust with O'Neal by inviting him into his family's home, hosting dinners and gatherings. There is also accuracy in Mitchell's focus on O'Neal as the key informant in the FBI's investigation into Hampton. Of course, the film also features several changes in the script when compared to the real-life events.
What Really Happened To Roy Mitchell After Fred Hampton's Murder
While Mitchell's partnership with O'Neal is a primary focus, the agent actually had as many as nine informants connected to the Black Panther Party. In fact, Mitchell didn't ask O'Neal to infiltrate the Chicago chapter until a year and a half after their first encounter. Even though he had a deep bond with O'Neal, Judas and the Black Messiah didn't dive deep into Mitchell's role as a father-figure type to his former criminal. According to the true story of Hampton's death (via Esquire), O'Neal denied drugging the chairman and claimed Mitchell was unaware of the planned raid before it happened.
The public may never learn the exact truth regarding the raid that took place in December 1969. O'Neal continued serving as a member of the Black Panther Party for several years following Hampton's death, as confirmed in Judas and the Black Messiah. When his role as an informant was unearthed, the man entered the Witness Protection Program. The guilt of his involvement in Hampton's death supposedly led to O'Neal's suicide in 1990. Mitchell, on the other hand, spent 25 years with the FBI before retiring. Aside from the Hampton case, Mitchell worked on high-profile Chicago cases such as the "River Killings," the '"Hit Squad," and the murders that inspired the 1988 movie Mississippi Burning. The former FBI agent later passed away in 2000 at the age of 66.