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Professional Wrestler Chris Benoit, Family Found Dead in Georgia Home




Pro wrestler Chris Benoit, his wife and 7-year-old son were found slain Monday at their Fayetteville home, authorities said.

Detective Bo Turner told television station WAGA that the case was being investigated as a murder-suicide, but said that could not be confirmed until the evidence was examined by a crime lab.

WAGA reported that investigators believe Benoit killed his wife and son over the weekend, and then himself sometime Monday

A concerned neighbor called police. The bodies were found in three different rooms.

The lead investigator, Sheriff's Lt. Tommy Pope, told The Associated Press that the deaths were being investigated as homicide, and said the cause of death awaited autopsy results on Tuesday.

Pope said the three were found about 2:30 p.m., but he would release no other details about the deaths at the house in a subdivision near White Water Country Club

World Wrestling Entertainment said on its Web site that Benoit, 40, his wife, Nancy, and son, who was named Daniel, were found dead, but also had no other details.

Click here for full coverage on the WWE Web site.

Benoit, a native of Canada, was a former world heavyweight champion, Intercontinental champion and held several tag-team titles over his career.

"WWE extends its sincerest thoughts and prayers to the Benoit family's relatives and loved ones in this time of tragedy," the federation said in a statement on its Web site.

Benoit was scheduled to perform at the "Vengeance" pay-per-view event Sunday night in Houston, but was replaced at the last minute because of what announcer Jim Ross called "personal reasons."

Benoit maintained a home in metro Atlanta from the time he wrestled for the defunct World Championship Wrestling.

The WWE canceled its live "Monday Night RAW" card in Corpus Christi, Texas, and USA Network aired a three-hour tribute to Benoit in place of the scheduled wrestling telecast.

Benoit's wife managed several wrestlers and went by the stage name, "Woman," The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on its Web site.

They met when her then-husband drew up a script that had them involved in a relationship as part of an ongoing storyline on World Championship Wrestling, the newspaper said.

Benoit has two other children from a prior relationship.

The federal-style house is in a secluded neighborhood set back about 60 yards off a gravel road, surrounded by stacked stone wall and double-iron gate.

Monday night, the house was dark except for a few outside lights. There was a police car in front, and two uniformed officers.

The guy murdered his wife and child. I hope he has a great time in hell with Bundy and Stalin.

I don't condone what he did or may have did (facts aren't in yet), but I'm more RIP-ing the wrestler I once knew as he was one of my favorites. If he is indeed guilty, he can rot, but I'll still remember the "wrestler"

Although it seems it was in fact murder suicide, if that's the case, then he can rot in hell. Maybe he can rot with Vince McMahon, for the stupid plot they cooked up to draw ratings about faking his death. Kind of make this little ratings ploy look worse than it already was, when there's an actual death to a wrestler and his wife and son. RIP wife and son. Not so much to Chris.

A friend at work was saying that on a few wrestling boards he frequents, that this is a possible plot for the upcoming wrestling event. If it is, it's a VERY sick and twisted joke.

Like when the dude fell from up above the ring a few years ago? I stopped following wrastlin' years ago. I was a fan of ols skool stuff like Andre the Giant and the Superfly Snooka et al.

The Vince thing, sure it's a rating ploy to garner interest in upcoming events, why else would they do what they did? Actual killings for ratings? I think not. some people need to get a life, when they start thinking that way. My Brother works at a local venue that hosts wrastlin' shows every few months (WWE), and said, what he see's in person form not only the "entertainers", but the fans is enough to turn his kids away from being fans of that crap.

whocares wrote:Like when the dude fell from up above the ring a few years ago?I stopped following wrastlin' years ago. I was a fan of ols skool stuff like Andre the Giant and the Superfly Snooka et al

That was Owen Hart, killed in the ring. The crowd thought it was part of the match.

RIP to Benoit's wife and son, but if true, that murderer and coward can rot for eternity.

Damn these wrestlers die at such a fast pace and young age.

I knew the name was Hart, but couldn't remember which of the Hart wrastlers it was. I just knew it wasn't Brett. Thanks for clearing that part up.

Guys,

Just so you know these people were my friends. While it is hard to fathom a murder/suicide (I can't even type it), it is still a horrible situation. While I cannot justify any of it,I hope this story puts into relevance the whole Journey/JSS situation. While it may have been horrible, imagine if your very close friend is dead and accused of killing a family you loved.

It makes music and management decisions look like a walk in the park.

Not taking away from JSS or what he is going through...just being real.

Dave

tampadave wrote:Guys,

Just so you know these people were my friends. While it is hard to fathom a murder/suicide (I can't even type it), it is still a horrible situation. While I cannot justify any of it,I hope this story puts into relevance the whole Journey/JSS situation. While it may have been horrible, imagine if your very close friend is dead and accused of killing a family you loved.

It makes music and management decisions look like a walk in the park.

Not taking away from JSS or what he is going through...just being real.

Dave

So... that puts the conspiracy theory from the wrestling boards to rest. Sorry for your loss TampaDave.

Thanks...just venting.

I loved Chris Benoit. He was a great wrestler. I can't believe that he could have done this but I guess you never know what is really happening in peoples life. When I first saw his picture up there and saw Vince, who is suppose to be dead. I knew something was terribly wrong. But I thought I would hear what I did when Eddie died. You know like they found him in his hotel room or something. This is just too much.

Sassie wrote: He was a great wrestler. I can't believe that he could have done this but I guess you never know what is really happening in peoples life .

These murder/suicide things are unimaginable. Something like this just goes to show that no matter how good someone is at something or how publicly or outwardly they appear to be, we don't really know them or what they are capable off.
"Don't be fooled by the radio, tv, or the magazines"

Not a clue who this man was but it's always so very sad to see
any life taken away, even worse when there is a child involved.
My sympthies to those that knew and loved them all.

Sorry for your loss tampadave.

tampadave wrote:Guys,

Just so you know these people were my friends. While it is hard to fathom a murder/suicide (I can't even type it), it is still a horrible situation. While I cannot justify any of it,I hope this story puts into relevance the whole Journey/JSS situation. While it may have been horrible, imagine if your very close friend is dead and accused of killing a family you loved.

It makes music and management decisions look like a walk in the park.

Not taking away from JSS or what he is going through...just being real.

Dave

Yeah, I don't follow wrestling and never heard of this guy, but what a tragic story. Sounds like he was enraged that he was fired from that event.

I think they called him the Crippler once in a while. These May help you remember

He was the Wolverine. I loved it when he wore his toothless agression t-shirt. He was just one of those wrestlers that was good and honest and never cheated. I'm sorry I'm just blown away about this. He was a great wrestler and I will miss him.

Just blows me away how something like that can happen. You just never know what goes on behind closed doors I guess. I used to be into wrestling years ago when Benoit got his start here at Stampede Wrestling. Brett Hart is still my fave, very classy guy in and out of the ring (does so much for charity here). But Benoit and Jericho were right up there too. The tribute show last night was something, hard to watch all those big tough wrestlers struggle to talk about Chris without breaking down. Whatever happened, he was well respected by his peers. I'll bet Jericho was too broken up, those 2 go way back.

Whatever happened I think it is sad all the way around.

I wonder if steroids made him rage?

SteveForever wrote:I wonder if steroids made him rage?

I was thinking the same thing....if you look at pics of him or even that guy Eddie Guerro early in their careers, both look like normal. Then they are making it big in the WWE and their veins are popping of their skin all over the place. Roids not only change your physical appearance, but mess with one's mental state as well.

One can't help but wonder..

T-Bone wrote:I think they called him the Crippler once in a while.

Yep, the "Canadian Crippler"

Vocalsmanvocals wrote:

SteveForever wrote:I wonder if steroids made him rage?

I was thinking the same thing....if you look at pics of him or even that guy Eddie Guerro early in their careers, both look like normal. Then they are making it big in the WWE and their veins are popping of their skin all over the place. Roids not only change your physical appearance, but mess with one's mental state as well.

One can't help but wonder..

Benoit has looked like this for a long while.

Here's a picture from 1999, when he was in WCW:

7 Wishes wrote:The guy murdered his wife and child. I hope he has a great time in hell with Bundy and Stalin.

If what the reports say are true, I couldn't agree more!

Angiekay wrote:

I'll never understand why people who are f**ked up enough to do this just don't take themselves. Why are they hent bent on taking innocents along with them? I agree... RIP to the family, Chris can rot.

Who knows, but maybe he was out of his mind? I think you have to be to do that.

Yeah, this comes as a shock to me as well. I have sort of gotten out of watching wrestling and haven't watched it in a few years, but Benoit was one of my favorite wrestlers as well. I always thought of him as one of the hardest working, honest wrestlers that pro wrestling has ever had the pleasure of having. Even when he was a heel, he just always seemed to honest to me (a heel is a bad guy in wrestling...a face is a good guy.)

This is terrible. I hope we find out more details in the next day or two. Maybe results from a toxicology test? Not for steriods, but possibly for anti-depressants? It's obvious Benoit must've been secretly battling a mental illness. If one doesn't take their meds or takes them improperly, it could have a very bad side-effect. People can become suicidal and I'm sure a few could become homicidal as well. I work in a mental health facility (as a programmer thank God) and we deal with people like this on a regular basis.

NealIsGod wrote:

Angiekay wrote:

I'll never understand why people who are f**ked up enough to do this just don't take themselves. Why are they hent bent on taking innocents along with them? I agree... RIP to the family, Chris can rot.

Who knows, but maybe he was out of his mind? I think you have to be to do that.

I agree NIG. He obviously snapped somehow. His son seemed to be his pride and joy........in there in the dressing room doing warm ups with his dad. No excuse, but he had to have been out of his mind to take little Daniel's life. Unbelievable!

Greg wrote:Yeah, this comes as a shock to me as well. I have sort of gotten out of watching wrestling and haven't watched it in a few years, but Benoit was one of my favorite wrestlers as well. I always thought of him as one of the hardest working, honest wrestlers that pro wrestling has ever had the pleasure of having. Even when he was a heel, he just always seemed to honest to me (a heel is a bad guy in wrestling...a face is a good guy.)

This is terrible. I hope we find out more details in the next day or two. Maybe results from a toxicology test? Not for steriods, but possibly for anti-depressants? It's obvious Benoit must've been secretly battling a mental illness. If one doesn't take their meds or takes them improperly, it could have a very bad side-effect. People can become suicidal and I'm sure a few could become homicidal as well. I work in a mental health facility (as a programmer thank God) and we deal with people like this on a regular basis.

The cops said 'bizarre' when referring to the deaths, so I don't know what the hell to expect.

Suffocating someone isn't 'bizarre'.

did they specifically say that chris was the murderer in this case? could it have been his wife murdering benoit and their son, and then taking her life?

i'm not sure if i missed that, but it could be the other way around.

EDIT: nevermind. it's what they think happened. but you never know...

Chrismo wrote:did they specifically say that chris was the murderer in this case? could it have been his wife murdering benoit and their son, and then taking her life?

i'm not sure if i missed that, but it could be the other way around.

EDIT: nevermind. it's what they think happened. but you never know...

The linked article says the cops said that he killed his wife and child sometime over the weekend and then killed himself on Monday.