Pro wrestler Chris Benoit strangled his wife and smothered his son before hanging himself in his weight room, a law enforcement official close to the investigation told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
Authorities also said they are investigating whether steroids may have been a factor in the deaths of Benoit, his wife and their 7-year-old son. Steroid abuse has been linked to depression, paranoia, and aggressive behavior or angry outbursts known as "roid rage."
"We don't know yet. That's one of the things we'll be looking at," said Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard. He said test results may not be back for weeks.
Autopsies were scheduled Tuesday by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Authorities were investigating the deaths at a secluded Fayette County home as a murder-suicide and were not seeking any suspects. The official who described the manner of death spoke on the condition of anonymity because the information was to be released at a news conference later Tuesday.
Investigators believe Benoit (pronounced ben-WAH) killed his wife, 43-year-old Nancy, and son Daniel during the weekend and then himself Monday. The bodies were found Monday afternoon in three separate rooms of the house, off a gravel road about two miles from the Whitewater Country Club.
Fayette County Coroner C.J. Mowell did not return calls seeking comment. The answering service for his funeral home said he was out of town.
Asked about the condition of the interior of the house, sheriff's Sgt. Keith Whiteside said investigators found "nothing really out of the ordinary." He said Benoit was found in the home's weight room, his wife in an office and the son in an upstairs bedroom.
Neighbors said the Benoits led a low-key lifestyle.
"We would see Chris walking in his yard from time to time. He wasn't rude, but he wasn't really outwardly warm," said Alaina Jones, who lives across the street.
Jimmy Baswell, who was Benoit's driver for more than five years, placed a white wreath at the Benoits' gate. "They always seemed like they were the happiest people," he said.
World Wrestling Entertainment said on its Web site that it asked authorities to check on Benoit and his family after being alerted by friends who received "several curious text messages sent by Benoit early Sunday morning."
The WWE, based in Stamford, Conn., said authorities asked that it not release further information on the deaths.
Benoit, born in Montreal, was a former world heavyweight champion, Intercontinental champion and held several tag-team titles. His names in the ring included "The Canadian Crippler."
"WWE extends its sincerest thoughts and prayers to the Benoit family's relatives and loved ones in this time of tragedy," the company said in a statement on its Web site.
"He was like a family member to me, and everyone in my family is taking it real hard," said fellow Canadian Bret Hart, a five-time champion with the World Wrestling Federation. The federation has since changed its name to World Wrestling Entertainment.
Benoit had maintained a home in metro Atlanta from the time he wrestled for the defunct World Championship Wrestling. The Fayette County Tax Assessors Office lists the value of the house, situated on more than 8.5 acres, at nearly $900,000.
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." They met when her then-husband drew up a script that had them involved in a relationship as part of a story line on World Championship Wrestling, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Benoit has two other children from a prior relationship.
Showing posts with label wwe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wwe. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Tribute to Chris Benoit
WHAT A VERY SAD DAY THIS IS FOR ALL THE BENOIT FAMILY,FRIENDS AND ALL THE WWE FANS OUT THERE. TO ALL THE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE WRITING THESE MURDER/SUICIDE STORYS, PLEASE SHOW A LITTLE RESPECT.CHRIS BENOIT WILL BE SADLY MISS AND WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN FOR EVERYTHING HE HAS DONE FOR WRESTLING FANS.MAY CHIRS HIS BELOVED WIFE AND SON REST IN PEACE
Chris Benoit:
Christopher Michael Benoit (May 21, 1967 – June 25, 2007) was a Canadian professional wrestler who performed in Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and World Wrestling Entertainment.
On June 25, 2007, Benoit was found dead in his home in Atlanta, Georgia, along with his wife, Nancy Daus, and his 7-year old son, Daniel
Death
On June 25, 2007, Benoit, his wife Nancy Daus, and their son Daniel were found dead in their Atlanta, Georgia, home at around 2:30 PM EDT.[83] It was first reported to fans of WWE on their WWE Mobile Alerts Service and posted to their official website soon after. Exact details are not yet known, and an investigation is ongoing.[2] On their website, World Wrestling Entertainment released the following statement[84]:
“ World Wrestling Entertainment is deeply saddened to report that today Chris Benoit and his family were found dead in their home. There are no further details at this time, other than the Benoit family residence is currently being investigated by local authorities.
Tonight’s Raw on USA Network will serve as a tribute to Chris Benoit and his family. WWE extends its sincerest thoughts and prayers to the Benoit family’s relatives and loved ones in this time of tragedy.
."
WWE canceled the scheduled three hour long live RAW show on June 25, and replaced the broadcast version with a tribute to his life and career, featuring his past matches, segments from the Hard Knocks DVD and comments from wrestlers and announcers.
Fayette County, Georgia police are investigating Benoit's house following the discovery of the bodies. Lieutenant Tommy Pope of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department reported to ABC News that sheriffs entered his home on a "welfare check" after missing several appointments, leading to concerns. Pope also stated the police are not searching for any suspects outside of the house, as the instruments of death were located at scene of the crime.
The same day Detective Bo Turner of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department told television station WAGA-TV that the case was being treated as a murder-suicide, and the station reported that investigators believe that Benoit murdered his wife and son over the weekend and commited suicide sometime on Monday.
Championships and accomplishments
* Catch Wrestling Association
o CWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Dave Taylor
* Extreme Championship Wrestling
o ECW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Dean Malenko
* New Japan Pro Wrestling
o IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
o Super J Cup Winner
o 1993 Top of the Super Juniors
o 1995 Best of the Super Juniors
* Pro Wrestling Illustrated
o PWI ranked him # 69 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003.
o PWI Feud of the Year award in 2004 vs. Triple H
o PWI Match of the Year award in 2004 vs. Shawn Michaels and Triple H
o PWI Wrestler of the Year award in 2004(won with a PWI record of 72% by voters)
o PWI ranked him # 1 of the PWI 500 in 2004.
* Stampede Wrestling
o Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
o Stampede International Tag Team Championship (4 times) - with Ben Bassarab (1), Keith Hart (1), Lance Idol (1), and Biff Wellington (1)
* Universal Wrestling Association
o WWF Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
* World Championship Wrestling
o WCW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
o WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
o WCW World Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Dean Malenko (1) and Perry Saturn (1)
o WCW World Television Championship (3 times)
* World Wrestling Entertainment | World Wrestling Federation
o WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Kurt Angle
o WWE United States Championship (3 times)
o WWF/E Intercontinental Championship (4 times)
o WWF/E World Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Chris Jericho (1) and Edge (2)
o World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
o Royal Rumble (2004)
o Twelfth Triple Crown Champion
* Wrestling Observer Newsletter
o Best Technical Wrestler award in 1994
o Best Technical Wrestler award in 1995
o Most Underrated Wrestler award in 1998
o Most Outstanding Wrestler award in 2000
o Best Technical Wrestler award in 2000
o Match of the Year award in 2002 - with Kurt Angle vs Edge and Rey Mysterio
o Best Technical Wrestler award in 2003
o Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2003)
o Best Brawler award in 2004
o Best Technical Wrestler award in 2004
o Feud of the Year award in 2004 - vs Triple H and Shawn Michaels
o Most Outstanding Wrestler award in 2004
Personal life
* Benoit's lost tooth is usually credited to training or an accident early on in his wrestling career. It actually resulted from an accident involving his pet Rottweiler. One day, Benoit was struck with the top of the Rottweiler's head beneath his chin while play-wrestling with the dog, and his tooth "popped out".[6]
* Benoit became good friends with Eddie Guerrero following a match in Japan, when he utilized an Enzuigiri kick, and knocked him out cold, starting a friendship that lasted until Eddie's death. In the years that followed, Benoit started using the multiple vertical suplex maneuver known as the Three Amigos as a tribute to his friend.[citation needed]
* According to Benoit, the Crippler Crossface was borrowed from Dean Malenko, and eventually caught on to become part of the lore of Benoit.
Chris Benoit:
Christopher Michael Benoit (May 21, 1967 – June 25, 2007) was a Canadian professional wrestler who performed in Extreme Championship Wrestling, World Championship Wrestling, and World Wrestling Entertainment.
On June 25, 2007, Benoit was found dead in his home in Atlanta, Georgia, along with his wife, Nancy Daus, and his 7-year old son, Daniel
Death
On June 25, 2007, Benoit, his wife Nancy Daus, and their son Daniel were found dead in their Atlanta, Georgia, home at around 2:30 PM EDT.[83] It was first reported to fans of WWE on their WWE Mobile Alerts Service and posted to their official website soon after. Exact details are not yet known, and an investigation is ongoing.[2] On their website, World Wrestling Entertainment released the following statement[84]:
“ World Wrestling Entertainment is deeply saddened to report that today Chris Benoit and his family were found dead in their home. There are no further details at this time, other than the Benoit family residence is currently being investigated by local authorities.
Tonight’s Raw on USA Network will serve as a tribute to Chris Benoit and his family. WWE extends its sincerest thoughts and prayers to the Benoit family’s relatives and loved ones in this time of tragedy.
."
WWE canceled the scheduled three hour long live RAW show on June 25, and replaced the broadcast version with a tribute to his life and career, featuring his past matches, segments from the Hard Knocks DVD and comments from wrestlers and announcers.
Fayette County, Georgia police are investigating Benoit's house following the discovery of the bodies. Lieutenant Tommy Pope of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department reported to ABC News that sheriffs entered his home on a "welfare check" after missing several appointments, leading to concerns. Pope also stated the police are not searching for any suspects outside of the house, as the instruments of death were located at scene of the crime.
The same day Detective Bo Turner of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department told television station WAGA-TV that the case was being treated as a murder-suicide, and the station reported that investigators believe that Benoit murdered his wife and son over the weekend and commited suicide sometime on Monday.
Championships and accomplishments
* Catch Wrestling Association
o CWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Dave Taylor
* Extreme Championship Wrestling
o ECW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Dean Malenko
* New Japan Pro Wrestling
o IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
o Super J Cup Winner
o 1993 Top of the Super Juniors
o 1995 Best of the Super Juniors
* Pro Wrestling Illustrated
o PWI ranked him # 69 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003.
o PWI Feud of the Year award in 2004 vs. Triple H
o PWI Match of the Year award in 2004 vs. Shawn Michaels and Triple H
o PWI Wrestler of the Year award in 2004(won with a PWI record of 72% by voters)
o PWI ranked him # 1 of the PWI 500 in 2004.
* Stampede Wrestling
o Stampede British Commonwealth Mid-Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
o Stampede International Tag Team Championship (4 times) - with Ben Bassarab (1), Keith Hart (1), Lance Idol (1), and Biff Wellington (1)
* Universal Wrestling Association
o WWF Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
* World Championship Wrestling
o WCW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
o WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
o WCW World Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Dean Malenko (1) and Perry Saturn (1)
o WCW World Television Championship (3 times)
* World Wrestling Entertainment | World Wrestling Federation
o WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Kurt Angle
o WWE United States Championship (3 times)
o WWF/E Intercontinental Championship (4 times)
o WWF/E World Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Chris Jericho (1) and Edge (2)
o World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
o Royal Rumble (2004)
o Twelfth Triple Crown Champion
* Wrestling Observer Newsletter
o Best Technical Wrestler award in 1994
o Best Technical Wrestler award in 1995
o Most Underrated Wrestler award in 1998
o Most Outstanding Wrestler award in 2000
o Best Technical Wrestler award in 2000
o Match of the Year award in 2002 - with Kurt Angle vs Edge and Rey Mysterio
o Best Technical Wrestler award in 2003
o Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2003)
o Best Brawler award in 2004
o Best Technical Wrestler award in 2004
o Feud of the Year award in 2004 - vs Triple H and Shawn Michaels
o Most Outstanding Wrestler award in 2004
Personal life
* Benoit's lost tooth is usually credited to training or an accident early on in his wrestling career. It actually resulted from an accident involving his pet Rottweiler. One day, Benoit was struck with the top of the Rottweiler's head beneath his chin while play-wrestling with the dog, and his tooth "popped out".[6]
* Benoit became good friends with Eddie Guerrero following a match in Japan, when he utilized an Enzuigiri kick, and knocked him out cold, starting a friendship that lasted until Eddie's death. In the years that followed, Benoit started using the multiple vertical suplex maneuver known as the Three Amigos as a tribute to his friend.[citation needed]
* According to Benoit, the Crippler Crossface was borrowed from Dean Malenko, and eventually caught on to become part of the lore of Benoit.
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