Wrestler Chris Benoit, wife and child found dead

 

By Debbie Newby, Associated Press Writer | June 25, 2007

 

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. --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, based in Stamford, Conn., 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.

 

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.

 

http://www.boston.com/news/local/connectic...?p1=MEWell_Pos2

On WWE.com it says that evidence strongly suggests that he first killed his wife and then killed his son and then commited suicide the next day.

 

I am deeply saddened by this as someone who has been entertained by Chris Benoit for many years now and I can't fathom this at all. It's all just a complete shock. :(

So sad. I hope he didn't kill them himself. =/

FROM THE WWE WEBSITE - http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/superstars/ch...es/benoitupdate

 

Benoit's death part of a double murder-suicide

Written: June 25, 2007According to lead investigator Lt. Tommy Pope, of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, in Fayetteville, Ga., the deaths of WWE Superstar Chris Benoit, wife Nancy and son Daniel were the result of a double murder-suicide, WWE.com has learned.

 

Benoit failed to appear both at Saturday’s live event in Beaumont, Tx., and WWE’s Vengeance: Night of Champions in Houston Sunday night, after informing WWE of a family emergency. Several curious text messages sent by Benoit early Sunday morning prompted concerned friends to alert Richard Hering, VP of Government Relations for WWE, Inc. Hering, in turn, spoke with Fayette County sheriffs Monday, and requested that they respond to the Benoit residence to check on him and his family.

 

Authorities representing the Sheriff’s Department initially had a difficult time entering Benoit’s new Fayetteville home Monday afternoon, which had been guarded by two large German Shepherds roaming freely around the property. Once authorities entered the residence, they quickly located the bodies of Benoit, Nancy and Daniel. WWE was notified of the discovery at approximately 4 p.m.

 

At 10 p.m. Monday night, Lt. Pope held a press conference in conjunction with Scott Ballard, the district attorney for Fayette County. The press conference officially ruled authorities’ findings as a double murder-suicide from within the home.

 

WAGA, a FOX-owned and operated television station in Atlanta, reported that investigators believe Benoit killed his wife and 7-year-old son over the weekend, then himself on Monday.

 

The three bodies have been received by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s crime lab, in Decatur, Ga., where autopsies will be performed Tuesday morning. Toxicology reports will not become available for at least two weeks.

 

WWE.com has further information relating to both the investigation and the cause of death, but the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department has requested that WWE.com not release any additional details at this time.

f***ing hell :o :o :o :o

 

I grew up watching his tag matches and his battles with Triple H, Benoit and Jericho were my 2 faves

 

This is well and truly shocking what has happened

Edited June 26, 200718 yr by Vic Vega

Oh dear...the WWE really have picked the worst time ever to start a 'who killed Vince McMahon and is he really dead' storyline haven't they?

 

It's the most unhinging of all businesses - who'd want to be a wrestler?

I honestly can't believe this. :o When I was really into wrestling he was one my my favourites and he never seems the guy that would be able to kill someone, least of all his own family.

I don't get ittt, why would he do that? ): He was a legend.

Fricking shocked much.

 

The thing I find very bizarre is that all 3 died over seperate days, the child died on the Saturday, the woman died on the Sunday then he killed himself on the Monday

That is really confusing actually! =/

Like, wouldn't his wife have found the son or anything?

 

It's too much drama.

Yeah its really weird what has happened, when I saw the news this morning I was shocked and since then been researching what happened and am like "WTF :o"

 

O/T I know but Love your new sig ^_^

To be honest it is hard to believe. Chris kids were everything to him. So to hear that he killed is wife Nancy and son Daniel is just hard to take in.

Shocking !

 

There has to be some reason behind this (reason in his mind at least). Maybe further investigations will shed light on why. Did he have a history of mental illness or something?

I cannot f***ing believe this :o

 

I have grown up watching Chris, he was arguably the greatest technical wrestler in Pro Wrestling history, one of the most hard-working and talented ever. He seemed like such a genuinely great person, who was so liked and respected by others. I am just shocked by this news.

 

This whole thing just doesn’t make sence at all. I find it so difficult to believe that he would kill his wife and kid and then himself. So far, they have only said it looked like a double murder-suicide, so we don’t know for sure if it was as of yet. I find it hard to believe that he would inform the wwe he had to leave as there was a family emergency and then go home and kill them. I mean would he have just been sitting in his locker room and suddenly though “I know, I am going to go home and kill me family”..?. And WHY would he kill the wife on Saturday.. Son and the Sunday.. and himself on the Monday. And if it was some crazed attack by him, they would have all died the same day at the same time.. not over 3 days… The whole thing just makes no sence whatsoever. We don’t know the truth, anything could’ve happened. I hope we get some answers.

 

And yes, the whole storyline that someone killed Vince McMahon will have to stop now. When I read this at first, I first thought it was another sick storyline by wwe. There is a vid from Fox News here http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/myfox/pages/Ho...mp;pageId=1.1.1

 

And ctv news

God this is strange news, i haven't watched wrestling in a long while. so benoit killed everyone? im very shocked at this

OH MY GOD! :o He was always one of my favourites when I used to watch it.. I remember his tag team partnership with Chris Jericho and them plotting to get to get the title from Steve Austin and Jericho saying to Benoit that he can have the title but he wanted to be the first person to challenge him for it.

 

R.I.P. to one of the greats of WWE anyway. :(

Totally surprised with this, I didn't think he'd be the sorta guy to do this sorta thing, but of course we only see one side of him. Hopefully we'll find out the truth soon.

 

Very sad.

This is a nasty story, it sounds a bit twisted that he had the Bodies of his wife and Child in his house for a whole day before killing himself.

He was such a quiet character as well!

 

This is actually really sad considering I always was fond of him.

 

R.I.P

i think its really sad, RIP Benoit family :(

 

i dont really watch wwe anymore but i have been to watch them a few times when they've been in manchester