Chris Benoit – Double Murder Suicide

On June 25, Benoit, his wife Nancy, and their 7-year-old son Daniel were found dead in their Fayetteville, Georgia, home at around 2:30 PM EDT.[85] Fayette County, Georgia police are currently investigating this case. Lieutenant Tommy Pope of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department reported to ABC News that sheriffs entered his home on a “welfare check” after several missed 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. 

 Benoit in his doctor’s office, just hours before the double murder-suicide.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. The station reported that investigators believe that Benoit murdered his wife and son over the weekend and committed suicide sometime on Monday.

It was first reported to fans of WWE on their WWE Mobile Alerts Service and posted to their official website soon after. On their website, World Wrestling Entertainment released the following statement:

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: The Chris Benoit Story DVD, and comments from wrestlers and announcers. The next night, before their ECW broadcast, WWE aired a recorded statement by Vince McMahon hinting towards regret for the previous night’s special and stating that Benoit’s name would not be mentioned other than during McMahon’s comments. At the ECW/SmackDown! tapings, many Chris Benoit signs, were confiscated by security before the event started. The WWE also removed all tributes and comments concerning Chris Benoit from their official website and later removed news articles about the deaths and their preceding events. Benoit’s profile has also been removed from the roster of superstars on the WWE website.

During a press conference Tuesday, June 26, Fayette County district attorney Scott Ballard confirmed that Chris Benoit had murdered his wife and son. His wife was bound at the wrists and feet, while there were no signs of restraint on his son, both died of asphyxiation. It is reported that his wife died on Friday, his son died on Saturday, and Benoit killed himself later Saturday evening or early Sunday morning. Benoit’s body was found dead of asphyxiation and hanging by the cord of a weight machine in his basement. It was also reported that there were Bibles by both Nancy and Daniel’s bodies.

On Wednesday, June 27, County’s district attorney Scott Ballard explained that Benoit may have killed his son with a chokehold. He said the boy had internal injuries to the throat area, but showed no bruises, indicating he may have been locked in the crook of his father’s arm. Nancy Benoit had bruises on her back and stomach consistent with someone pressing a knee into the small of the back while pulling on a cord around the neck. Benoit killed himself by wrapping a cord around his neck that was attached to a weight machine, and when Benoit released the weights – about 240 pounds – it caused his strangulation. Ballard said the pull-down bar had been removed and Benoit was found seated against the machine.

Saturday, 23 June at 3:30 p.m., a co-worker received a voice message from Benoit stating he missed his flight and overslept and would be late for that night’s Beaumont, Texas, house show. According to the WWE Web site, the co-worker called Benoit back and Benoit sounded tired and groggy as he confirmed everything he had said in his voice message. A 3:42 p.m., the same co-worker, “concerned about Benoit’s tone and demeanor,” called him back again. Benoit did not answer the call and the co-worker left a message stating, “just call me back.” Two minutes later, Benoit called the co-worker back, stating he didn’t answer the call because he was on the phone with Delta Air Lines changing his flight. “Benoit stated he had a real stressful day due to Nancy and Daniel being sick with food poisoning,” the WWE Web site said. At 4:30 p.m., according to the Web site, a co-worker who often travels with Benoit called him from outside the Houston airport and Benoit answered. “Benoit told the co-worker that Nancy was throwing up blood and that Daniel was also throwing up.” At 5:35 p.m., Benoit called WWE’s “Talent Relations” office, stating that his son was throwing up and that he and Nancy were in the hospital with their son, and that he would be taking a later flight into Houston, but would make the live event in Beaumont.

On Sunday, June 24, between 3:51 and 3:58 a.m., Benoit sent five text messages to co-workers from both his and his wife’s phone. The first, third, fourth, and fifth text messages stated:

“My physical address is 130 Green Meadow Lane, Fayetteville Georgia. 30215″

The second text message stated:

“The dogs are in the enclosed pool area. Garage side door is open”

At 12:30 p.m. Monday, June 25, WWE officials were notified of the text messages sent to the co-workers the previous day.

Steroids were found in the home, leading to theories about steroid abuse being a factor. Prosecutors in upstate New York have been investigating the deliveries Benoit received from Signature Pharmacy and MedXLife.com, which sold steroids, human growth hormone and testosterone over the Internet. Terence Kindlon, lawyer for MedXLife co-owner Dr. Gary Brandwein, denied allegations that his client’s company sold steroids to Benoit. Brandwein has pleaded not guilty to six counts in New York state court related to the criminal sale of a controlled substance. He was accused of signing and sending prescriptions without ever seeing patients. WWE attorney, Jerry McDevitt said the drugs found in Benoit’s house were legitimately prescribed.

Some media organizations have hypothesized that a steroid-induced rage may be the cause of Benoit’s actions, as some doctors have linked steroid use to uncontrollable anger, among other psychological issues which include paranoia. However, the WWE has stated that they believe the facts of this crime do not support the hypothesis that “roid rage” played a role in the murders. They cite evidence of premeditation in addition to the lack of a toxicology report, and the fact that the steroids found within Benoit’s home were legally prescribed.

Benoit’s son had Fragile X syndrome, a condition with effects including autism.

District Attorney Scott Ballard stated that Daniel had old needle marks in his arms. Ballard said he had been told the parents considered him undersized and had given him growth hormones. “The boy was very small, even dwarfed,” he said.

News of Nancy Benoit’s death was inexplicably posted on Wikipedia 14 hours before the police discovered the bodies. This was initially reported on Wikinews and later on FOXNews.com. The original posting reads: “Chris Benoit was replaced by Johnny Nitro for the ECW Championship match at Vengeance, as Benoit was not there due to personal issues, stemming from the death of his wife Nancy.” The phrase “stemming from the death of his wife Nancy” was added to the English Wikipedia’s “Chris Benoit” article at 12:01 a.m. EDT on June 25, whereas the Fayette County police reportedly discovered the bodies of the Benoit family at 2:30 p.m. EDT (14 hours, 29 minutes later). The IP address of the editor was traced to Stamford, Connecticut, which is also the location of WWE headquarters. However, the previous Wikipedia edit history suggests the post was made by an 18-year-old in Naugatuck, Connecticut. After news of the early death notice reached mainstream media, the anonymous poster accessed Wikinews to explain his seemingly prescient comments as a “huge coincidence and nothing more”.

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