Here is link. http://www.wsbtv.com/news/13567642/detail.html Apparently Chris Benoit and his family were found dead. Wonder how this will all play out with that moronic fake death of Vince McMahon. Sure am glad i don't watch wrestling anywhere near as much as i used to. My condolences go out to the Benoit family.

Source:
WWE - http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/benoitdead (http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/benoitdead)
News - http://www.wsbtv.com/news/13567642/detail.html?rss=atl&psp=news (http://www.wsbtv.com/news/13567642/detail.html?rss=atl&psp=news)

OH MY ****ING NO!

NO! NO! NO!

I don't know what to feel or think on this right now. No details released as of yet, but it's the real deal, not some lameass disgusting hoax-death storyline from the sick mind of Vince.

Benoit was a close friend to Bret The Hitman Hart and the Hart Family (who have already gone through more than their share of horrors) and one of the most talented performers I have ever seen in the business.

I don't know, I just don't know. I have a horrible suspicion about this that I dare hope isn't true.

EDIT More info on him is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Benoit (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Benoit)

Numerous wrestling news sites are reporting this now. I'm pulling information from several wrestling news sites as I can. I'm personally in shock on this right now.

Bob Ryder: Chris Benoit, his wife Nancy, and their son were found dead in their home this afternoon. Circumstances surrounding their death are being investigated by local authorities.

Benoit had been scheduled to appear on a WWE house show on Saturday. Sources tell us Benoit called to first say he would be taking a later flight, and then to say he would not be attending the house show due to a family illness. According to one source, Benoit said both his wife and son were throwing up blood and he needed to stay to take care of them.

WWE.com has removed stories related to the "presumed death" of "Mr. McMahon" and tonight's RAW will be a tribute to Chris Benoit. Benoit, his wife Nancy, and their son Daniel were found dead earlier today in their Atlanta area home. No details are available as to cause of death at this time.

TONIGHT'S RAW LIVE EVENT CANCELLED
By: Bob Ryder
6/25/2007 7:44:10 PM
Tonight's RAW live event has been cancelled and fans in Corpus Christi have been sent home. Wrestlers and WWE staff are being allowed to leave the building to mourn the passing of Chris Benoit. The WWE wrestlers and staff were gathered together late this afternoon and were told the tragic news that Chris Benoit, his wife Nance, and his son Daniel were all found dead today in their home.
Tonight's RAW is now scheduled to be presented as a tribute to Chris Benoit and his family.



UPDATE ON DEATH OF CHRIS BENOIT FAMILY; ONE CAUSE OF DEATH RULED OUT


By: Bob Ryder
6/25/2007 8:10:23 PM
Local Atlanta media is beginning to cover the news that Chris Benoit and his family were found dead today. AJC.com reports that police found the bodies at around 4pm local time and that police would not say how the family died other than they were not shot to death. Sources tell 1Wrestling.com that police were dispatched to the Benoit home after receiving a call from WWE officials who were concerned that they were not able to get in touch with Benoit.
Vince McMahon opened tonight's RAW broadcast standing in the ring in an empty arena. McMahon explained that tonight was scheduled as a show centered around the presumed death of the "Mr McMahon" character, but with the tragic news of this afternoon the show would now be a tribute to Chris Benoit and his family.





I'm pulling information from the following sites:
http://www.1wrestling.com
WWE - http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/benoitdead (http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/benoitdead)
News - http://www.wsbtv.com/news/13567642/detail.html?rss=atl&psp=news (http://www.wsbtv.com/news/13567642/detail.html?rss=atl&psp=news)
http://www.pwinsider.com


The others I regularly check are being swamped right now. I'd suggest checking these as you can for more information.







I'm at a loss for words at this time.

1wrestling.com's server is down due to high traffic. Holy crap.

I don't have cable but I guess I should give props to Vince for at least calling off his own death storyline.

Police are treating this as a homicide both CNN and AP report.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=3315501&page=1

Murder Suicide claim

http://www.clevelandleader.com/node/2201 :(

Atlanta police have stated that they believe the deaths of the WWE wrestler Chris Benoit and his family came at the hands of a murder suicide.
Obviously, all sorts of speculation are running rampant but I have talked to so many people and nobody really knows [whether the couple was having marital troubles]," Bryan Alvarez said to the Atlanta Journal Constitution (http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/fayette/stories/2007/06/25/0625benoit.html).
Alvarez added that Benoit failed to appear at his scheduled bout on Sunday for a reported "family emergency".

At first I wondered about the statement Benoit said both his wife and son were throwing up blood and he needed to stay to take care of them and thought they had been poisoned but now that ABC report says
There were no signs of gunshot wounds or stabbing - looking at this situation as a "possible double murder, suicide."
Pope said "the instruments of death were located on scene," but would not specify what those instruments are

I really hope it's not a double murder, suicide. I can understand someone getting pissed off with a spouse and things escalating too far in a moment of passion but I do not understand the man who kills his wife and his kids especially not a little innocent child of 7, so I'm really hoping he didn't do that.

I really have a hard time believing that. :(

Everything I've heard of him, he loved his kids. I've never heard that Nancy was any different.

6/25/2007 9:41:00 PM

Update on Chris Benoit

by Dave Meltzer, The Wrestling Observer (http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=20001)

There is very little conclusive regarding the death of Chris Benoit, wife Nancy and son Daniel.

The three were found dead by the sheriff's department in Peachtree City, GA, at about 2:30 p.m. this afternoon after a WWE official had called because they had been unable to reach Chris after numerous attempts.

Lt. Tommy Pope told the Associated Press that it was being investigated as a homicide pending results of a preliminary autopsy report that will come out tomorrow. No gunshot or stab wounds were found, but they couldn't rule out poisoning, suffocation or strangulation. Pope said he was not confirming any of these potential causes, just not ruling them out.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported it is being investigated as a murder/suicide.

WWE canceled its sold out live show in Corpus Christi, TX, and instead produced a three-hour show of clips from Benoit matches, the DVD on his career with comments by many of the top stars.

Even Vince was shaken up, his intro to Raw tonight http://www.zshare.net/audio/243298124070ee/

Unconfirmed commentary:
Local 10p news (WAGA-TV) is reporting that investigators have told them that, based on evidence found inside the home that they are not ready to disclose, they believe Benoit may have killed his wife & son a couple of days earlier before taking his own life sometime in the past 24 hours.

According to WAGA, the bodies were discovered by a neighbor today after WWE "promoters" were unable to reach the Benoits by phone. The bodies were found in separate rooms, Nancy in an office area, Daniel in an upstairs bedroom, and Chris in a weight room.

The latter part of that (the locations) were given on-camera by an investigator, the rest was from the reporter who did the stand up piece from the local sheriff's department.

WWE.com is stating "murder/suicide".

Canadian WWE wrestler Benoit, family found dead

Updated Mon. Jun. 25 2007 10:12 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Canadian pro wrestling superstar Chris Benoit, his wife and son have been found dead at their suburban Atlanta home, World Wrestling Entertainment says.
Police said Monday they are treating the matter as a homicide.
Lt. Tommy Pope of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department told the Associated Press that the three were found at their home about 2:30 p.m. local time. He wouldn't give details.
Results of autopsies on Benoit, his wife Nancy, and seven-year-old son Daniel are expected Tuesday, he said.
WWE aired a three-hour tribute show to Benoit instead of its usual "Monday Night RAW" TV show on the USA Network.
"I am deeply saddened over the loss of Chris Benoit," WWE Canada president Carl DeMarco said on the WWE website.
"My heartfelt thoughts and sympathy go out to his parents and family. My relationship with Chris has extended many years and I consider him a great friend. Chris was always first-class -- warm, friendly, caring and professional ... one of the best in our business."
Wrestling fan Chris Szabunia told CTV Edmonton: "Definitely a sad day for wrestling and for Edmonton too. ... He's been one of my favourites for a long time, with a local connection, but I like what he does in the ring too."
Benoit, 40, was born in Montreal and grew up in Edmonton, graduating from Archbishop O'Leary High School.
A wrestling fan as a boy, he began his career in 1985, starting with the famous Hart family of Calgary, who operated Stampede Wrestling.
"Wrestling has consumed my life," Benoit is quoted as saying on his WWE bio page. "It's my mistress, my passion. It defines a lot of who I am as a person."
He would wrestle for the National Wrestling Alliance, World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling before joining WWE in 2000.
Four years after that, he would win the world heavyweight championship at Wrestlemania XX. In response, Edmonton declared "Chris Benoit Day" on April 15, 2004.
Benoit stood 180 centimetres tall, weighed about 100 kilograms and looked ripped. Some called him "The Canadian Crippler," in part because he broke another wrestler's neck in 1994. Another nickname was the Rabid Wolverine. His signature move is the "Crippler Crossface."
"Chris was beloved among his fellow superstars, and was a favourite among WWE fans for his unbelievable athleticism and wrestling ability," the WWE said on its website.
"He always took great pride in his performance, and always showed respect for the business he loved, for his peers and towards his fans. This is a terrible tragedy and an unbearable loss."
Benoit had been scheduled to wrestle at a pay-per-view event in Houston on Sunday night. However, he got replaced at the last minute for "personal reasons," according to announcer Jim Ross.
With files from CTV Edmonton, The Canadian Press and The Associated Press

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070625/chris_benoit_070625/20070625?hub=TopStories

This hits hard. Back in the 80's when Benoit was with Stu Hart's Calgary-based Stampede Wrestling, I had the opportunity to meet him several times. My grandfather was a big wrestling fan and had always dragged us grandkids to the house shows in southern Saskatchewan and Alberta (not that we grandkids really resisted too hard, since that was when wrestling was wrestling and we all loved it, not this sports-entertainment crap). It got to the point where he was on a first name basis with the Harts (Stu, Bret, and Owen) Chris, and Brian Pillman (in the first year of his career. He was hilarious in a reckless sort of way!). Me, I was about 9 the first time I went to a house-show and and about 14 when I went to my last house show, with over 30 in between (Grandpa was pretty wasted by cancer at the last one, but fortunately there was a show scheduled local to where we lived so he was able to get one last one in). After the show, we were asked to hang around. That night I saw the big hearts that these guys had because of their tenderness in regards to one dying old man. Unfortunately, neither Stu nor Bret (Bret having went to the WWF a couple of years earlier) were at that show

Stu, Owen, Brian, and Chris are gone now and only Bret remains of that core

Confirmation. :(

Quote:
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.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286673,00.html

by Dave Meltzer
Sources in the Fayette County Police Department are now working under the theory that Chris Benoit killed Nancy several days ago, then killed himself and his son, before taking his own life.

Why do they always kill the kids? I don't understand that. :(

Guilt.

From what I've heard of Chris, this wasn't like him. I know he'd been looking at a lighter schedule so maybe that was a part of it. I've also heard the plan was to put the ECW title on him, and build the promotion around him, which might have led to family strife. Speculation here on my part would be an argument revolving around that, which became physical, an accidental death for Nancy, and a guilt ridden Chris deciding to take his own life, and that of his son so that he wasn't left behind alone. Again, pure speculation on my part here. The autopsy results won't be known for a while, and the investigation is ongoing. It's also possible that as things progress, there will be new developments.

I just don't know. I'm just numb, and incredibly sad tonight. :(

Guilt.

and that of his son so that he wasn't left behind alone. Again, pure speculation on my part here.
But isn't there always a loving grandparent or brother or sister who would love to raise the child? There would be nothing more important to me than to have that little bit left of the person who was gone left behind in their child. And if I were the parent of the woman killed then at least if your going to rob me of my child console me with leaving me my grandchild but to loose both at once is terribly cruel especially since you figure the killing of the children is done after and not in a moment of passion. Terribly sad and very frustrating. When you want a child as much as I do to hear of others killing their kids.

I just don't know. I'm just numb, and incredibly sad tonight. :(

I'm sorry Bob (((((((((((((((((Bob)))))))))))))))))) many hugs.

I'm not disagreeing, but when one's grief struck, and guilt struck, sometimes, rational action is in short supply. :(


Thanks :)

This is absolutely tragic news!! :(

I think it is about time now that the whole "Professional Wrestling" business takes a hard look at all the deaths/troubles that their wrestlers are having.

The list is long and I felt Eddie Guerrero would be a wake-up call, but now Chris Benoit too! Just sad...just very very sad day. :(

Wow. My father was a huge wrestling fan and I got into in the late 80's and Chris was one of my favorites. I could not believe it last night when I was flipping through the channels and saw it. :(

Here is some startling news regarding Pro Wrestling and the toll it has taken on its wrestlers.

Famous Wrestlers That Have Died Since 1985 Before the Age of 65:

Chris Von Erich - 21
Mike Von Erich - 23
Louie Spiccoli - 27
Art Barr - 28
Gino Hernandez - 29
Jay Youngblood - 30
Rick McGraw - 30
Joey Marella - 30
Ed Gatner - 31
Buzz Sawyer - 32
Crash Holly - 32
Kerry Von Erich - 33
D.J. Peterson - 33
Eddie Gilbert - 33
The Renegade - 33
Owen Hart - 33
Chris Candido - 33
Adrian Adonis - 34
Gary Albright - 34
Bobby Duncum Jr. - 34
Yokozuna - 34
Big Dick Dudley - 34
Brian Pillman - 35
Marianna Komlos - 35
Pitbull #2 - 36
The Wall/Malice - 36
Leroy Brown - 38
Mark Curtis - 38
Eddie Guerrero - 38
Davey Boy Smith - 39
Johnny Grunge - 39
Vivian Vachon - 40
Jeep Swenson - 40
Brady Boone - 40
Terry Gordy - 40
Bertha Faye - 40
Billy Joe Travis - 40
Larry Cameron - 41
Rick Rude - 41
Randy Anderson - 41
Bruiser Brody - 42
Miss Elizabeth - 42
Big Boss Man - 42
Earthquake - 42
Mike Awesome - 42
Ray Candy - 43
Dino Bravo - 44
Curt Hennig - 44
Bam Bam Bigelow - 45
Jerry Blackwell - 45
Junkyard Dog - 45
Hercules - 45
Andre the Giant - 46
Big John Studd - 46
Chris Adams - 46
Mike Davis - 46
Hawk - 46
Dick Murdoch - 49
Jumbo Tsuruta - 49
Rocco Rock - 49
Sherri Martel - 49
Moondog Spot - 51
Ken Timbs - 53
Uncle Elmer - 54
Pez Whatley - 54
Eddie Graham - 55
Tarzan Tyler - 55
Haystacks Calhoun- 55
Giant Haystacks - 55
The Spoiler - 56
Kurt Von Hess - 56
Moondog King - 56
Gene Anderson - 58
Dr. Jerry Graham - 58
Bulldog Brown - 58
Tony Parisi - 58
Rufus R. Jones - 60
Ray Stevens - 60
Stan Stasiak - 60
Terry Garvin - 60
Boris Malenko - 61
Little Beaver - 61
Sapphire - 61
Shohei Baba - 61
Dick the Bruiser - 62
Wilbur Snyder - 62
George Cannon - 62
Karl Krupp - 62
Dale Lewis - 62
Gorilla Monsoon - 62
Hiro Matsuda - 62
Bad News Brown - 63
Bulldog Brower - 63
Wahoo McDaniel - 63

That's a distressing list.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY: "THE DETAILS WHEN THEY COME OUT ARE GOING TO PROVE A LITTLE BIZARRE"
By: Bob Ryder
6/26/2007 7:50:30 AM
Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard is quoted in the Atlanta Journal Constition as saying deails of the Benoit family murder-suicide are going to prove bizarre. Ballard was quoted as saying, "The details when they come out are going to prove a little bizarre."


The biggest question, is "Why". What makes a man in the prime of his life, at the top of his career, do something like this? Unfortunately, we may never know. :(

I am hoping that the press does not do a "hatchet job" on this story - it is sad and distressing and could be a little ugly BUT I am hoping the press remember there was a young boy killed and there are extended family still alive and trying to cope/deal with this.

I would also like to know what drove this man to have to resort to this but it would also be helpful to see if there were any "outside influences" that contributed to this happening (ie: Drugs, Steroids, Alcohol issues, Financial issues, etc) and see if this tragedy can shed at least some light that can be used to help others.

WWE is pulling all mention of Benoit from their site, and all related merchandise from their shop.

It's looking more and more like something really went wrong there. :(

Cops in GA say they believe they know what happened, and are waiting on confirmation from the crime lab.

Lots of updates at
http://www.1wrestling.com/
http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/
http://www.pwinsider.com/

From MSNBC (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19424899/) (click for full story)


ATLANTA - 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 Tuesday.

The official spoke on the condition of anonymity.


I just can't understand people who do this sort of thing. If you feel the need to end your life, then that is your decision. I would hope it would be a last resort, something not done lightly or without exhausting all other options, but how could you kill your wife and your young son? I just... things like this make me pretty speechless. :(

From MSNBC (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19424899/) (click for full story)Pro wrestler Chris Benoit strangled his wife and smothered his son before hanging himself in his weight room

Well, I correctly guessed how each died. I hope he gave his kid a sedative so he didn't realise what was happening, otherwise...well I don't want to imagine.




I just can't understand people who do this sort of thing. If you feel the need to end your life, then that is your decision. I would hope it would be a last resort, something not done lightly or without exhausting all other options, but how could you kill your wife and your young son? I just... things like this make me pretty speechless. :(

I know, ((((((((((((((Uno)))))))))))))))))) :(

TMZ.com has more to this bizare story.
http://w.tmz.com/2007/06/26/benoits-...lence-exposed/ (http://w.tmz.com/2007/06/26/benoits-history-of-domestic-violence-exposed/)

"law enforcement sources tell TMZ they believe Benoit strangled his wife on Saturday, smothered his son on Sunday and then hanged himself on Monday."

Numerous other sources are covering this. A press conference is scheduled for 3pm, and will be carried on many news channels.

"n divorce papers filed in 2003, Nancy Benoit included a petition for protection from domestic abuse against Chris. In the papers, Nancy claimed that Benoit, "lost his temper and threatened to strike the petitioner and cause extensive damage to the home and personal belongings of the parties, including furniture." Nancy added that she was, "in reasonable fear for petitioner's own safety and that of the minor child.""

This is a very sad turn of events, and a sad end to 3 lives. http://www.martialtalk.com/forum/images/smilies/frown.gif

I'd been hoping it would be something else. Toxins in the house, accidental poisoning.

Now, it looks like roid rage that went way too far.

Why Chris? Why?

Too many of his friends, fans and surviving family are asking that question right now.

"law enforcement sources tell TMZ they believe Benoit strangled his wife on Saturday, smothered his son on Sunday and then hanged himself on Monday."

That is the most horrifying part of this whole horrific tragedy. Just the thought of that poor little boy alone in the house for a day with his mother's murderer, who was the man he should have been able to trust most in this world, and then to be murdered by him in turn. What the HELL happened in that house?!?!?!

That is a question, I don't think will ever be answered.

I just watched the press conference.
- Nancy was bound, hand and foot. She was strangled with an electrical cord.
- Hours later, Daniel was smothered with a plastic bag.
- Bibles were found by both bodies.
- Chris was found in the basement. He hung himself with his weight equipment.


Given everything I've read so far, the only thing I can speculate was it was a "we're leaving - no your not" situation that went way too far. Without a note, we'll never really know. :(

I've lost alot of respect for Chris. I've followed his career for over a decade, and I've never heard anything but the best about him. Now, his legacy is in ruins, and lives are gone, and destroyed.

It's a damn shame.

I agree Silent Bob, it is a shame. But the reason we don't here about the negative as much is that the WWE seems to be very good at hiding these things. If this were to happen to a professional athlete, about abusing his wife it would have made the headlines along time ago. Just look at all the NFL, NBA, NHL, etc players who's names are in the news for DUI, attempted rape, etc. I don't know how, but Vince is able to keep quite a bit out of the news. More and more i keep losing what little respect i had for the professional wrestling industry.
It does make me wonder if Vince knew what really happened before putting that show on the air last night. It is obvious from the WWE pulling all merchandise relating to Benoit that they know now, so would they have had that tribute show if they knew the truth. I would hope not, but when Vince is involved nothing would surprise me.

I stopped watching wrestling a while ago (I used to enjoy watching it with my stepfather, he's a big fan) because the WWE had way too much "E" and not enough "WW" but I used to like Chris Benoit. I have now lost any respect I had for him, though. No one who could do that sort of thing deserves any respect.

A theory on what went wrong in his head has been offered, but the coroner doesn't seem to want to look into it.


From NYTimes

But Christopher Nowinski, a former professional wrestler who worked with Mr. Benoit, and who was forced to quit because of head injuries, said he believed that repeated, untreated concussions might have caused his friend to snap.
“He was one of the only guys who would take a chair shot to the back of the head,” Mr. Nowinski said, “which is stupid.”
Mr. Nowinski has written a book called “Head Games: Football’s Concussion Crisis” (Drummond Publishing Group, 2006), about chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a condition that can cause memory loss, depression and “bizarre, paranoid behavior.”
Mr. Nowinski said that he had been trying to persuade the coroner examining Mr. Benoit to allow a brain exam to look for the telltale neurofibrillary tangles in the brain’s cortex, but that he had thus far been rebuffed.
“Part of me hopes there was something wrong with his brain,” Mr. Nowinski said. “The Chris Benoit I knew was always more concerned about everybody else’s well-being than his own.”



and Mike Johnson at PWInsider:
The New York Times covered the Benoit tragedy today in a long article that features comments from former WWE star Chris Nowinski, who's now renowned for his work in research for concussions .....
.
It was noted that Nowinski is trying to persuade the coroner examining Mr. Benoit to allow a brain exam to look for neurofibrillary tangles in the brain’s cortex, which has been refused in the past. Nowinski has previously been able to link the suicide of former NFL defensive back Andre Waters to concussion induced depression based on forensic work done on Waters' brain matter. “Part of me hopes there was something wrong with his brain,” Nowinski told the Times. “The Chris Benoit I knew was always more concerned about everybody else’s well-being than his own.”



Considering Benoit's signature move was that diving headbutt, how many concussions can he possibly have sustained in a 10+ year career? I've heard more than 3 in your life was bad...he's got to have had dozens of them.







Some info on Nowinski:



In October 2006 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_2006), Nowinski released a book, Head Games: Football's Concussion Crisis, which details his career-ending injury and also discusses the dangers of concussions in football and other contact sports. The book includes stories from NFL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League) players as well as fellow wrestlers, with an introduction by Jesse Ventura (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Ventura). Later in the year, Nowinski initiated an inquiry into the suicide of Andre Waters (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_Waters), a 44-year old former NFL defensive back (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defensive_back) who shot himself on November 20 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_20), 2006. Waters had sustained several concussions over his career, and at Nowinski's behest, Waters's family agreed to send pieces of his brain to be tested. Dr. Bennet Omalu of the University of Pittsburgh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Pittsburgh) announced that "the condition of Waters' brain tissue was what would be expected in an 85-year-old man, and there were characteristics of someone being in the early stages of Alzheimer's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_disease)."[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Nowinski#_note-3)[5] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Nowinski#_note-4)
Nowinski played an integral role in the discovery of the 4th case of CTE in a former NFL football player, former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Justin Strzelczyk, who was killed in a fiery automobile crash in 2004 at age 36 after a 37 mile police chase at speeds up to 100 miles per hour on the wrong side of the highway. Dr. Julian Bailes, the chairman of the department of neurosurgery at West Virginia University and the Steelers’ team neurosurgeon during Strzelczyk’s career, insisted to Nowinski over a phone conversation that he thought Strezelcyzk’s death, which was precipitated by strange behavior that some had labeled as “bipolar”, was worth looking into due to its similarities to the Andre Waters case. Nowinski contacted Dr. Bennet Omalu, who discovered the brain was still available, and Nowinski called Mary Strzelczyk, Justin’s mother, to ask for permission to Dr. Omalu to examine it for CTE. Omalu’s positive diagnosis was confirmed by two other neuropathologists. [6] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Nowinski#_note-5) [7] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Nowinski#_note-6)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Nowinski

Blaming this on steriods would be like saying it must be the star trek influence because they found a Captain Kirk action figure at your house.

The current theory is that it was in part caused by too many concussions over his career.

Wade Keller at TheTorch has an excellent writeup on the whole thing. We'll never know the complete truth.

http://www.pwtorch.com/artman/publish/article_20673.shtml

I suggest before pointing fingers and joining the clueless media who likes their scapegoats, that folks take some time and actually read the large amount of information coming out from reliable and informed sources.

My theory:
- Daniel was suffering from Fragile X Syndrome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fragile_X_syndrome). This most likely put a lot of stress on the family, not made easier by a father always on the road.
- Rumors a while back indicated that Chris had been trying to get a lighter road schedule, in order to spend more time with his family.
- Rumor is that he was scheduled to win the ECW title on last Sundays PPV. The champion is on the road, alot.
- The steroids found at the house were Daniels, not Chris's, and were legal.
- Chris has sustained numerous concussions during his career, and recently had had neck surgery as well due to ring related injuries.
- Chris has had a history of anger issues as reported in the 2003 divorce filing.

My theory is that when plans of pushing Chris were brought up at home, he and Nancy argued. Her wanting him to be home more to help raise their son. The argument heightened, with her possibly using the "if you leave, we wont be here when you get back" line. It then became physical as he lost control of his anger, he restrained her, the argument continued, and he lost it, strangling her with a nearby power cord.

Reality and the "what the hell did I do?" sets in, and he panics.

In grief, he isn't thinking straight. He has a dead wife, is looking at long term jail, possibly even the death penalty. His career is ruined, as is his reputation. Without him, who will take care of his son? Remember, his mind is clouded. He does what he thinks is right. He ends his sons suffering, and then takes his own life out of grief, guilt or as an act of atonement for his crimes.



I don't think he sat down 7 years ago and said, I wanna get married and have a kid so I can kill em. I think this was a domestic situation that got out of control, and spiraled into destruction. As information comes to light, I find I can't hate him. I simply pity him, that his life and legacy came to this.


PWTorch has an article (http://www.pwtorch.com/artman/publish/article_20666.shtml)on the murder-suicide concept.

I think the "Why" is very important, especially if there was a medical reason for it. There's already a connection between concussions and destructive behavior. If they can find a reason, it may help stop future tragedies from occurring.

Personally, as a long time fan of both his and Nancy's, I'd like to know the answer, or as much as I can get of one.
Found this: CTE or chronic traumatic encephalopathy
http://grg51.typepad.com/steroid_nation/2007/06/chronic_traumat.html

"This is irreversible brain damage,” Omalu said. “It’s most likely caused by concussions "

"chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a condition evidenced by neurofibrillary tangles in the brain’s cortex, which can cause memory loss, depression and eventually Alzheimer’s disease-like dementia. “This is extremely abnormal in a 36-year-old,” Hamilton said. “If I didn’t know anything about this case and I looked at the slides, I would have asked, ‘Was this patient a boxer?’"


If this was the case, while it doesn't excuse his crime, it does explain how someone who is consistently being reported as a "good guy" could lose it and kill his family.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Justin Strzelczyk, known for his friendly, banjo-playing spirit and gluttony for combat, died the morning of Sept. 30, 2004, when, during a 40-mile high-speed police chase in central New York, his pickup truck collided with a tractor-trailer and exploded, killing him instantly. CTE has been cited.


There is alot more reading on brain injuries at http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tbi/detail_tbi.htm
Which probably would be a good read period, considering the risk of head injuries we ourselves chance while sparing and training.

There is an established history of domestic violence and abuse that dates back at least to 2003 it should have been taken seriously at that time and intervention could have been made and this outcome prevented. The warning signs are almost always there it's up to all of us to heed them and act accordingly and not be in denial no matter how great a person seems to be to us.


Meanwhile, court documents have surfaced that show that Benoit's wife requested a restraining order against her husband in 2003, accusing him of threatening her and breaking furniture in their home. She later dropped the request.
Nancy Benoit also filed for divorce that year, saying her three-year marriage was irrevocably broken and marked by "cruel treatment." She later withdrew the complaint.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2007/06/26/wrestler-slayings.html?ref=rss



name "Woman," filed for divorce in May 2003, she alleged in an accompanying petition for protection from domestic abuse, that she was intimidated by threats of violence from her 40-year-old, 5-foot-10, 220-pound husband, who was known as the "Canadian Crippler."
Benoit, the petition said, "lost his temper and threatened to strike the petitioner and cause extensive damage to the home and personal belongings of the parties, including furniture and furnishings. Petitioner is in reasonable fear for petitioner's own safety and that of the minor child."
In another count, she claimed Benoit had destroyed furniture in the home.
On May 12, 2003, the same day the divorce and protective order petitions were submitted, a judge issued a restraining order against the wrestler and barred him from the family home.
On Aug. 19, 2003, Nancy Benoit filed to have the divorce and protective petitions dismissed, and both were.

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/fayette/stories/2007/06/25/0625benoit.html

Found this: CTE or chronic traumatic encephalopathy
http://grg51.typepad.com/steroid_nation/2007/06/chronic_traumat.html

"This is irreversible brain damage,” Omalu said. “It’s most likely caused by concussions "

"chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a condition evidenced by neurofibrillary tangles in the brain’s cortex, which can cause memory loss, depression and eventually Alzheimer’s disease-like dementia. “This is extremely abnormal in a 36-year-old,” Hamilton said. “If I didn’t know anything about this case and I looked at the slides, I would have asked, ‘Was this patient a boxer?’"


If this was the case, while it doesn't excuse his crime, it does explain how someone who is consistently being reported as a "good guy" could lose it and kill his family.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Justin Strzelczyk, known for his friendly, banjo-playing spirit and gluttony for combat, died the morning of Sept. 30, 2004, when, during a 40-mile high-speed police chase in central New York, his pickup truck collided with a tractor-trailer and exploded, killing him instantly. CTE has been cited.


There is alot more reading on brain injuries at http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tbi/detail_tbi.htm
Which probably would be a good read period, considering the risk of head injuries we ourselves chance while sparing and training.

Bob I found an interesting study done on filicide-suicide that might help.

http://www.jaapl.org/cgi/content/full/33/4/496

Thanks! I'll check it out in a few. :)

Possible reason for Benoit murder/suicide revealed (updated - again)
By Alex Marvez
http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=20024

Summary:
Chris met with his doctor on Friday, who prescribed testosterone to Benoit because of a low count being produced by his body.

Other details indicate that Nancy met with the same doctor the day before she died to get information about treating her son.

Nancy had also recently had neck surgery, and was struggling to cope with her own and her sons conditions.


Alex Marvez One question that can be posed is this: If Chris Benoit killed his wife stemming from a confrontation about Daniel, did he later kill his son because of concerns about who would take care of a needs child while he was in prison? While this doesn’t make Benoit’s actions any more justifiable, the scenario may shed some light on why Chris Benoit killed his son before taking his own life.

Benoit Story (Updated): Animal tries to get message out on MSNBC about time off for wrestlers (http://www.pwtorch.com/artman/publish/article_20688.shtml)
By Wade Keller, Torch editor
Jun 27, 2007, 20:30

WK Analysis: Once again, another media story where the agenda is set ahead of time to pinpoint the involvement of steroids rather than look at the complexities that make this less than a simple story. The media, sadly, is proving WWE's defensive press release to be prophetic rather than pathetic - although WWE may have brought on themselves by being so defensive and flimsy with their rush-to-judgment discouraging steroids and roid rage to be part of the discussion of what triggered Chris Benoit.





Wrestler and wife argued over child care (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070627/ap_on_re_us/wrestler_dead)

By GREG BLUESTEIN, Associated Press Writer
ATLANTA - In the days before pro wrestler Chris Benoit killed his wife and child and hanged himself, the couple argued over whether he should stay home more to take care of their mentally retarded 7-year-old son, an attorney for the wrestling league said Wednesday.
ADVERTISEMENT

"I think it's fair to say that the subject of caring for that child was part of what made their relationship complicated and difficult, and it's something they were both constantly struggling with," said Jerry McDevitt, an attorney for World Wrestling Entertainment. "We do know it was a source of stress and consternation."

McDevitt said the wrestling organization learned from the couple's friends and relatives that the Benoits were struggling with where to send the boy to school since he had recently finished kindergarten.

He also said Benoit's wife didn't want him to quit wrestling, but she "wanted him to be at home more to care for the kid. She'd say she can't take care of him by herself when he was on the road."

The child suffered from a rare medical condition called Fragile X Syndrome, an inherited form of mental retardation often accompanied by autism, McDevitt said.
...more



BENOIT FAMILY TRAGEDY - Steroid use can rewire brain circuits, ramping up aggression, dialling down control (http://mikeoncrime.com/article/2790/benoit-family-tragedy-steroid-use-can-rewire-brain-circuits-ramping-up-aggression-dialling-down-control)
DATE: Jun 27, 18:05
By Helen Branswell

(This is an interesting article with some good info on what steriods are, and how they effect people.)

What were the Benoits dealing with that may have contributed to this tragedy?

First-Person: Understanding Fragile X and the HGH component that affected the Benoits (http://www.pwtorch.com/artman/publish/article_20689.shtml)
Those of you judging him should read this and see part of the stress he and his family were under. There have been other murder-suicides by families in similar stress situations.

Chris was making around $500k-700k per year as a top-draw wrestler. This required him to be on the road 300+ days a year to stay there. Once you stop all the road travel, you become a special attraction, which other than a few "big names" (ala Hulk Hogan) pays alot less. Treatment for his son's illness could exceed $300,000 a year. Add to that his own ongoing medical needs from 2 decades of high impact wrestling, and his wifes needs, and something snapped.

I can't at this time see this as a cold-calculated murderer. This isn't a Saddam or Odey here. I see a man who wanted to to do what was right for his family, seemingly run out of options, be torn as what to do, snap, then in a panic, snap some more before taking his own life, not out of cowardice, but as an act of attrition, and penance to end his own pain.

So morons like Bill O'Reily can focus on their scapegoat of steroids and ignore the mounting evidence of a deeper sad story. After all, for them sound bytes and ratings are all that counts. Me, I'll keep reading as this sad story continues to unfold, and I'll morn for the Benoits and their tragic end.

Madness and despair drive us all to depths we don't want to hit. Some of us, crack under the strain. None of this forgives this. None of it excuses it. None of it will ever say "Gee Chris, you flipped out, bound your wife, then strangled her to death as she laid there helpless begging for her life and choked you kid to death, but thats ok." It does none of that.

But it does shed the light that he was not a drug crazed cold calculating murderer as some would paint him.

Benoit’s son suffered from Fragile X Syndrome; speculation over whether pressure was too much
Written: June 27, 2007
http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/benoitpressures


BRET HART, WWE LAWYER JERRY MCDEVITT AND DA SCOTT BALLARD DISCUSS THE CHRIS BENOIT TRAGEDY WITH GRETA VAN SUSTEREN
by Dave Scherer @ 11:19:00 PM on 6/27/2007
http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=25171&p=1



WWE Wellness/Drug Testing Policy Detailed: Cover story of March 2006 PWTorch Newsletter
By Wade Keller, Torch editor
Jun 27, 2007, 15:36
http://www.pwtorch.com/artman/publish/article_20682.shtml


From the above:
Benoit's doctor also spoke with the AP. Excerpts:

"He was in my office on Friday to stop by just to see my staff," said Dr. Phil Astin of metro Atlanta. "He certainly didn't show any signs of any distress or rage or anything."

Astin, who said he was Benoit's longtime friend and physician, said he had prescribed testosterone to Benoit because he suffered from low amounts of the hormone. He said the condition likely originated from previous steroid use. He would not say what, if any, medications he prescribed the day of the meeting. "I'm still very surprised and shocked, especially with his child Daniel involved," said Astin. "He worshipped his child."

BTW, Bill O'Reilly, is an ass.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286935,00.html
It's all about the steroid. He's a wrestler, he must have been on them. Sure, you have no toxicology report, but they were found at the scene, so they must have been the cause. Nothing else could be right Bill? He was probably mixing them with his morning coffee in preparation for his weekend killing spree. You could of course pay attention to the DA, the Sheriff, and other in-the-know people, but that would be responsible journalism, and we can't have that.

Hey Bill. I've got 2 words for you.
**** Off.

Wrestler's rampage hints at demons in profession
By HAL HABIB and CARLOS FRÍAS
Palm Beach Post Staff Writers
Thursday, June 28, 2007
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/sports/epaper/2007/06/28/m1a_Benoit_0628.html

Article outlines some of the risks of steroid use, and how they might have played a part in this, even if Benoit wasn't currently using them, as well as references some past issues with other wrestlers.

Benoit’s son suffered from Fragile X Syndrome;
Why you should never give up hope and an example of the cruel ironies of life...


Gene trick reverses retardation in mice: study
ByIshani Ganguli Wed Jun 27, 3:38 PM ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Researchers said they have partially reversed in mice a common cause of autism and mental retardation, and said it might be possible to design a drug that would do the same thing for people.
They found that by blocking a normal enzyme, they could reverse some of the brain abnormalities associated with the inherited condition, called Fragile X Syndrome, and correct some of the symptoms in the mice.
"This is the first case where the reversal of Fragile X Syndrome (has been) demonstrated in the animal model, not only at the level of behavior but also in the underlying cellular mechanisms," said Susumu Tonegawa, a senior neuroscientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who led the research.
Fragile X Syndrome is the most common hereditary cause of mental retardation and autism. The one in 4,000 boys and one in 6,000 girls who are affected often have developmental delays and hyperactivity, and engage in aimless, repetitive behaviors.
It is caused by a mutated gene on the X chromosome that affects dendritic spines -- the long, thin structures that allow brain cells to communicate with each other. They become too numerous, as well as too long and thin, weakening these electrical signals.
"This has been thought to be the major underlying reason why these patients show behavioral abnormalities," said Tonegawa, who worked with researchers in India and South Korea.
The researchers noticed that when they blocked the action of another nerve cell-shaping enzyme called P21-activated kinase, or PAK, in the brains of otherwise normal mice, they could produce the opposite effect: the dendritic spines in these mice were short and thick, and fewer were formed.
The mice also had abnormally low levels of electrical signaling, according to the report, published in this week's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
So the scientists bred mice with both the Fragile X gene mutation and a version of PAK that was programmed to fail.
This inactive form of PAK only kicked in a month after the mice were born. And once it did, the researchers found that symptoms of Fragile X, which include excessive movement and difficulty completing memory tasks, were greatly reduced in the mice.
When they looked at their brains, the dendritic spines looked fairly normal.
While such genetic manipulation would be difficult to recreate in human children, a chemical compound that can directly inhibit the protein may make an effective drug, Tonegawa said.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070627/sc_nm/retardation_gene_dc_2;_ylt=AlWo8qklEXSLpUfLCvbjX1o E1vAI

That makes it all the more tragic. :(

That makes it all the more tragic. :(


I know, it hit me like a slap in the face when I read that.:(

Such an important thing to remember when you get depressed - tomorrow is another day and you just never know what it might bring, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel even if you can't see it right now you have to trust that it is there and things will get better.

Working with autistic kids and parents I know the toll these kids take on their families and the heartbreak it causes. I can understand how overwhelmed Nancy might have felt but they must have been making enough money to afford a care giver for the boy to help reduce the stress on everyone so why didn't they?

Maybe they didn''t have as much as it seems? 9 acres outside Atlanta is prime real estate. I can only imagine what the taxes were. Additionally, remember that Chris was not an employee of WWE but treated as an independent contractor. That means, he pays for most of his own travel, hotel (remember 300+ road days a year), and other expenses and didn't have a benefits package. He was paying for his own and his families health care. Combine that with being in a high-risk business, the premiums were probably pretty high.

The high costs associated with this, and Chris's travel requirements to earn that money competing with his and his families desire to be home more, were probably a factor in this. I'm seeing more and more people more familiar with the Benoits making the same conclusions.

The report of a possible cure is heartbreaking, but, did they or their doctor know? Probably not. I've found more practicing doctors can't keep up with all the research there is, and are often woefully behind things....a recipe for disaster in some cases.

Death of Nancy Benoit rumor posted on Wikipedia hours prior to body being found (http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Death_of_Nancy_Benoit_rumour_posted_on_Wikipedia_1 4_hours_prior_to_event).


Article was updated from a PC in Conneticut, 14 hours before police were dispatched to the house. WWE has their HQ in CN, but the system wasn't traced to any WWE owned ones.

That is just strange. Did someone know...or was it just a crackpot being a smartass as happens alot on Wiki?

More on this:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,287194,00.html

This was interesting:
FOXNews.com also has learned, through widely posted Web reports, that former pro wrestler Sherri Martel, who was found dead on June 15, was linked to former wrestler Kevin Sullivan — ex-husband of Nancy Benoit.


Some back story on the Sullivan-Benoit triangle.
Benoit met his wife, Nancy Daus-Sullivan, when her then-husband, match booker Kevin Sullivan, thought up a script that had Benoit and his wife involved in a relationship as part of an ongoing WCW story line. Benoit and Daus began spending more time together and eventually, in 1997, Daus divorced Sullivan and became engaged to Benoit. Benoit and Sullivan were by then embroiled in a high-profile rivalry. Nancy Benoit helped manage her husband's career from their home in Atlanta.


Sullivan, who was also a wrestler, booked and lost a retirement match to Benoit on July 13, 1997. It is often joked that "Kevin Sullivan booked his own divorce," according to reports. As a booker, Sullivan reportedly caused Nancy to quit wrestling when she refused to appear topless in an angle Sullivan created for a pay-per-view.


Police are also still insisting that the investigation is not complete and that they are examining all possibilities.

Law Enforcement has raided both the Benoit family doctor and the doctors mother, taking computers and other records.

Also, law enforcement has raided the alleged poster of the death notice on Wiki, seizing computers.

This was interesting:



Some back story on the Sullivan-Benoit triangle.


Police are also still insisting that the investigation is not complete and that they are examining all possibilities.

Hmmmm......

Latest Updates


The Georgia Wrestling History website is quoting DEA agent Chuvalo Truesdell as stating the Drug Enforcement Agency has taken over the investigation into Dr. Phil Astin, Chris Benoit's physician. You can read their account on the localized ongoing in the investigation at www.GeorgiaWrestling.com (http://www.georgiawrestling.com/).
Chris Benoit's former wife, Martina Benoit, spoke briefly to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, calling the former WWE World champion, "...the most loving person anyone could imagine. I love him." She referred to the media coverage of the Benoit tragedy as "crap". You can read a complete article at this link (http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/fayette/stories/2007/06/29/0629exwife.html).
ESPN noted that the researchers who have done studies on deceased NFL Players, including Andre Waters, have requested brain tissue from Chris Benoit's body in order to seek to learn whether Benoit may have suffered from the same post-concussion syndrome that led to Waters to take his own life. You can read more at this link (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=2920925).
Chris Jericho is slated to appear on Greta Von Sustern on Fox News tonight. Jericho has been the best person that has worked within the wrestling industry, hands down, to get across the idea that something seriously wrong happened that can't be simply dismissed as steroids. Other appearance have been made up of those who have agendas or are looking for 10 minutes of TV time to rip on the business and/or make their own names. The only exception to that list would be Bret Hart. As for the others, well, if you are reading this, you know how they came off.
WWE pulled three shows for this month from 24/7, a History of ECW show that prominently featured Nancy Benoit, Wrestlemania 23 and a Nitro episode that both Benoits were on.
At the WWE shop in Niagara Falls, all the Benoit merchandise was taken out of stock. There are cement block autographs of wrestlers on display there, one of which was Benoit, but the plan was to remove it today.
Chris Benoit was the No. 1 thing searched on Yahoo yesterday. Nancy Benoit was No. 4. Vince McMahon was No. 6. There were also heavy searches for Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith, Jim Ross, Rick Rude, Mr. Perfect, Wrestling Deaths and Kevin Sullivan
Steve Simmons has a good column (http://www.torontosun.com/Sports/OtherSports/2007/06/28/4296540-sun.html) at www.torontosun.com on Benoit, dating back to Stampede Wrestling, Brian Pillman, Owen Hart, Davey Boy Smith and more
The final photo (http://www.wsbtv.com/news/13589422/detail.html) taken of Benoit, hours before the first murder. Taken at his doctors office, it shows an apparently cheerful Chris.

The latest Associated Press article, available here (http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/06/29/ap3873289.html), includes comments from Benoit's father and Wikipedia's founder.
Michael Benoit, Chris's father: "We have no understanding of why it happened. We need some time to gather our thoughts and wait and see. There's still more information that's going to come out from toxicology tests that will give us some understanding of why this happened." He also said that his father said Chris seemed fine when they spoke on Father's Day and had even said he regretted having to work instead of spending the day with his family. "That really wouldn't give you an indication of someone who would do what he did a week later," he said. WK Analysis: What makes this story so hard to digest is that Benoit hadn't given clues of his state of mind to people who are speaking to the mainstream media so far, including his father with whom he spoke about wanting to be home with his wife and son for Father's Day. Benoit, just a short time ago, wanted to be with the family members he killed - and that's hard for people to comprehend, and rightfully so.
WWE has put a media ban on their superstars for the next three weeks. This means that WWE stars can’t do any interviews with any media other than WWE.

Thanks to Mike Johnson (http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=25229&p=1)and Dave Meltzer (http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=20031)(more (http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=20036)) and Wade Keller (http://www.pwtorch.com/artman/publish/article_20735.shtml)

Bill Apter was on FOX earlier.
http://www.1wrestling.com/news/newsline.asp?news=29138

An interesting quote here:
"I also questioned why we have not found out why, in just a few short hours after the grizzly discovery, it was ruled a "double-murder-suicide." When I was asked by the show's interviewer Kimberly Guilfoyle what I think will come out next in this bizarre tragedy I said "They will probably find the murderer!"

Through the endless reports of this whole terrible incident, has anyone come out and given the pure facts of why it was ruled a "double-murder-suicide" so very quickly?

That question prompted Kimberly Guilfoyle to ponder why she has not heard those facts either. "

Updates to Ongoing Story



FOX NEWS: BENOIT DOCTOR PRESCRIBED 10 MONTH SUPPLY OF STEROIDS EVERY 3-4 WEEKS FOR A YEAR
by Bob Ryder - Updated: 7/2/2007 5:14:46 PM
http://www.1wrestling.com/news/newsline.asp?news=29142

BENOIT DOCTOR INDICTED ON 7 COUNTS OF DISTRIBUTING ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES
by Bob Ryder - Updated: 7/2/2007 4:25:25 PM
http://www.1wrestling.com/news/newsline.asp?news=29141

BENOIT DOCTOR FACING FEDERAL CHARGES, TURNS HIMSELF IN
by Bob Ryder - Updated: 7/2/2007 1:54:25 PM
http://www.1wrestling.com/news/newsline.asp?news=29140

More details come out in Astin case updated 7/2/2007 6:48:00 PM EST
http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=20062

Explosive day in Benoit case is nothing but the worst news possible across the board for WWE: Charges that Benoit was prescribed massive amounts of steroids by Astin, Astin indicted on seven counts, Fragile X contradiction updated 7/2/2007 6:39:00 PM EST
http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=20061

Fox breaking news: Benoit prescribed massive amounts of steroids by Astin updated 7/2/2007 5:10:00 PM EST
http://www.wrestlingobserver.com/wo/news/headlines/default.asp?aID=20059
A Fox News Channel report said that records obtained by investigators show that between May 2006 and May 2007, Dr. Phil Astin prescribed Chris Benoit "a ten month supply of steroids" every three to four weeks. The report stated that every three to four weeks, Benoit would get a new ten-month supply.


DEA ISSUES PRESS RELEASE ON FEDERAL INDICTMENT OF DR. PHIL ASTIN
by Mike Johnson
7/2/2007 7:46:23 PM
http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=25274&p=1

BENOIT/DR. ASTIN DOCUMENTS PUBLISHED ONLINE AT THESMOKINGGUN.COM
by Mike Johnson
7/2/2007 7:21:21 PM
http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=25273&p=1

ASSOCIATED PRESS COVERS FEDERAL INDICTMENT OF DR. PHIL ASTIN IN WAKE OF BENOIT TRAGEDY
by Mike Johnson
7/2/2007 6:21:07 PM
http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=25269&p=1

WWE RECOGNIZES IT MAY NEED TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE WELLNESS POLICY AFTER THE BENOIT TRAGEDY
by Dave Scherer
7/2/2007 5:44:14 PM
http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=25268&p=1

FAYETTEVILLE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY SAYS DANIEL BENOIT MEDICAL RECORDS SHOW NO RECORD OF MENTAL OR PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT
by Mike Johnson
7/2/2007 5:27:56 PM
http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=25267&p=1

DR. PHIL ASTIN INDICTMENT PRESS CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
by Mike Johnson
7/2/2007 5:13:08 PM
http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=25266&p=1

Little new news coming out that's worth bothering with. A few notes:


- Tox reports are starting to come in, though nothing has been released yet.


- "Larry King Live" - The entire show was devoted to the Benoit Family Tragedy and included appearances from John Cena, Chris Jericho, Steve Blackman, Bret Hart, Ted Dibiase, and Jerry McDevitt.

Click here to read the transcript (http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0707/09/lkl.01.html)



- Nancy Grace show - CNN.com has posted the transcript of the Nancy Grace show that aired on CNN Headline News. Brian Alvarez, Konnan, and Mark Mero. Alvarez, in particular, came off as knowledgable about the subject matter. Mero said the same thing he has been saying on all of their previous appearances. Konnan called out Vince McMahon and said he had gotten away with murder.

Read the transcript (http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0707/09/ng.01.html)

(Thanks to Bob Ryder at 1wrestling.com for the transcript news)


- Investigators are looking at Dr. Astin for insurance fraud now as well, and the widow of Johnny Grunge (who died in February 2006 reportedly from a coronary artery blockage and morbid obesity.)

Grunge was a close friend of Chris Benoit and was also a patient of Benoit's doctor, Phil Astin. Investigators are looking into prescriptions that Astin gave Grunge, including one for 120 Soma tablets the day before Grunge died. The bottle was found empty.


- Additional reports are indicating that 2 other wrestlers, one allegedly Ray Mysterio, are under investigation due to being patients of Dr. Astin.

BENOIT'S DOCTOR'S LAWYER SAYS BENOIT HAD A HORMONE CONDITION THAT WARRANTED LARGE AMOUNT OF STEROID USE (http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=26118&p=1)

A lawyer for Chris Benoit’s personal doctor suggested in court papers the former pro wrestler had a hormone disorder that permitted the amount of steroids he was prescribed before killing his wife, son and himself in June.