Chris Benoit found dead... RIP

[Hostile]

WWE wrestler Chris Benoit and family found dead

BY ALFONSO A. CASTILLO

Renowned pro wrestler Chris Benoit, his wife and their 7-year-old-son, were found dead Monday afternoon in their Fayetville, Ga. home, Atlanta police said.

Police would not give any details on how Benoit, 40, his wife Nancy, and son Daniel died, other than to say they were not shot to death, the Atlanta-Journal Constitution reported Monday. Authorities are investigating the deaths.

The news came just a day after Benoit mysteriously pulled out of a World Wrestling Entertainment pay per view event, during which he was expected to be crowned Extreme Championship Wrestling world champion. Various pro wrestling news sources reported that Benoit was unable to appear at the event due to a family emergency.

"There are no further details at this time, other than the Benoit family residence is currently being investigated by local authorities," the WWE said in a statement on its Web site.

Benoit was a 22-year ring veteran and perennial favorite of wrestling purists, who praised his high-intensity style and technical acumen. His aggressive wrestling technique earned him the nicknames "The Crippler" and "The Rabid Wolverine." In 2000 and 2004, he was named Oustanding Wrestler of the Year by the Wrestling Observer newsletter and in 2004 he was named Wrestler of the Year by Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine.

The Edmonton, Canada native trained to become a wrestler in Calgary, and honed his skills in Japan before becoming a regular on U.S. national promotions in the mid-1990s. Benoit's career highlight took place in New York, when he won his first World Wrestling Entertainment world heavyweight championship in Madison Square Garden in the main event of WrestleMania XX.

Benoit cried as he celebrated in the ring with his wife and son, as well as best friend, wrestler Eddie Guerrero, who died in 2005.

"Wrestling has consumed my life," Benoit said in a 2004 WWE career retrospective video. "Wrestling is my mistress. It's my passion. It defines who I am as a person."

WWE last night canceled its scheduled live 3-hour "Monday Night RAW" program, which coincidentally was originally billed as a "memorial service" for WWE chairman Vince McMahon, whose character was recently killed off in a controversial scripted storyline.

McMahon opened the show from center ring in an empty arena and clarified that Benoit and his family had died "in reality." McMahon called Benoit "one of the greatest WWE superstars of all-time."

 

[zrinkill]

This is really shocking to me .....

first Eddie .... the Benoit.

But the fact that a seven year old child is also gone makes this very very tragic.

Rest In Peace Benoit family. My prayers are with you all.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

He was a very good wrestler....what a shame

 

[Achozen]

R.I.P

It's kind of ironic that today's show was going to be about Vince's faked death.

 

[BouncingCheese]

That is really scary.... Wow I am speechless. This is surreal.

I can't believe it. Holy ****.

 

[Teague31]

wow... these guys are just train wrecks....


FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. - WWE wrestler Chris Benoit, his wife, and son were found dead Monday and police said they were investigating the deaths as a murder-suicide.

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

The station said that investigators believe the 40-year-old Benoit killed his wife, Nancy, and 7-year-old son, Daniel, over the weekend, then himself on Monday. A neighbor called police, and the bodies were found in three rooms.

Lead investigator Lt. Tommy Pope, of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department, told The Associated Press the deaths were being investigated as homicide, and that the causes of death awaited autopsy results on Tuesday. Pope said the bodies were discovered about 2:30 p.m., but refused to release details.

The house is in a secluded neighborhood set back about 60 yards off a gravel road, surrounded by stacked stone wall and a double-iron gate. On Monday night, the house was dark except for a few outside lights. There was a police car in front, along with two uniformed officers.

Benoit was a former world heavyweight and Intercontinental champion. He also held several tag-team titles during 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."

The native of Canada 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.

"My relationship with Chris has extended many years and I consider him a great friend," Carl DeMarco, the president of WWE Canada, said in a statement. "Chris was always first-class — warm, friendly, caring and professional one of the best in our business."

 

[peplaw06]

There's a new thread in the Sports Zone indicating that they're investigating this as a possible murder/suicide.

 

[Hostile]

There's a new thread in the Sports Zone indicating that they're investigating this as a possible murder/suicide.

There were no signs of gunshot wounds or stabbing, according to Pope. Authorities are not ruling out other causes, such as poisoning, suffocation or strangulation. Pope told ABC News that his department is looking at this situation as a "possible double murder, suicide."


Pope said "the instruments of death were located on scene," but he would not specify what those instruments are or where in the house the bodies were found. Pope added the department is "not actively searching for any suspects outside of the house."

 

[Mavs Man]

<snip>

The headline is a bit premature, considering what little information has been released, namely 1) Benoit, his wife and seven year old child are dead, 2) it is a potential murder-suicide, and 3) it is NOT gun-related or a stabbing.

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=89511

 

[Mavs Man]

From the AP:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070626/ap_on_re_us/wrestler_dead

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. - WWE wrestler Chris Benoit, his wife, and son were found dead Monday and police said they were investigating the deaths as a murder-suicide.

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

The station said that investigators believe the 40-year-old Benoit killed his wife, Nancy, and 7-year-old son, Daniel, over the weekend, then himself on Monday. A neighbor called police, and the bodies were found in three rooms.

Lead investigator Lt. Tommy Pope, of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department, told The Associated Press the deaths were being investigated as homicide, and that the causes of death awaited autopsy results on Tuesday. Pope said the bodies were discovered about 2:30 p.m., but refused to release details.

The house is in a secluded neighborhood set back about 60 yards off a gravel road, surrounded by stacked stone wall and a double-iron gate. On Monday night, the house was dark except for a few outside lights. There was a police car in front, along with two uniformed officers.

Benoit was a former world heavyweight and Intercontinental champion. He also held several tag-team titles during 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."

The native of Canada 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.

"My relationship with Chris has extended many years and I consider him a great friend," Carl DeMarco, the president of WWE Canada, said in a statement. "Chris was always first-class — warm, friendly, caring and professional one of the best in our business."

 

[Dallas]

There were no signs of gunshot wounds or stabbing, according to Pope. Authorities are not ruling out other causes, such as poisoning, suffocation or strangulation. Pope told ABC News that his department is looking at this situation as a "possible double murder, suicide."


Pope said "the instruments of death were located on scene," but he would not specify what those instruments are or where in the house the bodies were found. Pope added the department is "not actively searching for any suspects outside of the house."

From what I can dig up.

Chris was the only one not shot. Whatever that means.

It looks REALLY bad. I just hope that Chris didn't do this to his wife and child. I have followed him for most of his career. A fabulous entertainer.

Im just beside myself. I cannot believe a father/mother could kill his/her child. My son is his age and I just can't comprehend the emotion involved for someone to even think of hurting his/her child this way.

Even during my custody battle for my son, I never once thought if I could not have them neither could she.

Unbelievable. Society is flushing away under our noses each day. Sick.

 

[Hostile]

WWE's website is reporting that this has been ruled a double murder, suicide.

http://www.wwe.com/

JMO, but a tribute show to him tonight has lost all appeal to me.

His wife, Nancy, was also a wrestler at one time. She was known mostly as Woman.

Why do distraught people kill their children? I will never understand that.

 

[Big Dakota]

Tragic, especially if it turns out she was leaving him. Nothing is worth killing you child or wife.

 

[Big Dakota]

From what I can dig up.

Chris was the only one not shot. Whatever that means.

It looks REALLY bad. I just hope that Chris didn't do this to his wife and child. I have followed him for most of his career. A fabulous entertainer.

Im just beside myself. I cannot believe a father/mother could kill his/her child. My son is his age and I just can't comprehend the emotion involved for someone to even think of hurting his/her child this way.

Even during my custody battle for my son, I never once thought if I could not have them neither could she.

Unbelievable. Society is flushing away under our noses each day. Sick.

The thought of losing a child makes me want to cry. I can't imagine killing my son? I have a 8 year old. His mother and i divorced 5 years ago after she just up and left, but life goes on. He doesn't see her much but he's a very happy well adjusted child despite going through our breakup at the age of 3. I just can't comprehend killing over a breakup.

 

[Hostile]

The thought of losing a child makes me want to cry. I can't imagine killing my son? I have a 8 year old. His mother and i divorced 5 years ago after she just up and left, but life goes on. He doesn't see her much but he's a very happy well adjusted child despite going through our breakup at the age of 3.

You and Dallas have more in common than you know.

 

[CowboyJeff]

I'm gonna miss "Toothless Aggression." His matches with Kurt Angle were classic. It's especially sad there's a young child involved. R.I.P.

 

[Bonecrusher#31]

He is a bigger POS than OJ if he killed his wife and kid over that kinda crap.

 

[Avery]

When I first heard, I was very shocked. If the murder-suicide turns out to be true, I'll never understand why.

 

[calico]

What a sad and shocking story. I have not followed wrestling in a while but I liked Benoit when I watched the WWF back in the late '90s early 2000s...this is really sad.

I still cannot believe that he would do this to his wife and kid...especially now that reports say he killed his wife on Sat, son on Sunday, and himself monday.

I think he snapped and killed his wife and then panicked afterwards...but to call the WWE and cancel your PPV match tells me that the guy snapped and then stewed in his own guilt for several hours and saw no way out other than to take his own life as well.

I am at a loss for words...I have a mixture of hate and sadness towards Benoit for what he did and I pray that what he did was because of a mental disorder and not pure cold hate.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I just can't comprehend killing over a breakup.

If the murder-suicide turns out to be true, I'll never understand why.

A persons mind can get sick just like their body. A sick mind is capable of doing unexplanable things.