WWE Wrestler Chris Benoit 40, his wife Nancy Benoit 43, and son Daniel 7 yrs, were found dead in their Georgia home today. Chris Benoit was scheduled to appear at a pay-per-view event last night, however WWE has said that there was a “family emergency” that prevented him from being there. Police are currently investigating the incident and their deaths are currently being investigated as homicides.
~Update 10:40pm CST~
Chris Benoit is now labeled a murderer. Detective Bo Turner from Georgia has told television station WAGA that the case is 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 he killed his wife Nancy and son Daniel over the weekend, and then himself sometime Monday. A concerned neighbor called police.
The bodies were found in three different rooms. The lead investigator, Lt. Tommy Pope, has said autopsy results should be released on Tuesday. Pope told ABC News that Benoit had missed several appointments over the weekend, leading concerned parties to ask police to do a “welfare check.” When sheriffs arrived at the Benoits’ home, they found the
wrestler, his wife, and their son dead.
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 said “the instruments of death were located on scene,” but 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.”
Tommy Pope said the three were found about 2:30 p.m Monday, but he would not release any other details about the deaths at the house near the White Water Country Club. The 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.
Benoit has two other children from a prior relationship.
June 25, 2007
Crime News