One thing is certain…….Chris Benoit committed suicide after killing his wife and 7 year old son. What led him to this very brutal and irrevocable action is now a matter of controversy. We in truth may never really know why. There was no suicide note, no last minute phone call to a buddy, reaching out for help and apparently no remorse or second thoughts as he killed one and then the other and finally himself over a period lasting from Friday through Sunday.
As the authorities conduct their investigation into the murder-suicide some more facts have emerged. Nancy Benoit, 43, was killed sometime Friday night and had bruises on her back and stomach, indicating her husband had his knee in her back as he pulled on a cord that was around her neck. Daniel, who was killed sometime on Saturday, appeared to have been killed in a chokehold because he had internal neck injuries but no visible bruises. He placed a bible beside each of their bodies after killing them. Chris Benoit, 40, then killed himself, on Sunday, by wrapping a cord around his neck that was attached to a weight machine. He released the weights —- about 240 pounds —- to cause strangulation.
Although no motive has been identified as the cause of the murder-suicide, there is much speculation surrounding Chris Benoit’s family situation and the possibility that steroids may have played a role.
“As we went back to the time line of events, it became pretty obvious from several different sources that Nancy and Chris had tension in their relationship,” said the lawyer, Jerry McDevitt. “I don’t know what they said to each other, but they were constantly struggling with the difficulties of raising a child who, from all indications, may well have had Fragile X Syndrome.”
Fragile X Syndrome is the most common inherited form of mental impairment, affecting boys twice as often as girls, according to the Emory University School of Medicine’s Department of Human Genetics. It can lead to autistic-like behavior, and there is no known cure. “It’s very difficult to raise a child this way. There’s a lot of guilt,” said McDevitt, a lawyer with the WWE. “Chris was traveling on the road; she was trying to deal with the problems on her own but she was still in pain after having recent neck surgery.” Daniel had just finished kindergarten at First Baptist Church School in Peachtree City and they were trying to find a school for him to attend. July 22, is National Fragile X Day. To find out more about Fragile X click here
There were also reports that Chris and Nancy Benoit had been through marital problems in the past. Nancy Benoit had filed for a divorce in 2003, saying the couple’s three-year marriage was irrevocably broken and alleging “cruel treatment.” She however later dropped the complaint as well as the restraining order filed on her husband. Chris also had two other children from a previous marriage: David, 14, and Megan, 10.
Anabolic steroids were also found in Benoit’s home, leading officials to wonder whether the drugs played a role in the slayings. Some experts believe steroids cause paranoia, depression and violent outbursts known as “roid rage.” Benoit had been under the care of Dr. Phil Astin, a longtime friend, for treatment of low testosterone levels. Astin said the condition likely originated from previous steroid use. The WWE issued a statement doubting that steroids were involved:
The WWE, based in Stamford, Conn., issued a news release saying steroids “were not and could not be related to the cause of death” and that the findings indicate “deliberation, not rage.” It also added that Benoit tested negative April 10, the last time he was tested for drugs.
Benoit’s personal physician said the wrestler did not give any indication he was troubled when he met with the doctor hours before the start of the weekend. “He was in my office on Friday to stop by just to see my staff,” Astin said. “He certainly didn’t show any signs of any distress or rage or anything. I’m still very surprised and shocked, especially with his child Daniel involved,” Astin said. “He worshipped his child.”
Speculation about drug use caused Federal Drug Agents to raid the office of Dr. Astin said agent Chuvalo Truesdell, a spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Administration. No arrests were made. Among other things, investigators were looking for Benoit’s medical records to see whether he had been prescribed steroids and, if so, whether that prescription was appropriate. State medical records show that Astin’s privileges were suspended for three months in 2001 at a Georgia hospital for “reasons related to competence or character.”
Another twist in the story occurred when officials from Wikipedia announced that Benoit’s page was updated at 12:01 a.m. Monday, about 14 hours before authorities say the bodies were found. The reason he missed a match Saturday night was “stemming from the death of his wife Nancy,” it said. A Wikipedia official, Cary Bass, said that the entry was made by someone using an Internet protocol address registered in Stamford, Connecticut, where World Wrestling Entertainment is based.
WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt said that to his knowledge, no one at the WWE knew Nancy Benoit was dead before her body was found Monday afternoon. Text messages released by officials show that messages from Chris Benoit’s cell phone were being sent to co-workers a few hours after the Wikipedia posting. “I have no idea who posted this,” McDevitt said. “It’s at least possible Chris may have sent some other text message to someone that we’re unaware of. We don’t know if he did. The phone is in the possession of authorities.”
Below in this video clip Linda McMahon, co-founder of the WWE, talks about Chris Benoit
For more on Chris Benoit and his wrestling career click here
Chris Benoit’s parents, Michael and Margaret Benoit, live in Ardrossan in the Canadian province of Alberta.
“It’s a horrible, horrible event that’s happened,” Michael Benoit, the wrestling star’s father said, speaking softly on the phone. “We have no understanding why it happened. It’s going to take us a long time to come to terms with this, and we may never come to terms with it.”
Chris Benoit will have a private service in Canada, separate from the services for his wife and son, his father said. Nancy Benoit’s parents, Paul and Maureen Toffoloni, live in Daytona Beach, Fla., where services for Nancy Benoit and Daniel probably will be held, Benoit said. They could not be reached for comment. The plan is to cremate the mother and child in Georgia, according to Bee Huddleston of Carl J. Mowell and Sons Funeral Home in Peachtree City, which is assisting the families.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Nancy’s family,” Michael Benoit said. “We’re very concerned about the long-term affects on her family. “There are no words to describe the loss we feel.”
