Chris Benoit, his wife and 7-year old son found dead

[JLTucker]

MSNBC

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

Lt. Tommy Pope of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department said the three were found at their home about 2:30 p.m., but refused to release details.

Pope said results of autopsies on Benoit, his wife Nancy, and 7-year-old son Daniel were expected Tuesday.

Benoit, 40, was a former world heavyweight champion, Intercontinental champion and held several tag-team titles over 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.”

Benoit, a Canadian native, 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.

I just checked the USA Network and they are having a tribute to him. Jesus ****. Eddie Guerrero died in November 2005. Now Chris? ****ing ****.

[APISTOBORELLI]

Wrestling star Chris Benoit, his wife, Nancy, and their 7-year-old son Daniel were found dead in their suburban Atlanta home Monday. Authorities are investigating the deaths as homicides.

Benoit, 40, was scheduled to spar against C.M. Punk in a pay-per-view event Sunday night in Houston for the Extreme Champion Wrestling title. But Benoit canceled before the event, citing personal reasons.

In a statement issued following the announcement of the discovery, World Wrestling Entertainment statement following the announcement. "Chris was beloved among his fellow Superstars, and was a favorite among WWE fans for his unbelievable athleticism and wrestling ability. 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. WWE extends its sincere condolences and prayers to the Benoit family and loved ones in this time of tragedy."

WWE announced that it would drop its planned line-up on the USA Network to air a three-hour tribute to Chris Benoit.

Lt. Tommy Pope of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department 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 Benoit home, they found the wrestler, his wife, and his son dead.

There was no sign of gunshot wounds or stabbing, according to Pope. But they are not ruling out other causes, such as poisoning, suffocation, or strangulation. Although Pope noted he was not "confirming" any of these causes, just not ruling them out at this time.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. However, it could be as long as weeks before there is a result.

In a sport known for bravado and bullying, Benoit was very much beloved and respected by his peers. He was passionate about his profession and served as a mentor to many younger, up-and-coming performers. As an indication of how much the fans enjoyed him, when the crowd in Houston's Toyota Center learned Sunday night that he wouldn't be there, they chanted, "We want Benoit!"

[BloodyBlade]

I'm not very fond of wrestling, but how could someone kill over a muscular soap opera?

[JLTucker]

How do you know that wrestling was the motive for the killings?

[Greek]

This sucks, chris benoit was awesome, he was one of my all time favorites. :( rip benoit

[BloodyBlade]

Originally Posted by JLTucker

How do you know that wrestling was the motive for the killings?

It may very well have been, and if it was that's ****ing retarded.

[Super]

**** happens...

I want to find out how and why already.

[JLTucker]

Update:

Source
6/25/2007

FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. (AP-CP) - 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 seven-year-old son, Daniel, over the weekend, then himself on Monday. A neighbour 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 neighbourhood set back about 60 metres 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.

[IversonAli3]

So youre telling me that the USA network is airing a tribute to someone who just murdered his wife and son?

Classic.

[JLTucker]

They may have not known. That was just released.

[duckduckgoose]

Awesome, this has brightened my whole day.
Heh I loved it when Owen Hart died like a dumbass.

[JLTucker]

It is not awesome. A woman and a child were killed. That is never awesome. Though I do agree with you on Owen Hart.

[APISTOBORELLI]

If it is a murder-suicide, then all my respect for the man has gone out the window. I've watched him wrestle for years. He was one of my favorites.

[Chiups]

Originally Posted by WWE Homepage

It has been ruled that the deaths of Chris Benoit, his wife Nancy and their son Daniel earlier today were the result of a double murder-suicide from within the home. WWE.com will have more as soon as it becomes available.

Guess he is just a son of a bish.