Chris Benoit double-murder and suicide

Chris Benoit

Benoit in 2006
Location Fayetteville, Georgia, United States
Date June 22–25, 2007 (EST)
Attack type
 Murder–suicide
Deaths 3 (including Benoit)
Perpetrator Chris Benoit

Over a three-day period between June 22 and June 25, 2007, Chris Benoit, a 40-year-old veteran professional wrestler employed by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), killed his wife Nancy Benoit and strangled their 7-year-old son Daniel before hanging himself. Autopsy results showed that Benoit's wife was murdered first as she was bound at the feet and wrists and died of asphyxiation on Friday. Nancy was found wrapped in a towel and with blood under her head, although Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard reported no other signs of a struggle.

The couple's son, Daniel Christopher Benoit, also died of asphyxia, apparently killed as he lay in bed on Saturday morning. Then on Sunday evening Benoit committed suicide in his weight room, when he used a weight lifting machine to break his own neck. He placed copies of the Bible alongside the bodies of his wife and son, as well as a third Bible on his weight lifting machine.[1][2] Since Benoit's suicide, numerous explanations for his actions have been proposed, including brain damage,[3] steroid abuse,[4] and a failing marriage.[5] The murder led to numerous media accounts, and a federal investigation into steroid abuse in professional wrestling.

Murder and suicide

Nancy Benoit

Main article: Nancy Benoit

On Friday, June 22, Chris Benoit killed his wife Nancy in an upstairs bedroom. Her limbs were bound, and her body was wrapped in a towel. A copy of the Bible was left by her body. Injuries indicated that Benoit had pressed a knee into her back while pulling on a cord around her neck, causing strangulation. Blood was also found under her head, suggesting that she may have tried to fend off Benoit. Officials said that there were no signs of immediate struggle.[6] Toxicologists were unable to determine whether alcohol found in her body was there before death or a decomposition product. Decomposition also made it difficult to estimate pre-death levels of hydrocodone and alprazolam, found in "therapeutic levels" in her corpse. In any case, her medical examiner saw no evidence that she was sedated like her son.[7]

Between the two murders

At about 3:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday, June 23, fellow wrestler and close friend Chavo Guerrero[8] received a voicemail message from Benoit's phone stating that he had overslept and missed his flight and would be late for that night's house show in Beaumont, Texas. Guerrero called Benoit back and found that Benoit sounded tired and groggy as he confirmed everything that he had said in his voice message. Guerrero, who was "concerned about Benoit's tone and demeanor," called him back 12 minutes later. Benoit did not answer the call, and Guerrero left a message asking Benoit to call back.

At 3:44 p.m. EDT, Benoit called Guerrero back, stating that he had not answered the call because he was on the phone with Delta Air Lines changing his flight. Benoit stated that he had a stressful day due to Nancy and Daniel "being sick from food poisoning." Guerrero then replied with "All right man, if you need to talk, I'm here for you." Benoit ended the conversation by saying "I love you, Chavo." During a 2014 appearance on Chris Jericho's Talk is Jericho podcast, Chavo said Benoit sounded "off" when he talked to him, especially when he said "I love you." Another co-worker who often traveled with Benoit called him from outside the Houston airport and Benoit answered. Benoit told the coworker that Nancy was vomiting blood and that Daniel was also vomiting.

On Sunday, June 24, five text messages were sent to co-workers between 3:51 a.m. and 3:58 a.m. using both Chris Benoit's and Nancy Benoit's cell phones. Four of them were the Benoits' address; the fifth said that the family's dogs were in the enclosed pool area, and also noted that a garage side door had been left open. Chavo and Scott Armstrong were two of the recipients of these texts.

During this time, Benoit called and left a voicemail for an unknown friend. Benoit later called WWE's talent relations office stating that his son was vomiting and that he and Nancy were at the hospital with him. He also stated that he would be taking a later flight into Houston where he was scheduled to face CM Punk for the vacant ECW World Heavyweight Championship at Vengeance: Night of Champions, but would not make the live event in Beaumont.[9]

Daniel Benoit

Daniel Christopher Benoit (born February 25, 2000) was Chris's third child and second son, having older paternal half-siblings named David and Megan via Chris's first wife, Martina. He was Nancy's only child, as she had no children with her ex-husbands Jim Daus and Kevin Sullivan.

Daniel was suffocated and killed in his bedroom, and a copy of the Bible was left by his body.[10] Daniel had internal injuries to the throat area, showing no bruises.[11] Daniel's exact time of death is unknown.[12] The reports determined Daniel was sedated with Xanax and likely unconscious when he was killed.[13][14] Daniel's body had also just started to show signs of decomposition but was not as far along as his mother's body.[7]

It was later alleged that Daniel had Fragile X syndrome, and that this was the cause of domestic problems in the Benoit family.[15] It was also suggested that needle marks on Daniel's arms were the result of growth hormones given to him because Benoit and his family considered him undersized due to Fragile X.[16] Benoit's coworker and best friend, wrestler Chris Jericho, stated that from his own research on the condition, the symptoms "fit Daniel to a tee, all across the board". With regard to those who had publicly stated that they had no knowledge of Daniel having the condition, Jericho said, "If Chris had decided that he wanted to keep it to himself, you wouldn't have been able to pry that out of him with anything."[17] Despite Chris Jericho's initial statements regarding Daniel, he later stated in his 2011 book Undisputed, "It turned out that Daniel didn't have Fragile X, but at the time it made sense because I was grasping at straws."[18]

District Attorney Ballard later released a statement saying that a source with access to Daniel's medical files found no mention of any pre-existing mental or physical ailments. Likewise, Daniel Benoit's teachers reported that he was on par with other students and not about to be held back as previously thought.[19] Speaking publicly for the first time in a major public interview on a Talk is Jericho podcast in 2016, Nancy's sister Sandra Toffoloni, who was intimately related with the Benoit family, unequivocally refuted any claims that Daniel had ever had Fragile X or any other such sickness. She also stated that claims of needle track marks on Daniel's arms were "preposterous".[20]

Chris Benoit

Main article: Chris Benoit

Chris Benoit, according to District Attorney Ballard and the city sheriff, committed suicide by hanging.[12] Benoit used a weight machine cord to hang himself by creating a noose from the end of the cord on a pull-down machine from which the bar had been removed. When Benoit released the weights, the move caused his strangulation. Ballard said Benoit was found hanging from the pulley cable.

On the 2016 Talk is Jericho podcast, Nancy's sister Sandra Toffoloni clarified some details further. She said that over the weekend after the murders the search history on Benoit's computer showed he had researched "the quickest and easiest way to break a neck". He had then later used a towel around his neck attached to the handle of the machine, which he pulled down using a very heavy weight and let go, breaking his neck instantly.[20]

Discovery of the bodies

On Monday, June 25, 2007, WWE (specifically John Laurinaitis, the WWE's Senior Vice President of Talent Relations) was notified of the text messages sent to Chavo Guerrero and Scott Armstrong. The company asked the Fayette County Sheriff's Department to check on the Benoit family. After discovering the bodies, the police notified WWE around 4:15 p.m., informing them that they had discovered three bodies at the Benoit home and the house was now ruled as a "major crime scene".[9]

A suicide note was not discovered during the initial investigation, but a note was later discovered in another Bible that had been included in Benoit's possessions that were sent to his first wife. According to professional wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer, "There was a note that was found in a Bible by the mother of Chris's two children (Martina Benoit) who lives in Canada. The Bible was mixed in with Chris's personal belongings that were shipped to them." Chris Benoit's father Michael Benoit stated, "He had a hand-written notation in there saying 'I'm preparing to leave this Earth.'"[21][22]

Possible motives

WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt appeared on Live with Dan Abrams on July 17, 2007, and said that Benoit was prescribed testosterone as part of a treatment for testosterone replacement therapy, which McDevitt said was a common medical practice for people who had used steroids in the past, and had suffered testicular damage as a result.

Former wrestler Christopher Nowinski stated that Benoit may have been suffering from repeated, untreated concussions throughout his wrestling career, ultimately leading to an unstable mental state. Nowinski was quoted as saying that Benoit "was one of the only guys who would take a chair shot to the back of the head ... which is stupid".[23] Tests conducted on Benoit's brain by Julian Bailes, the head of neurosurgery at West Virginia University, showed "Benoit's brain was so severely damaged it resembled the brain of an 85-year-old Alzheimer's patient".[24] Other tests conducted on Benoit's brain tissue revealed severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE),[25] and damage to all four lobes of the brain and brain stem.[26] Bailes and his colleagues concluded that repeated concussions can lead to dementia, which can contribute to severe behavioral problems. Benoit's father suggests that brain damage may have been the leading cause of the double murder-suicide.[27] A statement released by WWE dismissed this idea as "speculative".[28]

Nancy Benoit had filed for divorce in May 2003, allegedly after domestic abuse from Chris, but had withdrawn it in August 2003.[29] In February 2008, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) reported that Nancy may have suspected her husband of having an affair with a WWE Diva, and that they may have also argued over a life insurance policy. The AJC claimed the source was a recently released report from the Fayette County Sheriff's Office.[30]

Speaking on the matter in his autobiography The Hardcore Truth, Bob Holly speculates the main influence in Benoit's actions was alcohol abuse rather than steroids. Holly and Benoit traveled together on the road during their time together in WWE, and Holly did not believe steroids played a factor and that Benoit had tended to drink more than he normally would consume when issues with Nancy arose.

Responses

World Wrestling Entertainment

The deaths were first reported to fans of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on their WWE Mobile Alerts Service and posted to its official website soon after. On its website, the company released the following statement:

World Wrestling Entertainment is deeply saddened to report that today Chris Benoit and his family were found dead in their home. There are no further details at this time, other than the Benoit family residence is currently being investigated by local authorities. Tonight’s Raw on USA Network will serve as a tribute to Chris Benoit and his family. WWE extends its sincerest thoughts and prayers to the Benoit family’s relatives and loved ones in this time of tragedy.[31]

WWE canceled the scheduled three-hour-long live Raw show on June 25 (which, coincidentally, was supposed to be a memorial for the Mr. McMahon character), and replaced the broadcast version with a tribute to his life and career, featuring past matches, segments from the Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story DVD, and comments from wrestlers and announcers from the Raw, SmackDown!, and ECW brands. Shortly after the program aired, many of the aired comments were posted on WWE.com. It was not until the program was nearly over that reports surfaced that police were working under the belief that Benoit murdered his wife and son before killing himself.

The next night, after some of the details of the deaths became available, the company aired a recorded statement by its Chairman Vince McMahon before its ECW broadcast:

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Last night on Monday Night Raw, the WWE presented a special tribute show, recognizing the career of Chris Benoit. However, now some 26 hours later, the facts of this horrific tragedy are now apparent. Therefore, other than my comments, there will be no mention of Mr. Benoit's name tonight. On the contrary, tonight's show will be dedicated to everyone who has been affected by this terrible incident. This evening marks the first step of the healing process. Tonight, WWE performers will do what they do better than anyone else in the world: entertain you.

After learning about the full details of his and his family's deaths, WWE quickly distanced itself from Chris Benoit:

Professional wrestling industry

Numerous individuals in professional wrestling, past and present, commented on the deaths and their aftermath:

In 2003, Benoit had been inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame. As a result of the double murder-suicide, his induction underwent a recall election in 2008. Although over 50% of voters decided to remove Benoit from the Hall, Dave Meltzer (head of the Observer) had set a 60% requirement prior to the election, allowing Benoit to remain in.

Media

When the news was released about Benoit's death, most mainstream news outlets covered the story, including MSNBC and Fox News Channel.[50][51] Benoit made the cover of People magazine. ECW Press announced on July 16 that noted wrestling writer Irvin Muchnick had written a book on the Benoit case, due out in 2008.[52] At the Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav in August 2007, Jimmy Kimmel joked to honoree Flavor Flav that "Chris Benoit is a better father than Flavor Flav", which drew a shocked, appalled response, and laughs from the crowd.[53]

Immediately following the deaths, WWE Classics On Demand, WWE's subscription video on demand service, began removing the likeness and mentions of both Chris and Nancy Benoit from archival footage.[54][55] They eventually returned Nancy to programming, but continue to remove Chris from bi-weekly uploaded episodes of WCW Monday Nitro.

Government

With Benoit and his death allegedly linked to steroid abuse, WWE went under investigation by the United States House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform regarding their talent wellness policy.[56] Congress did not take action against either the WWE or any other professional wrestling company in the wake of the event. In January 2009, Henry Waxman, outgoing chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, requested that the Office of National Drug Control Policy chief, John P. Walters, "examine steroid use in professional wrestling and take appropriate steps to address this problem." In the letter, Waxman stated "In the first year of WWE's testing program, which began in March 2006, 40% of wrestlers tested positive for steroids and other drugs, even after being warned in advance that they were going to be tested." He also wrote about how wrestlers who test positive for performance enhancers receive light punishment and afterwards can often participate in wrestling events. The committee investigation also uncovered how easily wrestlers can secure "therapeutic use exemptions" (TUEs, permission to take banned substances for medical reasons) so they can continue performing while using steroids. When Waxman's staff interviewed Dr. Tracy Ray, a physician contracted by WWE, Ray claimed there was "shadiness in almost every [TUE] case that I've reviewed."[57]

Steroids debate

Background

Steroids were found in the home, leading some media organizations to hypothesize that a steroid-induced rage may be the cause of Benoit's actions, as some doctors have linked steroid use to uncontrollable anger, among other psychological issues which include paranoia.[50][58] WWE released a press-statement, challenging the "roid-rage" claims. One part of the statement reads:

The physical findings announced by authorities indicate deliberation, not rage. The wife’s feet and hands were bound and she was asphyxiated, not beaten to death. By the account of the authorities, there were substantial periods of time between the death of the wife and the death of the son, again suggesting deliberate thought, not rage. The presence of a Bible by each is also not an act of rage.[59]

Prosecutors in New York investigated the deliveries Benoit received from Signature Pharmacy and MedXLife.com, which sold steroids and human growth hormone (HGH) over the internet.[60] Terence Kindlon, the lawyer for MedXLife co-owner Dr. Gary Brandwein, denied allegations that his client's company sold steroids to Benoit.[60] Brandwein pleaded not guilty to six counts in New York state court related to the criminal sale of a controlled substance.[61] According to a report from Sports Illustrated, three packages sent to Benoit were from Signature Pharmacy with the first one sent in December 2005 to San Antonio, Texas. The second package was sent on February 13, 2006 to an address in Peachtree City, Georgia and the third package was sent in July 2006 to Fort Walton Beach, Florida.[62] This followed eleven superstars that were announced in a Sports Illustrated steroids investigation that began March 2007, which included Kurt Angle, Eddie Guerrero, Oscar Gutierrez (Rey Mysterio, Jr.), Adam Copeland (Edge) and Gregory Helms, with Copeland receiving a high amount of steroids.[63]

WWE attorney Jerry McDevitt stated that "they believe the facts of this crime do not support the hypothesis that 'roid rage' played a role in the murders." They cite evidence of premeditation in addition to the lack of a toxicology report, and the fact that the steroids found within Benoit's home were legally prescribed.[59][64] Dr. Gary I. Wadler who currently serves on the World Anti-Doping Agency's Prohibited List and Methods Committee and has served on its Health, Medicine, and Research Committee agreed stating that "that was a premeditated act and that's not rage".[65] Investigators seized both Chris and Nancy's medical records. They also have medical records of Mark Jindrak, Hardcore Holly (Robert Howard), Lex Luger (Lawrence Pfohl), Rey Mysterio, Jr., Buff Bagwell (Marcus Bagwell), and Johnny Grunge (Mike Durham), all of whom were patients of Dr. Phil Astin.[66][67][68] The toxicology report on Chris Benoit's body was released Tuesday, July 17, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. EDT.[14][69]

Toxicology results

At the press conference held by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation at 2:30 p.m. EDT on July 17, 2007, it was announced that three different drugs were found in Nancy Benoit's system: hydrocodone, hydromorphone and Xanax. All three drugs were found to be at levels investigators considered normal for therapeutic treatment (as opposed to recreational use or abuse.) A blood-alcohol level was found at 0.184. Dr. Kris Sperry added it was impossible to say whether any of the blood findings was due to ingestion of alcohol or the post-mortem process.[7] It was also ruled out that Nancy was sedated by Chris before she was murdered.[70]

Xanax was found in Daniel Benoit's system. District Attorney Scott Ballard noted this was not a drug that would be given to a child under normal circumstances. It is believed that Daniel was sedated prior to being murdered, with Dr. Sperry ruling out that Daniel died of a drug overdose.[70] The GBI, however, said in the press conference that it could not perform tests for steroids or human growth hormones on Daniel because of a lack of urine.[71]

Xanax and hydrocodone were also found in Chris Benoit's system, at levels investigators called consistent with therapeutic use. Elevated levels of testosterone cypionate were found in his urine; investigators believed that the level found suggested it had been taken recently. No artificial steroids were found in Chris' urine (with the exception of this testosterone cypionate) nor was there evidence of GHB, contrary to speculation.[70] Benoit also tested negative for blood alcohol.[72][73]

Dr. Astin

Dr. Phil C. Astin III was the personal doctor for Chris Benoit. Attorneys for Dr. Astin had asked a judge to throw out evidence seized during a raid on Astin's office after the death of Benoit and his family. Astin's attorney, Manny Arora claimed that the search exceeded authority granted in a search warrant and that authorities seized patients' records other than Benoit as well as three years of bank records and computers. This comes from the Wrestling Observer, a newsletter dedicated to professional wrestling. According to the Associated Press in February 2008, Astin had been charged with overprescribing medication in a case not connected to Benoit.[74] On January 29, 2009, Astin admitted he illegally prescribed drugs, sometimes without even examining the patients first and pleaded guilty to all 175 counts against him. Astin faced a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million on each count. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for illegally prescribing medicine to his patients.[75]

Wikipedia page incident

Wikinews has related news:

A statement regarding Nancy Benoit's death was added to the Chris Benoit English Wikipedia article 14 hours before police discovered the bodies of Benoit and his family. This seemingly prescient addition was initially reported on Wikinews and later on Fox News Channel. The article originally read: "Chris Benoit was replaced by Johnny Nitro for the ECW World Championship match at Vengeance, as Benoit was not there due to personal issues, stemming from the death of his wife Nancy." The phrase "stemming from the death of his wife Nancy" was added at 12:01 a.m. EDT on June 25,[76] whereas the Fayette County police reportedly discovered the bodies of the Benoit family at 2:30 p.m. EDT (14 hours, 29 minutes later). The IP address of the editor was traced to Stamford, Connecticut, which is also the location of WWE headquarters.[77] After news of the early death notice reached mainstream media, the anonymous poster accessed Wikinews to explain his edit as a "huge coincidence and nothing more."[78][79]

Police detectives "seized computer equipment from the man held responsible for the postings" and called the posting an unbelievable "hindrance" to their investigation, but believed he was otherwise uninvolved, declining to press charges.[80][81] The man had found several rumors on-line,[82] which supported his theory about the Benoit "family emergency" as reported in wrestling news. The IP from which he made the edit was tentatively traced to vandalizing the Wikipedia entries for African wild ass, The Bronx, The Sopranos, Ron Artest, Stacy Keibler, and Naugatuck, Connecticut.[83] He also reverted vandalism to Chavo Guerrero Jr.[84] and recorded a loss for the Golden State Warriors.[85]

Aftermath and legacy

In the years following the incident, it continued to be referred to in the media. The murders led to many fans and critics of WWE believing them to be the cause that led WWE to change their programming. Within a few months, chair shots to the head were banned in WWE, along with the use of coarse language, blood, and adult oriented situations and storylines becoming limited to nonexistent, although the programming that was on WWE television at the time of the murders was already considerably toned down compared to the Attitude Era, of which Benoit joined WWE at the tail end. This was finalized in mid 2008 in the WWE's switch from a TV-14 rating to its current TV-PG rating.

There have been discussions in whether Benoit would ever be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Due to the nature of WWE distancing themselves from Benoit, it may never happen. Steve Austin commented on Benoit, believing that while he was an important aspect of the business, he would never be inducted into the Hall of Fame due to his actions.[86] Chris Jericho also stated that Benoit should never be in the Hall of Fame.[87]

References

  1. ↑ "Wrestler Chris Benoit Double Murder-Suicide: Was It 'Roid Rage'?". Foxnews.com. 2007-06-27. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
  2. ↑ Sherwood, Roxanna (2007-09-05). "Benoit's Dad, Doctors: Multiple Concussions Could Be Connected to Murder-Suicide – ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
  3. ↑ "Benoit's Brain Showed Severe Damage From Multiple Concussions, Doctor and Dad Say – ABC News". Abcnews.go.com. 2007-09-05. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
  4. ↑ "Wrestler Chris Benoit Used Steroid Testosterone; Son Sedated Before Murders". Fox News. 2007-07-17.
  5. ↑ "Police Report: Chris Benoit Thought His Marriage Was Failing;...". www.wsbtv.com. Retrieved 2011-10-21.
  6. ↑ Blane Bachelor (2007-06-25). "Officials: unknown attacker Strangled Wife, Suffocated Son, did drugs". Fox News Channel. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  7. 1 2 3 "Toxicology Results Of Chris, Nancy, & Daniel Benoit Revealed". Wrestling News World.
  8. ↑ Keller, Wade (2007-07-18). "Pro Wrestling Torch: Chavo Guerrero interview on Greta van Susteren show". Pro Wrestling Torch.
  9. 1 2 "Chris Benoit Timeline". Daily News (New York). World Wrestling Entertainment. 2007-06-27. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  10. ↑ SAEED AHMED; KATHY JEFCOATS; S.A. REID (2007-06-25). "Police: Benoit killed wife, son, left Bibles by their bodies". The Atlanta-Journal Constitution. Archived from the original on 2007-06-29.
  11. ↑ Kevin Duffy (2007-06-27). "Atlanta Journal-Constitution (transcribed to WrestlingDotCom)". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Wrestling Dot Com. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  12. 1 2 David Lohr (June 25, 2007). "Authorities Confirm Chris Benoit Murdered Wife and Son". CrimeLibrary.com. Archived from the original on 2008-04-17. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  13. ↑ Montgomery, James (2007-07-17). "Chris Benoit Had Steroids, Other Drugs In His System At Time Of Murder-Suicide". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved 2009-04-04. The reports also determine that Benoit's 7-year-old son, Daniel, was sedated with Xanax when he was killed.
  14. 1 2 Sutton, Larry (2007-07-17). "Official: Chris Benoit's Son Was Sedated When Killed". People. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
  15. ↑ "Police: An unknown attacker killed Benoit's wife, son, left Bibles by their bodies". The Atlanta-Journal Constitution. 2007-06-25. Archived from the original on July 9, 2007. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  16. ↑ Mike Fish (2007-06-27). "Steroids discovered in probe of slayings, suicide". ESPN. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  17. ↑ "Nancy Grace". Nancy Grace. 2007-06-28. CNN.
  18. ↑ "Chapter 46 Benoit". Chris Jericho – Undisputed: How to Become the World Champion in 1,372 Easy Steps.
  19. ↑ "Prosecutor disputes that Benoit son had Fragile X". ESPN. Associated Press. 2007-07-03. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  20. 1 2 Jericho, Chris (22 June 2016). "Inside The Benoit Family Tragedy on Talk Is Jericho - EP259". podcastone.com. PodcastOne. Retrieved 25 June 2016.
  21. ↑ "Chris Benoit's father: Murderous rampage resulted from brain damage, not steroids". Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 2010-10-16. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
  22. ↑ "New information comes out about Chris Benoit and his murder-suicide". Cageside Seats. 2010-12-22. Retrieved 2011-02-16.
  23. ↑ Brenda Goodman (2007-06-26). "Wrestler Killed Wife and Son, Then Himself". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  24. ↑ "Benoit's Brain Showed Severe Damage From Multiple Concussions, Doctor and Dad Say". ABC News. 2007-09-05. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
  25. ↑ "Wrestler Chris Benoit Brain's Forensic Exam Consistent With Numerous Brain Injuries". Science Daily. 2007-09-06. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
  26. ↑ "Benoit's Brain Showed Severe Damage From Multiple Concussions, Doctor and Dad Say". Good Morning America. ABC News. 2007-09-05. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
  27. ↑ "Brain Study: Concussions Caused Benoit's Rage". WSB Atlanta. Retrieved 2007-09-05.
  28. ↑ Jon Swartz (2007-09-05). "Doctor: Wrestler Benoit had 'shocking' brain damage". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  29. ↑ "Benoit Divorce Papers" (PDF). Retrieved 2011-10-21.
  30. ↑ Hollis, John (2008-02-15). "Benoit's wife may have been planning to leave him". The Atlanta-Journal Constitution. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  31. ↑ "WWE Superstar Chris Benoit Found Dead". WWE Corporate. 2007-06-25. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  32. ↑ "World Wrestling Entertainment Issues Statement". WWE Corporate. 2007-07-17. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  33. ↑ "CM Punk Trying To Get Colt Cabana A Job With WWE, Rock Loses Money On Mansion, Chris Benoit". WrestlingInc.com.
  34. ↑ Warneck, Jereme (2007-12-13). "Jereme Warneck has strong opinions regarding aspects of Smackdown Vs. Raw 2008". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  35. ↑ "Amazon.com: Rabid: WWE & Jim Johnston: MP3 Downloads". amazon.com.
  36. ↑ "Hulk Hogan talks to US About the Killer Wrestler". Us Weekly. 2007-07-03. Archived from the original on 2008-03-24. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  37. ↑ Linder, Brian (2007-07-15). "Angle: Tragedy shows need to step back, take a look". TMZ.com. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  38. ↑ Eric Bischoff (2007-06-28). "How Can This Be?". ericbischoff.com. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  39. ↑ Hoff, Valerie (2007-06-27). "Lex Luger Talks About Chris Benoit". Tampa Bay's 10. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  40. ↑ Maxwell, Scott (2007-06-28). "Ex-wrestler boils about WWE pressure-cooker". Orlando Sentinel. OrlandoSentinel.com. Archived from the original on 2007-07-12. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  41. ↑ Storm, Lance (2007-07-02). "Benoit Tragedy". StormWrestling.com. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  42. ↑ Smith, Michael David (2007-06-28). "Joanie Laurer (Chyna) Blasts Vince McMahon, WWE in Chris Benoit Murder-Suicide". AOL Sports Fan House. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  43. ↑ "Wrestler: Don't Blame WWE for Benoit Killings". TMZ.com. 2007-07-10. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  44. ↑ Keller, Wade (2007-06-28). "Benoit Story: Chris Jericho speaks HN's Nancy Grace show, which spent 40 minutes on Benoit". PWTorch. Archived from the original on 2007-07-01. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  45. ↑ Kotton, Howard (2007-11-04). "Chris Benoit drugs 'unusual' amongst WWE wrestlers". Herald Sun. News Corporation. Archived from the original on February 23, 2009. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
  46. ↑ Transcript: "McMahons: WWE not to blame for Benoit's actions". CNN. 2007-11-07. Retrieved 2008-05-21. The interview was conducted by Drew Griffin.
  47. ↑ Breihan, Tom (2011-07-14). "The GQ&A: C.M. Punk". GQ.com. Retrieved 2011-07-16.
  48. ↑ "Is WWE trying to erase Chris Benoit from history?". YouTube. July 15, 2012.
  49. ↑ "Sean "X-Pac" Waltman". The Ross Report. Episode 43. December 9, 2014. 50 minutes in. PodcastOne. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
  50. 1 2 "Cops eye 'roid rage in wrestler's murder-suicide". MSNBC. Associated Press. 2007-06-27. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  51. ↑ "Cops Suspect Murder-Suicide in Killings of Pro Wrestler Chris Benoit and His Family". Fox News Channel. Associated Press. 2007-06-26. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  52. ↑ Muchnick, Irvin (2007-07-16). "Chris and Nancy Story of Benoit Murder-Suicide". ECW News. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  53. ↑ "Comedy Central Roast of Flavor Flav". Comedy Central Roast. Episode 5. 2007-08-12. 90 minutes in. Comedy Central.
  54. ↑ "Benoit Edited Off Of WWE 24/7, Heated Warrior Interview, Lance Storm". PWPix.net. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
  55. ↑ "Possible WrestleMania XXV Sites, Benoit Match On WWE 24/7, Raw Rating Delayed". Rajah.com. Retrieved 2007-07-08.
  56. ↑ "Congress wants WWE's info on steroids, doping". MSNBC. Associated Press. 2007-07-28. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  57. ↑ Red, Christian (2009-01-02). "Congress needles wrestling". Daily News. New York.
  58. ↑ Catherine Donaldson-Evans (2007-06-27). "Wrestler Chris Benoit Double Murder-Suicide: Was It 'Roid Rage'?". Fox News Channel. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  59. 1 2 "WWE Shocked At Latest Developments In Benoit Tragedy, Concerned By Sensationalistic Reporting". WWE Corporate. 2007-06-26. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  60. 1 2 Bluestein, Greg (2007-06-28). "McMahon: Don't Assume 'Roids in Deaths". San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
  61. ↑ Hill, Michael (2007-03-05). "Steroids probe widens as more are charged". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
  62. ↑ Luis Fernando Llosa; L. Jon Wertheim (2007-06-26). "WWE downplays drug factor". Sports Illustrated.com. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  63. ↑ Luis Fernando Llosa; L. Jon Wertheim (2007-03-19). "Wrestlers allegedly tied to drug ring". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  64. ↑ "Drug Agents Raid Offices of Pro Wrestler Chris Benoit's Personal Physician". Fox News Channel. 2007-06-28. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  65. ↑ Duffy, Kevin. "Control issues cited instead of 'roid rage' in Benoit killings". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Archived from the original on 2007-07-06. Retrieved 2007-07-03.
  66. ↑ Schoetz, David (2007-07-12). "Beyond Benoit: More Wrestlers Tied to Doc". ABC News. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
  67. ↑ "Separate Funerals Set for Wrestler Benoit and Family". CNN International. CNN Transcripts. 2007-07-13. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
  68. ↑ "Nation in Brief". The Washington Post. 2007-07-12. Retrieved 2009-04-04. A sheriff's official previously said that [Phil] Astin is also being investigated in the February 2006 death of another wrestler, Michael Durham.
  69. ↑ "Toxicology Report for Benoit Murder-Suicide Released". CNN International. CNN. 2007-07-17. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
  70. 1 2 3 Greg Bluestein (2007-07-17). "GBI: Benoit, family had drugs in bodies". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  71. ↑ "Steroids, other drugs found in Benoit's body". MSNBC. 2007-07-17. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  72. ↑ "Wrestler's slain son was probably sedated, investigators say". CNN. Associated Press. 2007-07-17. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  73. ↑ "Steroid found in Benoit's body". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. 2007-07-17. Archived from the original on 2009-06-24. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  74. ↑ Weber, Harry R. (2008-02-04). "Defence seeks delay in trial of personal physician of late pro wrestler Benoit". Prince George Citizen. Associated Press. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
  75. ↑ "Doctor Of Dead Wrestler Pleads Guilty To 175 Counts". WSB-TV. Associated Press. January 29, 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
  76. ↑ IP 69.120.111.23. "Chris Benoit: Difference between revisions". wikipedia.org.
  77. ↑ Bachelor, Blane (2007-06-28). "Web Time Stamps Indicate Benoit Death Reported About 14 Hours Before Police Found Bodies". Fox News Channel. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  78. ↑ "Anonymous poster comments on Wikinews".
  79. ↑ "User admits 'death' editing on Wikipedia 14 hours before bodies found". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 2007-06-28. Archived from the original on 2007-07-01. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  80. ↑ Schoetz, David (2007-06-29). "Police: Wiki Confession an 'Unbelievable Hindrance'". ABC News. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  81. ↑ Lowe, Zach (2007-07-03). "Stamford teen posted entry on death of wrestler's wife" (PDF). The Advocate. Hearst Corporation. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 30, 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  82. ↑ Gibson, Jano (2008-06-29). "Benoit mystery's Wiki twist: I did it". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  83. ↑ Corey Spring (2007-06-29). "The College Student Who 'Knew' About the Benoit Murder-Suicide Before Police". Newsvine. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  84. ↑ Special:Diff/138444926
  85. ↑ Special:Diff/131227574
  86. ↑ "Steve Austin Talks About Chris Benoit, Says He Will Never Be In WWE's Hall Of Fame - WrestlingInc.com".
  87. ↑ "Chris Jericho responds to Chris Benoit Hall of Fame question". October 16, 2014.
  88. ↑ "Music - Detroit Free Press - freep.com". Detroit Free Press.
  89. ↑ "The Jovan Belcher Tragedy Hits Close To Home With Pro Wrestling Fans". RantSports.
  90. ↑ "Chris Benoit's Sister-In-Law Comments on 2007 Murder/Suicide and More". yardbarker.com.
  91. ↑ Mike Johnson (July 1, 2013). "NANCY BENOIT'S SISTER DISCUSSES THE BENOIT TRAGEDY FOR THE FIRST TIME, SAYS CHRIS BENOIT WAS WITHIN A YEAR OF DYING AT TIME OF BENOIT TRAGEDY". PWInsider.com. Retrieved February 15, 2016.
  92. ↑ "Chris Benoit's Sister-In-Law Comments on 2007 Murder/Suicide and More". Yardbarker.
  93. ↑ "Liev Schreiber To Play Chris Benoit In Crossface Movie". WhatCulture.com.
  94. ↑ Caldwell, James (2013-01-07). "WWE NEWS: Ross returns to TV on ESPN, Benoit/WWE Network update, top indie tag team turned down?". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 2014-01-03.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 12/1/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.