Chris Benoit and his family were found dead today

[MzBtch]

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.


Update from WWE website:

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.

[kazz]

It's truly a depressing situation and a disturbing one considering the reported circumstances around Benoit's death.

All of us, wrestlers, referees, time keepers, trainees, ring announcers, etc... we are all fans. That's the bottom line, we are all fans of someone above us and Chris Benoit was one of, if not the most respected individual in all of pro-wrestling.

He will be missed and our best wishes to his family.

[admin]

Yes, we are both shocked and saddened by his death. Chris Benoit will be missed...
To all those who knew him, his family, and to all the fans, our deepest condolences go out to you ALL...

www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usbenoit0626,0,4246396.story?coll=ny-top-headlines

(You might have to copy and paste the site address to access news by ALFONSO A. CASTILLO at Newsday.com)

[admin]

More on the CHRIS BENOIT story...

www.wrestling-online.com/news/

[MzBtch]

I have lost ALL respect for the guy!!! I am sry, but it just isn't right kililng anyone for any reason.. drugs or no drugs!!!! I hope all rest in peace and I feel sorry for the one's left behind with no answers! We will NEVER know the real reason, but hopefully we will remember the good times he has left us with!


News conference notes from Fayetteville, GA:

From: WGGL shown on Fox News

- Lt. Pope: WWE called police officials at 2:30PM on Monday over concern for Benoit’s well being. Police found all three bodies in the home. “Double Homicide Suicide” is the official ruling.

- It appears Benoit killed his wife on Friday, his son shortly after, and likely hanged himself either late Saturday night or early Sunday.

- No suicide note was left behind.

- Asphyxiation is the official ruling for Benoit’s wife and son deaths.

- Benoit was previously arrested for a DUI.

- A lot of prescription medication was found in the home, legal prescriptions.

- Police found anabolic steroids in the home.

- No comment from police regarding a possible motivation.

- He killed himself several hours, but no more than a day, after killing son Daniel.

- Police is unaware of prior domestic violence.

- District Attorney Scott Ballard stated that a Bible was placed near each murder victim.

- Benoit bond Nancy’s hands and feet and she was wrapped in a towel. Blood was found near Nancy’s body.

- In 2003, a temporary restraining order was sought but later dropped.

- Benoit made no attempt to hide the bodies.

- The DA himself has not heard from WWE.

- Daniel was found in an upstairs bedroom. Benoit’s wife was also found in an upstairs family room, and Benoit hung himself in the weight room in the basement.

- The toxicology reports are still pending. It will probably take more than two weeks for the reports to be finished.

- Benoit apparently called WWE stating that Daniel was coughing up blood, thus likely the “personal reasons” for missing weekend house shows.

[admin]

The below was forwarded to us by Dale Gagne from the national AWA office:

Team -

I know that many of you are going through numerous emotions as the media reports today on the death / suicide of Chris Benoit, his wife and son. Personally, I'm sad. I'm sad that Chris was led to murdering his wife and son. I don't think any us can imagine such internal torment. A lot will be written regarding this tragedy. Our own website will acknowledge the passing and wish his family, friends and fans some peace and resolution.

The following post was written by Scott Hudson, a former WCW television announcer. What's our part in all of this?

SCOTT HUDSON: CHRIS BENOIT'S FOURTH VICTIM
By: Scott Hudson
6/26/2007 3:44:44 PM

Not a human victim. As the beautiful Nancy and the young Daniel lay dead and dying in their new home, Chris was slowly suffocating another victim as he ended his own life. He killed what shred of innocence was left in wrestling. I know that’s akin to lamenting the loss of integrity in the legal profession - but there was a little bit left.

The innocence was found in the locker room, in a backstage handshake and embrace between two athletes, in ribbing among the members of the fraternity. As kayfabe went the way of the dinosaur, the wall of insulation constructed from the inside out by those in the business grew higher. One knew that any casual hotel lobby conversation with a fan or radio show guest shot would be on the internet in mere minutes. Nothing wrong with that. But we knew that the only people you could trust - albeit very little - were those in the locker room with you. They knew. They understood. The pain. The travel. The pain. The loneliness. The pain. The frustration. That common thread linked everyone. They knew you and you knew them. Maybe not personally - but you just knew. Everyone around you began in small buildings with even smaller pay-offs and much larger aches and bruises. We were all on the same team - no matter what.

Suicide is an awful thing. Whether it’s the coward’s way out is a matter for the bumper sticker writers. That person is still just as dead. Wrestling has had its share of intentional and unintentional suicides. Insert the word murder in place of suicide and that statement rings just as true. But murder/suicide? Of a child? Like he has so often - Chris Benoit raised the bar.

Double-crosses occur in every profession without exception. Salesmen, attorneys, entertainers, bureaucrats - makes no difference. Wrestlers included. But like the old saw dictates regarding families, “We may fight among ourselves but God help the outsider that fights one of us. You fight one of us - you fight all of us.” That was a strong bond among wrestlers. That was part of the innocence.

The biggest marks in the building are backstage. We believed that we knew - as much as we reasonably expect - those in there with us. We put our lives in each others hands and trusted them not to injure us. We believed. We knew.

George Carlin noted, “People say ‘sometimes you just don’t know.’ That’s not true. Sometimes you do know. You just don’t want to say it out loud.” Now we know. The guy you’re in the ring with; the man you’re working out spots with; the guy next to you in the rental car - he could kill his family. What? That won’t happen? You just know it couldn’t happen. How do you know that?

Nancy and Daniel will be forever mourned as the victims of a mad man and a madman. Their memorial service will be tearful pageant celebrating their lives. As well it should be. The man who killed them was working out spots with Elijah Burke three nights previously.

We can no longer assume that just because we’re in the same biz and have paid the same dues that we are all hard-wired the same way. We are not. Chris, the son of a b*tch, killed that, too.
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Sigh.... No words can describe our feelings, but...
Let's all PRAY for EVERYONE in the business, and get through this "together"...
We don't know "why", but...what's done is done... Let's trust God, and continue to have "faith" no matter what...

May CHRIS BENOIT and his family "Rest In Peace"...

Aloha,
~The HCW Ohana

[kazz]

I think the best thing for all of us to do is to turn on the TV to SCI-FI every Tuesday night, tune to Spike TV every Thursday night, CW on Friday nights and USA Network every Monday night and just be grateful that we are all fans of this insane industry.

There is no sense in becoming angry, disgusted, disappointed, or sad anymore. The immediate and extended surviving family members, friends, and peers will have to mourn their losses more than we will ever know.

Right now, they are obviously also victims, REAL victims. Not us.

Considering the latest developments and facts, what's done is done. We can't make sense of acts that are not becoming of us.

A brilliant and successful man said it best tonight. ... "instead, we will pay tribute to those that have been affected the most by this tragedy"...

We are all wrestling fans and it's hard enough as it is, we don't need to make things harder on ourselves.