WWE Wrestler Chris Benoit, Wife, Son Found Dead in Atlanta Home

Three bodies were found Monday in a suburban Atlanta home, later identified as professional wrestler Chris Benoit, 40, wife Nancy, 43 and son Daniel, 7, according to WWE.

Benoit was scheduled to wrestle at the Sunday night pay-per-view event Vengeance, but cancelled at the last minute citing a family emergency. There were reports that the family members had been ill in the days preceeding the deaths, even vomiting blood.

Manner of death has not been released, though authorities say that the instrument of death was present at the scene and collected. They have only stated that a gun was not used in the crime regarding said instrument.

"The details, when they come out, are going to prove a little bizarre," Fayette County D.A. Scott Ballard told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Police believe that Benoit killed his wife and son sometime over the weekend, then killed himself on Monday. While they are investigating the incident as a double-murder suicide, and not seeking any suspects outside the home, they say that evidence from the scene is being analyzed to confirm that this is in fact the case.

Those who knew Benoit find this scenario extremely hard to believe.

Autopsies are scheduled for Tuesday at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab in DeKalb County.

World Wrestling Entertainment issued a statement on its website that it had contacted authorities and requested that the family be checked on at their home on Green Meadow Lane in Fayetteville, Georgia. This after friends of Benoit's within the company received "curious" text messages from the wrestler sent early Sunday morning.

The company also stated that it knows more information about the family's deaths, but have been asked by investigators to not release anymore details until the completion of their investigation.

Chris Benoit has two other children from a previous relationship who were not living in the home.

Canadian-born Benoit's wrestling career spanned two decades, and earned him the nicknames "The Crippler" and "The Rabid Wolverine" in recent years. His wife, Nancy had previously worked in the industry as well, under the stage name "Woman" and had managed several wrestlers during her career.

Chris Benoit held several close and longtime friendships with fellow wrestlers and employees of the WWE. His death has devasted and shocked many in the business.
Benoit had also been the best friend of WWE superstar Eddie Guererro who died suddenly of natural causes two years ago. The deaths of two high-profile wrestling stars in such a short time span has been especially difficult for wrestling fans and those within the wrestling community.

The WWE cancelled its scheduled Monday Night Raw show in Corpus Christi, Texas and instead aired a three-hour tribute show for the deceased wrestler and his family.

Further details of the incident will be released as the investigation continues.

Sources: www.wwe.com
www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,286673,00.html
Associated Press