Monday night, the largest wrestling organization in the world grappled with a real-life murder mystery: What led to the apparent murder-suicide of superstar wrestler Chris Benoit, his wife and child inside their expansive Fayetteville home?
Chris Benoit
• World Wrestling Entertainment Web site
Officials have not disclosed how the family died, other than to say the deaths did not involve a gun.
"The details, when they come out," said Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard, "are going to prove a little bizarre."
Deputies checking on the family at the behest of Benoit's employer discovered the bodies of the 40-year-old wrestler, his wife, Nancy Benoit, 43, and their 7-year-old son, Daniel, on Monday afternoon at their home on Green Meadow Lane.
Benoit, a Canada native, maintained a residence in metro Atlanta from the time he wrestled for the now-defunct Ted Turner-owned World Championship Wrestling organization.
Most recently, Benoit performed as part of World Wrestling Entertainment. He was scheduled to appear in a pay-per-view title match Sunday night, but was a no-show because of a "family emergency," the WWE said during the broadcast.
His employers, apparently worried, asked deputies to check in on the family — leading to the discovery, said Sheriff's Lt. Tommy Pope.
Murders are rare in Fayette County, particularly so in areas like Green Meadow Lane, a rural stretch of the county where multi-acre mansion-style homes dot the landscape. In 2006, the sheriff's office didn't investigate a single murder.
Fans tried to cope with the news Monday evening as the blogosphere erupted in reader disbelief.
"Obviously, all sorts of speculation are running rampant but I have talked to so many people and nobody really knows," said Bryan Alvarez, who runs Figurefour Weekly, a wrestling newsletter and Web site, from Linwood, Wash.
Benoit began his career in Calgary more than 20 years ago. He wrestled in Japan before moving back to North America.
While working in Atlanta with WCW, he met his wife, Nancy, who managed several wrestlers and went by the stage name, "Woman."
At the time, her then-husband drew up a script that had the couple involved in a relationship as part of an ongoing storyline.
Soon after, the two became romantically involved in real life and married. Benoit has two other children from a prior relationship.
He joined WWE in 2000, and four years later, won its world heavyweight championship.
The family had moved into the Fayetteville neighborhood last summer, said neighbor Alaina Jones.
None of the neighbors recalled seeing police at the house before. Monday night, about half a dozen cars idled on the circular driveway. Deputies stood guard outside the wrought-iron gates of the residence. A car full of youngsters who stopped to gawk at the scene were pulled out by deputies, frisked and sent on their way.
The Monday night broadcast of WWE's "Raw" on the USA Network was supposed to have been a who-dunit into the "death" of Chairman Vince McMohan, whose limousine burst into a fiery explosion moments after he stepped into it after a bout in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., two weeks ago.
The organization scrapped the storyline following Benoit's death, and instead televised a three-hour retrospective on Benoit's career.
And unlike the two-page, hyperbole-filled news release it sent out after its chairman's "death," the statement announcing Benoit's real-life passing was curt and matter-of-fact:
"Chris Benoit and his family were found dead in their home. There are no further details at this time."
Chris Benoit, 1967-2007
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This is why WWE really shouldn't have done that whole "Vince McMahon is dead" storyline. Several news outlets, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, are reporting that pro wrestler Chris Benoit, his wife, Nancy and their 7-year-old son were found dead at their home in Atlanta today.
The WWE first announced the deaths on its web site this afternoon, and for much of the day, fans everywhere expressed "yeah, right" skepticism because the WWE was in the midst of a storyline in which they had faked the death of McMahon, the WWE's owner.
But the Journal-Constitution and Atlanta TV stations have quoted local law enforcement authorities confirming the deaths, and McMahon himself showed up in the opening of tonight's Monday Night RAW to explain that Benoit's death was real.
No cause of death has been given for any of the Benoits, but law enforcement said they did not die of gunshot wounds.
UPDATE: Police now say they are investigating the death as a murder-suicide.
This story is being reported on the Fox News Channel, and CNN has failed to report it thusfar. That proves who the real news media are.
Here is what the Edmonton Alberta Canada Sun News is reporting:
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Professional wrestler Chris Benoit was found dead along with his family this afternoon in his Atlanta home, according to published reports.
The Atlanta-Journal Constitution is reporting authorities confirmed that Benoit, 40, his wife, Nancy, and their 7-year-old son were found dead at the home on Quarters and Redwine roads in Fayetteville.
The Montreal-born Benoit, who moved to Edmonton when he was 12 years old, lived in Sherwood Park as recently as May 2000.
World Wrestling Entertainment issued a release over Benoit's death.
"World Wrestling Entertainment is deeply saddened to report that today Chris Benoit and his family were found dead in their home," the statement reads.
"There are no further details at this time, other than the Benoit family residence is currently being investigated by local authorities.
WWE spokeswoman Cheryl Kong in Toronto said Monday night’s “Raw” TV program would serve as a tribute to Benoit and his family.
Benoit was a former world heavyweight champion, Intercontinental champion and held several tag-team titles over his career.
Benoit was scheduled to wrestle at the Vengeance pay-per-view Sunday night in Houston, but was replaced at the last minute because of what announcer Jim Ross called “personal reasons.”
