World Wrestling Insanity: Press Conference Recap, Emerging Details on the Benoit Murder-Suicide, and Links To Various News Reports (Updated Throughout The Day)

Press Conference Recap, Emerging Details on the Benoit Murder-Suicide, and Links To Various News Reports (Updated Throughout The Day)

By James Guttman
Jun 26, 2007 - 6:16 PM

We're following the Chris Benoit story the same way many fans are. This shocking and still-unfolding situation is obviously going to alter our normal weekly schedule. In the meantime, the details are coming much quicker and there are a number of links you can look to in order to get all the information you might need.

As I have said before, WorldWrestlingInsanity.com does not report news. This will be no exception. However, we will be speaking to and interviewing people within the business about this situation over time and sharing thoughts on it both here and on ClubWWI.com. But we won't be reporting on things we've heard personally or private situations that have not yet been reported. That is not the purpose of our site and many of my conversations with people in the industry are understood to be off-the-record. Given the delicate nature of this situation, I feel it's best at this early stage to simply point you all in the right direction when it comes to the latest developments.

I will be updating the links on this page throughout the day as more details become available. In the meantime, you can also check out our friends over at www.PWInsider.com who are doing a thorough job of following this tragedy.

Also, I have posted an audio with my thoughts on ClubWWI.com on the situation, the press conference, fan reaction, and how this tragedy has been handled.

Press Conference Details:

Lt. Thomas Pope:

Officials found Benoit after being alerted by WWE that he had missed dates.

There was no suicide note.

All three were killed by "asphyxiation." (no specific details were stated)

Daniel was found in his bedroom.

Nancy was found in an office area/family room.

It's believed that Nancy was killed a day before Daniel. The doctor from the crime lab says that Nancy was murdered on Friday and Daniel was murdered the next day. Chris died on Monday.

Prescription drugs were found in the house for Chris, but is being handled as "legal."

One such medication was steroids.

The text message that Benoit sent wasn't received until "several hours" after it was sent.

Toxicology reports could take several weeks.

Scott Ballard (Georgia D.A.)

The "bizarre circumstances" were related to the timeline.

A bible was found next to each body (although no specifics are available).

Nancy was "bound on her feet" and wrists. The "was some blood under her head."

Daniel showed no signs of a struggle.

Has not seen the order of protection that has been alleged.

It appears that he did not seem to try to "hide" the bodies.

Nancy and Daniel were found upstairs. Chris was found in a weight room downstairs.

Chris used the chord from a weight machine to commit suicide.

No idea on a motive.

Links:

WWE Reports on Benoit's Death.

TNA Wrestling Mourns The Benoit Tragedy. (TNA Has Deleted This Article)

Fox News: Official: Wrestler Strangled Wife, Smothered Son, Hanged Self.

Sports Illustrated/CNN: Wrestler, family dead

Atlanta Journal Constituion: Superstar wrestler's wife once claimed abuse, filed for divorce

TMZ: Benoit Murder Details Revealed.

AP: Benoit strangled wife, smothered son .

MSNBC: Pro wrestler Benoit killed wife, son, then self

ESPN: Report: Benoit strangled wife, smothered son, then hung self

AOL: Disturbing Details Emerge in Wrestler's Death

People: WWE's Chris Benoit, Family in Murder-Suicide: Cops

Newsday: Police: Wrestler strangled wife, smothered son

Edmonton Journal: Wrestler was a hometown hero

WWE Response to Media Reports:

WWE® Shocked At Latest Developments In Benoit Tragedy, Concerned By Sensationalistic Reporting
Written: June 26, 2007

STAMFORD, Conn., June 26, 2007 – World Wrestling Entertainment is stunned and saddened by the details released by local authorities concerning the double homicide-suicide involving Chris Benoit, his wife, Nancy, and his son, Daniel.

However, WWE is concerned with the sensationalistic reporting and speculation being undertaken by some members of the media following the press conference held by the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney. During the press conference, the investigating authorities made the following points, all of which run contrary to the media speculation that "roid rage" was a factor in the senseless murders and suicide:

1. The authorities stated that all drugs found in the house were believed to be legal prescriptions.

2. Steroids were not, and could not, be related to the cause of death (asphyxiation). Authorities had no factual basis to speculate as to Benoit’s state of mind, and rightly did not do so.

3. Toxicology tests have not even been completed, so there is no current evidence that Benoit even had steroids or any other substance in his body. In that regard, on the last test done on Benoit by WWE's independently administered drug testing program, done on April 10, 2007, Benoit tested negative.

4. 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.

5. WWE strongly suggests that it is entirely wrong for speculators to suggest that steroids had anything to do with these senseless acts, especially when the authorities plainly stated there is no evidence that Benoit had steroids in his body, pending the toxicological reports, and that they had no evidence at this time as to the motive for these acts.

WWE is continuing to monitor the ongoing investigation being conducted by local authorities.