"He was feeling depressed, that kind of thing," McDevitt said. Apparently, shortly before the killings, Benoit and his wife argued over whether he should stay home more to take care of their mentally retarded 7-year-old son, according to an attorney for the WWE wrestling league.
Update 7-2-07: The New York Daily News has speculated that Benoit abused gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB a/k/a "date-rape drug.") GHB which is associated with blackouts and memory loss, was thought by some to be a performance enhancing drug back in the 1990's. Legal Pub cautions that the toxicology report has still not been released, so this is still speculation.
Update 7-12-07 Stone Called Steve Austin's Ex Wife allegedly has reported abusive conduct in her relationship as well. Speculation has been fueled that perhaps the wrestling world powers need to provide more education and counseling for its entertainers.
Update 7-13-07:
Benoit regularly received deliveries from MedXLife.com which allegedly sold steroids, human growth hormone and testosterone on the Internet. Six people at the pharmacy have already pleaded guilty to supplying athletes with drugs. Benoit apparently also injected his son with growth hormone because he thought he was too small for his age. Since the death of MedXLife.com customer Eddie Guerrero from heart failure in November 2005 - the WWE has a strict testing procedure.
Update 7-17-07 Coronor's autopsy report contains toxicology data indicating Benoit had elevated levels of testosterone associated with steroid use. No surprise here. Still does not prove steroids caused the rage. Hydrocodone (pain killer) and xanax (anti anxiety) were also reported in his system. Dr. Astin who allegedly prescribed the steroids faces charges for improper prescription writing...
Update 7-24-07: There is an excellent comment that should be read about why steroids were likely a very minor factor in the Benoit murder- family suicide. I will not repeat it here as it should be read in the comment section where the author placed it!
Update 9-6-07: Steroids may not have been the cause of the murder-suicide after all. Brain scan and pathology reports are allegedly consistent with brain damage (protein and plaque formation around the dead tissue) from multiple concussions. This alone may account for the depression and bizarre behavior of Chris Benoit. It may also serve as an additional defense in the event of any wrongful death lawsuit.
Update 6-18-08: A recent comment on the Pub argues that the crime scene findings are consistent with murder and not murder suicide. For example, all the empty alcohol containers but only one victim with alcohol in her blood stream. Read the comment and judge for your self whether this should remain an open investigation.
Update 3-2-10: We shall never know if steroids played any role in this tragedy. What we do know is that due to unreasonable spamming, any further comments on this particular thread will need to be sent to legalpub@legalpub.net. They will then be posted manually.
30 comments:
It was probably Benoit who changed the web site or someone he told about the death of his wife. I doubt it was a murder made to look like a murder suicide.
Sounds like mental depression and alcohol might have been the cause.
Pretty scary stuff.
I think he just went crazy
Crazy is right!
I heard the wikipedia site was changed by someone in Colorado (coincidentally where the world wrestling assoc. is located), so they don't believe it was Benoit himself who changed the info. Someone in the wrestling association knows a lot more . . .
I think he was texting his buddies and execs in the wrestling world after he killed her...
Manic depressive disorder?
No matter what the toxicology, steroids will always be blamed. It is good press. Generates interest. Serves as an example. Even if there is no proof that steroids caused the death, it will be assumed in the media.
Muscle Man
Thanks for the update. I also noted that your story on Criminal Drug dealing Doctors and Terrorist Physicians contains the information about the Doctor who prescribed steroids to Benoit. I suspect he will lose his license.
This story some how has captured America's attention. Benoit seemed like he had it all...
Looks like steroids were in his system. No whether that caused the murder or not, that is a scientific topic left up for others to debate that are smarter then me...
Benoit and Stallone are similar. Both were role models. Both had the public trust and admiration. Both apparently took short cuts. There is no short cut to being a good role model.
Say it is not so Barry Bonds. America wants to believe in true heroes like the 72 year old marine who fought off his pick pocket.
Benoit's father seeks better understanding of what went wrong. Somethings we will never know. Of the things we do know, it is simply disturbing. Perhaps more information will come out with regard to the allegations against Benoit's physician.
I am really surprised that this came as such a shock to Benoit's dad. As I understand it, there was a history of violence or at least threats in the past.
Benoit's Dad probably is seeking closure. I hope some peace of mind comes with the knowledge that he seeks.
Justin
Will they ever determine who altered the web post?
Not sure about the web alteration information, but autopsy drug screen should be available.
Doc
Thanks for your updates.
Bill
Growth hormone to a seven year old without a proper persciption would be over the top.
Just another example of a role model who kids can no longer look up to.
Benoit was on the small side. So he was a crowd favorite. Now, not only is he dead, he serves as an example of what is wrong with athletes and celebrates.
Toxicology report released this afternoon. No real surprises to me!
Thanks for the update and sumary of the toxicology report.
Bradley
Benoit has become the poster child for what is wrong in the Wrestling World.
When will the madness end? Athletes have been so pampered that now they routinely think they are above the law.
Dr Phil Astin ought to be ashamed...
Was Benoit self medicating with the Xanax to control roid rage?
Abuse of xanax is all too common even without steroid use.
Even if it is from head trauma, the Benoit man still killed his family. End of story?
Fine, just don't try to blame the killing on steroids because I'm not buying it. There is no proof.
Benoit didn't kill his family out of rage. If that was the case both wife and kid would have been dead within minutes or an hour of each other. And he wouldn't have taken the time to tie her up, wrap her in a towel, and then strangle her. I believe I read somewhere that there was pressure put onto her back as she lay belly down on the ground. They keep saying she had blood on her head, but nothing about head trauma, just that she was strangled by an electrical cord. They've said the son was asphyxiated with a bag, but then say he was also given the 'cross-faced crippler' based on the bruises on his neck and arms. All three had the sedative Xanax in their system. Then there's all of the empy beer cans and wine bottle inside and outside the house, yet the only one in the house with elevated alcohol levels was Nancy. How is it that they didn't find any alcohol in Benoit, considered there were empty beer cans around his lifeless body?
Lastly, text messaging people instead of calling? Did he lose his voice? He was already apparently calling people earlier on Saturday.
Stuff doesn't add up. The posting on Wikipedia is also really odd. Who does that? The guy who did it apparently heard some rumour, but we never found out where the rumour came from. RIP Benoit & Family. I'm one of the people who think you were all murdered, and Chris was framed.
I agree. I think Benoit was framed and the family murdered. Who is still investigating this?
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