Society & Politics

The Case of the Canadian Crippler: The Benoit Family Murder-Suicide

The Case of the Canadian Crippler: The Benoit Family Murder-Suicide

Dateline: June 22-25 2007

Location: Atlanta,Georgia

Suspect:Chris Benoit

Victims:Nancy and Daniel Benoit

Professional Wrestling has some very famous names. Names like: Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, John Cena, Ric Flair, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and The Undertaker. Even if you don't watch Pro Wrestling you have probably heard some of these names at least once in your life. But, this crime story is about a professional wrestler who took an unforgiveable fall from grace in many fans eyes.

Chris Benoit was a small guy compared to other wrestlers. He was only around 5'10" and weighed about 230 pounds. His small frame would hold him back in some ways in the Wrestling Business. But he was a lean, healthy guy without much of an ounce of fat on him. He went on to capture many titles in he WCW and WWF/WWE. He was trained in Canada by the Hart Family which included Bret "Hitman" Hart and Owen Hart (whom years earlier died on TV in an in ring accident). His technique often included submission holds which later would be part of the investigation in the crime.

On a Friday night in June 2007 Chris was scheduled to make a WWE Show in Beaumont,Texas. However he sent his wrestling friend Chavo Gurrero a text that his wife Nancy and Son Daniel had food poisoning and would not make it to Beaumont. But he would be at the Pay Per View in Houston the next couple nights later. He was scheduled to wrestle for and win a title belt. That Friday Night Chris Benoit would kill Nancy. Medical examiners determined that Chris put his knee into her back and strangled her with a cord.

On Saturday Night Chris would kill his 7 year old son Daniel who had Fragile X Syndrome. He would not only suffocate him, but give him xanax to sedate him while doing so. With both Nancy and Daniel Chris would lay copies of The Bible on them after they had died. Sunday Night June 24th Chris Hung himself from a weight machine in his basement using a homemade noose. Their bodies were found Monday Morning June 25th. After the WWE had sent the Fayette County , Georgia sheriffs dept. to investigate his whereabouts after several WWE Employees such as Chavo Gurrero were sent text messages by Benoit the nights prior.

Possible Motives:

Some possible motives included:

1. Roid Rage

WWE Wrestlers were known for often being perscribed steroids to enhance their prefrmance and bodies. He was prescribed testosterone as a result of testicular damage from years of constant steroid use.

2.Declining Mental State

Chris Benoit over his career took many bumps and hits with chairs and other objects to his head which caused severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). A test of his brain at West Virginia University showed that Benoit's brain resembled that of an 85 year old Althizemers and Dementia patient.

The Case of the Canadian Crippler: The Benoit Family Murder-Suicide

Chris had also been battling depression since the suspicous death of best friend and fellow wrestler Eddie Gurerro just a year and a half prior.

3. Accusations of infidelity/domestic abuse

Chris was accused of having an affair with a couple of WWE's female wrestlers. But there were also speculations of abuse in the relationship as well.

Hours after learing the truth WWE Chairman Vince McMachon ordered all mentions of Benoit to be erased from history. This means no more action figures,dvds, footage, uses of his likeness will ever be permitted in use by WWE ever again. WWE Wrestlers under contract are forbidden from ever mentioning his name while under contract.

The WWE would later also ban all chair shots to the head and blood from being shown on any WWE Product (except in archived footage). WWE also implemented a drug/steroid testing policy where offenders get a 30 day suspension for the first act, 60 days for the second, mandatory rehab for the third, and termination for the fourth.

He had the world going for him, but he took it all away in one weekend It's sad a renown athlete who was impressive, overcame adversity, and broke the mold can no longer be seen as a hero, but a villian. However, this is not WWE's first step into legal trouble. Years earlier there were allegations of steroid, drug, and sexual abuse in the WWE during the days of Hulk Hogan where Vince McMachon was accused of covering up incidents of sexual abuse of young boys by some of the wrestlers and office staff as well as supplying steroids to almost all of their wrestlers.

So, What do you think? Was Benoit a victim of an uncaring evil corporation? Was he just too depressed that he felt like that he couldn't continue? Or Was he just a cold blooded psycho who snapped? You decide. Do you blame WWE in anyway for what happened?

#Benoitcase

#RealCrimeStory

The Case of the Canadian Crippler: The Benoit Family Murder-Suicide
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