Chris Benoit and family found dead

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Chris Benoit, 40, and his wife Nancy and their 7 year old son Daniel were found today dead in their home in Fayetteville County, Ga.

Chris was a fan favorite among the World Wrestling Entertainment fans. He was originally from Edmonton, Alberta.

On the WWE show, it is being reported that he missed the show last night that he was scheduled to wrestle in to attend a family crisis.

Benoit has wrestled for 22 years. During his career he was the Intercontinental Champion at WrestleMania 2000. He would go on to hold that gold on a total of four occasions. Through 2003, he also held the World Tag Team Championship and the WWE Tag Team Championship. In 2000 and 2004, he was named Outstanding Wrestler of the Year by the Wrestling Observer newsletter and in 2004 he was named Wrestler of the Year by Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine.

Carl DeMarco, WWE Canada president said

“I am deeply saddened over the loss of Chris Benoit,” “My heartfelt thoughts and sympathy go out to his parents and family. My relationship with Chris has extended many years and I consider him a great friend. Chris was always first-class — warm, friendly, caring and professional . . . one of the best in our business.”

The police are investigating and have not released any other details other than that the family was not shot.

Tonight on the WWE, they are doing a three-hour tribute to Chris Benoit.

Benoit once said

“Wrestling has consumed my life,” “It’s my mistress, my passion. It defines a lot of who I am as a person.”

His wife Nancy was a wrestling manager.

It is also being reported that he had 2 other children, David and Megan, were both not home at the time. It is believed they were in Canada.

I will continue to check for details and post when they are released.

Sources here

Update: Police are now investigating it as a homicide. The bodies were found about 2:30 pm. The autopsy reports are expected to be released on Tuesday to the police.

Police have now said the investigation is called a murder-suicide. No suspects are being sought. They believe that Chris killed his wife and son on the weekend and then killed himself Sunday night or early Monday.
He strangled his wife with an electrical cord on Saturday, smothered his son with a bag on Sunday and then hung himself in his weight room.

The police went to the house to check on them because some friends reported that Chris had sent them "several curious text messages sent by Benoit early Sunday morning." One said his wife and son were sick, and another one said the front doors were open and the dogs were outside.