ATLANTA - A federal magistrate says investigators did not act improperly in searches of the office of Chris Benoit's personal physician after the pro wrestler killed his wife, young son and himself.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Russell G. Vineyard decided yesterday against suppressing evidence seized in searches of Dr. Phil Astin's office, his mother's home and a storage shed.
Astin has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of improperly prescribing painkillers and other drugs to two patients other than Benoit.
The doctor asked Vineyard to throw out evidence seized in searches after June 25th discovery of the bodies at Benoit's suburban Atlanta home. No motive for the killings has been established, but authorities suspected possible steroid abuse.
Astin's lawyer challenged the legality of the raids. He said in a motion to suppress evidence that Benoit had a hormone disorder permitting the amount of testosterone he was prescribed. The attorney also argued that agents overstepped their authority by seizing records of patients other than the pro wrestler.
Monday
June 2nd, 2025
8:43AM
