Authorities await autopsy in deaths of wrestler, family

<p>Autopsies were scheduled Tuesday on the bodies of pro wrestler Chris Benoit, his wife and their 7-year-old son who were found dead at their secluded Fayette County home in what authorities believe was a murder-suicide.</p><p>"We are not searching for anyone outside the home at this time," Sheriff's Lt. Tommy Pope told WSB-TV.</p><p>Investigators believe Benoit killed his wife and son over the weekend and then himself sometime Monday. The bodies were found Monday afternoon in three different rooms of the house on Green Meadow Lane, in a subdivision off a gravel road about two miles from Whitewater Country Club.</p><p>The autopsies were scheduled to be done at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab in DeKalb County.</p><p>World Wrestling Entertainment said on its Web site that it asked authorities to check on Benoit and his family after being alerted by friends who received "several curious text messages sent by Benoit early Sunday morning."</p><p>Pope said the three were found about 2:30 p.m., but he would release no other details about the deaths.</p><p>Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "The details, when they come out, are going to prove a little bizarre."</p><p>Stamford, Conn.-based WWE also said on its Web site it had further information on the deaths of Benoit, 40; his wife, Nancy, 43; and son, Daniel, but had been asked by authorities not to release it.</p><p>Benoit, a native of Canada, was born in Montreal. He was a former world heavyweight champion, Intercontinental champion and held several tag-team titles over his career. He was known by several names including "The Canadian Crippler."</p><p>"WWE extends its sincerest thoughts and prayers to the Benoit family's relatives and loved ones in this time of tragedy," the federation said in a statement on its Web site.</p><p>Benoit was scheduled to perform at the "Vengeance" pay-per-view event Sunday night in Houston, but was replaced at the last minute because of what announcer Jim Ross called "personal reasons."</p><p>Benoit maintained a home in metro Atlanta from the time he wrestled for the defunct World Championship Wrestling.</p><p>The WWE canceled its live "Monday Night RAW" card in Corpus Christi, Texas, and USA Network aired a three-hour tribute to Benoit in place of the scheduled wrestling telecast.</p><p>Benoit's wife managed several wrestlers and went by the stage name, "Woman," The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.</p><p>They met when her then-husband drew up a script that had them involved in a relationship as part of an ongoing story line on World Championship Wrestling, the newspaper said.</p><p>Benoit has two other children from a prior relationship.</p><p>The federal-style house is in a secluded neighborhood set back about 60 yards off the gravel road, surrounded by stacked stone wall and an iron fence.</p><p>Monday night, the house was dark except for a few outside lights. A sheriff's patrol car was parked in front, and two uniformed officers could be seen behind the locked gate, which was blocked off with yellow crime tape. Large decorative lamps on the iron fence shone brightly on the dark street.</p><p>Television trucks parked outside the gate, their cameras occasionally lighting up the front of the house and casting shadows on huge trees in the spacious front yard. A horse stood outside a stable at a house next door.</p>

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