Chris Benoit and the Benoit Family Murders
In the summer of 2007, the national news was flush with stories about the brutal slayings of Nancy and Daniel Benoit at the hands WWE Superstar Chris Benoit. The wrestling world was stunned and horrified that a man known for his even temper and love for his family could murder his wife and young son.
After all, Chris Benoit was known as a consummate professional and, more importantly, a kind, soft-spoken man. In the days, weeks, months, and years following the crimes, friends, family, and associates of Benoit would struggle to understand what could make the gentle giant snap in such a horrific way.
Was it steroids? Human growth hormone? Drugs and alcohol? Stress? Family dynamics? People needed answers so they could somehow make peace with what happened, move on, and view the Benoit murders as some sort of cautionary tale.
Almost 14 years after Chris Benoit killed his wife and young son, what happened is still a popular subject of speculation, and some believe Chris was not responsible for the crimes at all. There are several theories that paint Chris as a victim, not a murderer, and whether those theories hold any water or not, there are many questions surrounding the events of June 22, 2007.
Let’s take a brief look at how Chris Benoit became the famous Canadian Crippler, and a timeline of how the murders unfolded.
(Note: Forgive me if I get some of the details of the wrestling careers of the main figures in this story confused. I’m focused on the crime that occurred, not the wrestling industry.)
Determined to Succeed
The man often described as the world’s best technical wrestler came into the world on May 21, 1967. [1] Born to Michael and Margaret Benoit in Montreal, Quebec, Chris was bitten by the wrestling bug at an early age and idolized the Dynamite Kid, stylizing his own moves after the Kid’s. [1] [2]
Chris Benoit debuted in the ring on November 22, 1985 in Calgary, Alberta. In 2000, Chris, now a fast-rising star, debuted in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).
