In a shocking incident of murder-suicide, Chris Benoit killed his wife, Nancy, and son Daniel in 2007. The sheer harrowing nature of the tragedy shook both the inside and outside the WWE world. Benoit killed his wife by strangulation, his child by smothering, and ultimately took his own life.
At the time of the tragedy, Benoit was 40 years old, while his wife Nancy and son Daniel were 43 and seven years old, respectively. All three were found at their Georgia mansion.
The violent nature of the incident naturally led fans and experts to wonder what pushed the talented and disciplined wrestler to such an extent that he took such a horrific step. The answer, as later determined, may have been linked to the fact that Benoit had suffered multiple serious head injuries, which led to him developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
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“Neurologists stated that his brain resembled that of an 80-year-old Alzheimer’s patient. CTE can induce explosive rage, paranoia, depression, and impulsive behavior,” according to The Mirror US. It is, however, important to note that CTE alone does not solely contribute to making someone this violent.
That does not change the fact that Benoit had survived types of head injuries in the ring that most would not. His friends also remembered that he had grown increasingly distant and emotionally turbulent and was withdrawn at times. In the days leading up to the tragedy, Benoit had sent multiple text messages that showed he was confused and detached, signs that align with the symptoms of severe brain injury and trauma.
It was because of a series of alarming text messages that police were directed to Benoit’s home. Upon arriving, his wife Nancy’s body was found wrapped in a blanket with a Bible next to her. Judging by her injuries, Benoit appeared to have applied pressure on her back while choking her with a cord. There were also traces of alcohol in her blood, according to the toxicology report, but it was not determined whether it resulted from alcohol consumption before her death or from decomposition.
Former WWE wrestler Chris Benoit is considered to be one of the most talented professional wrestlers of all time. But sadly his career was tainted in 2007 when the 40-year-old m*rdered his wife and son before taking his own life.
He k*lled both of them by str*ngulation, and… pic.twitter.com/gX4GReefwR
— Morbid Facts (@Unexplained) December 8, 2025
Benoit’s third child, Daniel, was the other victim of the player’s rage. His body was found in the bedroom, and there was also a Bible beside him. He appeared to have been suffocated with internal injuries in his throat area but he did not have any external bruises.
It should also be noted here that it was alleged that Daniel had suffered from the Fragile X Syndrome and Benoit had administered human growth hormone (HGH), believing that his son was undersized. Marks on Daniel’s arms revealed that, and his autopsy report suggested that he was drugged with Xanax and had no consciousness when he was killed.
A tragedy of this proportion naturally led to the WWE community addressing the severe consequences of head trauma in a more serious manner, leading to stricter game rules and a decrease in risky moves.
