Killing of Nancy and Daniel Benoit and Death of Chris Benoit

In June 2007, professional wrestler Christopher Michael "Chris" Benoit killed his wife, Nancy Benoit, and their seven-year-old son, Daniel Benoit, at the family's home in Fayetteville, Georgia, before killing himself. The killings and his suicide occurred over a three-day period: he killed Nancy on June 22, 2007, killed Daniel the following day, and died by suicide on June 24, 2007.

Police entered Benoit's Fayetteville home on June 25, 2007, after Benoit's employer, WWE, requested a welfare check when he missed scheduled weekend events without notice. Officers discovered the bodies of all three family members at around 2:30 p.m. EDT. Investigators determined that Benoit had committed the killings and that no additional suspects were being sought. Nancy had been bound before she was killed. Daniel had been given Xanax and was likely unconscious when he was strangled. Benoit died by hanging, using a lat pulldown weight machine in the home.

Toxicology results released on July 17, 2007, found that Nancy had Xanax, hydrocodone, and hydromorphone in her system, all at therapeutic rather than toxic levels. Daniel's toxicology showed Xanax, which the chief medical examiner said indicated he had been sedated before he was killed. Benoit's own toxicology showed Xanax, hydrocodone, and an elevated level of testosterone attributed to a synthetic form of the hormone; the medical examiner said this elevated level could reflect treatment for a deficiency possibly caused by past steroid use or testicular insufficiency, and concluded there was no evidence of "roid rage" contributing to the killings. Records showed Benoit had been prescribed medications outside WWE's Talent Wellness Program guidelines in February 2006, including the anabolic steroid nandrolone and the drug anastrozole.

Following the deaths, neuroscientist Christopher Nowinski contacted Benoit's father, Michael Benoit, to suggest that repeated head trauma sustained during Benoit's wrestling career might have been a contributing factor. Brain tissue analysis conducted by Julian Bailes, head of neurosurgery at West Virginia University, found damage described as resembling that of an 85-year-old Alzheimer's patient, with signs of advanced dementia similar to findings in retired American football players who had experienced multiple concussions and later exhibited depression and violent or self-harming behavior. Researchers concluded that repeated concussions can contribute to dementia, which may in turn contribute to severe behavioral problems; Benoit's father has stated he believes brain damage was a leading cause of his son's actions.

The case is treated as resolved by authorities, with Chris Benoit identified as responsible for both killings before his own death. WWE cancelled a scheduled live broadcast following the discovery of the deaths and later removed most references to Benoit from its media and publications.