WWE professional wrestler Chris Benoit his wife Nancy and their 7-year-old son were found dead in their home near White Water Country Club in Fayette County on Monday afternoon.
Lieutenant Tommy Pope of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department said the three were found about 2:30 p.m., but he would release no other details.
Pope said results of autopsies on Benoit, his wife Nancy, and 7-year-old son Daniel were expected Tuesday. Police are investigating the deaths as a homicide.
Benoit, 40, was a former world heavyweight champion, Intercontinental champion and held several tag-team titles over his career.
On their Web site, World Wrestling Entertainment officials said that Benoit and his family were found dead on Monday afternoon.
The statement said, "World Wrestling Entertainment is deeply saddened to report that today Chris Benoit and his family were found dead in their home. There are no further details at this time, other than the Benoit family residence is currently being investigated by local authorities. Monday night's 'Raw' on USA Network will serve as a tribute to Chris Benoit and his family."
WWE president Vince McMahon began Monday's USA Network "WWE Raw" program by announcing Benoit's death, and announcing that Monday's live program would be canceled. He said that in its place, they would air a three-hour tribute to Benoit's wrestling career.
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."
Benoit, a Canadian native, maintained a home in metro Atlanta from the time he wrestled for the now-defunct World Championship Wrestling.
Benoit's wife, Nancy, managed several wrestlers and went by the stage name, "Woman." The newspaper says they met when her then-husband drew up a script that had them involved in a relationship as part of an ongoing storyline on Turner-owned World Championship Wrestling.
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