WSB-TV Channel 2 has obtained phone messages from pro wrestler Chris Benoit to his wife and son in the days leading up to their murder-suicide. The phone messages from Benoit, relatives and friends give new insight into what happened before and after the wrestling star killed his wife and young son before killing himself in their Fayette County home in June 2007.Channel 2's Tom Regan reviewed the answering machine messages, which until now, have not been released publicly.
"Hi honey. Hi Dan-Dan. Sorry I missed you. I'll try you on your cell phone. Love you. Bye," is one of the endearing messages from a father to his wife and son.
It's one of the many telephone messages, some disturbing, that police found in Benoit's home following the murder-suicide last June.
"Hey Chris, it's Anne from the office. Just trying to get in touch with you. It's Sunday evening, I think about 7 PM. So we're hoping everything is OK. Call me on my cell phone," said one message.
One message came from Benoit's 7-year-old son, Daniel, apparently directed at his father but it's not clear when the message was left.
"Hi pooh bear. Be back soon. Just be there, OK? Eh, pooh bear? See ya pooh bear. Love you," the message from Daniel said.
Since there was no suicide note we may never know why the wrestling star killed his family. It happened over a weekend in June 2007 when Benoit was supposed to be out of town for a wrestling match. On Sunday night, a concerned colleague called. "Hey Chris, it's Anne from the office. Just trying to reach out to you. Give us a call when you get a chance."
The next day there was another worrisome call from a friend or relative. "Hi Nancy, it's Marty in Canada. Just wanting to see if everything is OK because we have heard terrible reports on the radio. We're just calling to confirm. So hopefully, we can talk to you soon. Bye."
And then there was a sad call from Nancy's father. "My name is Paul Pomploni, Nancy Benoit's father. I'm trying to get in touch with one of the police officers there. Would somebody please call me?"
Although the Benoit case is closed the battle continues over how his multi-million-dollar estate will be settled. Nancy Benoit's family is also planning to sue the WWE for responsibility in the wrestler's actions. Benoit's father claims his rampage was the result of brain damage suffered in the ring.
