All Blog Posts from Public Eye

As written in this space earlier this week, the grisly story of professional wrestler Chris Benoit killing his wife and child before hanging himself has more than enough components within it to attract continued attention. As of this writing, a Google News search shows that 1,812 stories have been written on the double murder-suicide.

And the story gets curiouser by the day, as more disturbing and confusing findings of the investigation emerge.

Soon after the story broke, it was reported that Benoit had sent out text messages after he killed his wife.

Hours later, before dawn Sunday morning, Benoit reportedly sent a string of strange text messages to co-workers and neighbors, including, "The dogs are in the enclosed pool area. Garage side door is open." Another said, "My physical address is 130 Green Meadow Lane."

Then, in a tragic development, it was revealed that he had killed his own son using a wrestling maneuver:

[His son] Daniel appeared to have been killed in a chokehold because he had internal neck injuries but no visible bruises, according to Scott Ballard, district attorney for Fayette County.

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America’s cultural discussion about steroids in sports – already hitting its stride with a Major League Baseball investigation – is about to shift into high gear. The story of professional wrestler Chris Benoit killing his wife and son before hanging himself has jarred America from a state of detached concern to all-out worry.

Media sensations are a difficult calculus to break down, but chances are we’re about to begin a larger discussion about performance-enhancing drugs, along with their social and physical costs. Five elements could raise this story into the Summer of Steroids.

First off: In the wake of the intensely-researched book “Game of Shadows” – a look at the role of steroids in baseball, and San Francisco Giant Barry Bonds’s relationship with a firm called BALCO -- Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell was tapped by Major League Baseball to lead an investigation into the matter. Their work has been hampered by the fact that current players haven’t been willing to participate. Until now. New York Yankee slugger Jason Giambi announced last week that he will be the first active athlete to comply with the panel’s fact-finding mission. As Newsday reported:

"I will address my own personal history regarding steroids. I will not discuss in any fashion any other individual," Giambi said in a statement.

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