DEA Raids Office of Dead Wrestler's Doc
A doctor who prescribed testosterone to pro wrestler Chris Benoit is under investigation by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, following a double murder-suicide by Benoit in his suburban Atlanta home over the weekend.
Phil Astin’s medical office in another Atlanta suburb was raided last night by DEA agents and Fayette County sheriff’s deputies. They are looking into a possible “roid rage” link to Benoit’s murder of his wife and seven-year-old son over the weekend, followed by his own suicide, which probably occurred on Monday, according to People magazine.
“There’s definitely a nexus between the death investigation and the steroids that were given to Mr. Benoit,” DEA spokesman Chuvalo Truesdell tells People. Steroids and other prescription medicines were found in the wrestler’s home after his death, the magazine writes.
Benoit strangled his wife, apparently smothered or cut off blood pressure to his son, and hanged himself. The bodies were found Monday, as detailed in an earlier ABAJournal.com report.
Carroll County sheriff’s deputies also are launching a separate investigation of the doctor, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“We are looking to see if there are any problems with over-prescribing medications, medications that shouldn’t be prescribed or being prescribed without doctors’ visits,” Capt. Shane Taylor told the newspaper today.
Astin cooperated with the raid and is continuing his medical practice.
Meanwhile, in another wrinkle, authorities are investigating to find out who altered a Wikipedia entry on Benoit, before the bodies were discovered, to say that he missed a weekend match due to his wife’s death, reports ABC News.
