Before Chris Benoit killed himself and his family, the Drug Enforcement Administration knew he was an "excessive purchaser of injectable steroids," documents show.
According to a June 29 search warrant affidavit posted on The Smoking Gun, Benoit's physician, Dr. Phil Astin, prescribed Benoit, on average, "a 10-month supply of anabolic steroids ... every three to four weeks" from May 2006 to May 2007.
Astin surrendered in Atlanta Monday after being charged with improperly dispensing painkillers and other drugs, his lawyer said.
According to a seven-count indictment, Astin dispensed drugs including Percocet, Xanax, Lorcet and Vicoprofen between April 2004 and September 2005 to recipients identified by the initials O.G. and M.J., the Associated Press reports.
The initials of WWE star Benoit were not listed.
A sealed criminal complaint was also filed, and a law enforcement official close to the case told the AP that case involves steroids.
Authorities say Chris killed his wife Nancy Benoit and their 7-year-old son Daniel before hanging himself the weekend of June 23.
Astin's office was raided twice by drug agents shortly after the deaths of Benoit and his family. Benoit, who was a longtime friend of Astin's, visited his office on June 22, the day authorities believe Benoit killed his wife.
Astin has prescribed testosterone for Benoit in the past, but hasn't said what, if anything, he prescribed during Benoit's last visit. Anabolic steroids were found in Benoit's home, leading officials to wonder whether the drugs played a role in the killings. (Toxicology tests on Benoit's body have not yet been completed.)
Federal agents have taken over the probe into whether Astin improperly prescribed testosterone and other drugs to Benoit, while state prosecutors and police are overseeing the death investigation, the AP reports.
Astin "is doing about as good as can be expected," his lawyer, Manny Arora, told the AP Monday. "He's disappointed and surprised."
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2 Comments
July 2nd, 2007 11:35 PM
Such a tragic story, read more about him at the canyon-news.
July 3rd, 2007 1:15 AM
well if the doctor did anything wrong then he should be taken to court to see if he is to be found guilty if he was found guilty the he should spend time in jail . if he was found guilty i am wanting to know if the familys of benoit and nancybenoit could sue then in court for libeal.