Police, drug agents raid office of doctor who treated Canadian wrestler Benoit
June 28, 2007 - 0:29 pm
By: HARRY R. WEBER
ATLANTA (AP) - Federal drug agents raided the office of a doctor who prescribed testosterone to Chris Benoit, the Canadian pro wrestler who killed his wife and son and hanged himself, authorities said Thursday.
The raid at Dr. Phil Astin's office in Carrollton began Wednesday night and concluded early Thursday, said agent Chuvalo Truesdell, a spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Administration. The search warrant had been obtained in connection with the Benoit investigation, he said. No arrests were made.
Hours before the raid, Astin told The Associated Press he had treated Benoit for low testosterone levels, which he said likely originated from previous steroid use.
Among other things, investigators were looking for Benoit's medical records to see if he had been prescribed steroids and, if so, whether that prescription was appropriate, according to a law enforcement official speaking on condition of anonymity because records in the case remain sealed.
Astin did not return repeated calls to his cellphone from The Associated Press on Thursday.
Astin prescribed testosterone for Benoit, a longtime friend, in the past but would not say what, if any, medications he prescribed when Benoit visited his office Friday.
Benoit strangled his wife and smothered his son during the weekend, placing Bibles next to their bodies, before hanging himself on the cable of a weight-machine in his home, authorities said. No motive was offered for the killings, which were discovered Monday.
Anabolic steroids were found in Benoit's home, leading officials to wonder whether the drugs played a role in the slayings. Some experts believe steroids cause paranoia, depression and violent outbursts known as "roid rage."
A "closed" sign hung on the front door of Astin's office Thursday. On the side door was another sign which read: "Our office is closed until further notice and Dr. Astin cannot be reached for comment."
Several patients who arrived for Thursday appointments left disappointed.
"Oh my goodness, I don't know what to think," said Amanda League, who said she knew nothing about her doctor's connection to Benoit. "He's always been a great doctor to me. Very nice. The staff is nice. There's great treatment here."
Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard said in a statement Thursday that he could not immediately comment on the raid.
Also Thursday, Ballard told the AP that 10 empty beer cans were found in a trash can in the Benoit home. An empty wine bottle was found near the spot where Benoit hanged himself, Ballard said.
It could take several weeks for toxicology tests to be completed on Benoit to see what medications, if any, were in his system.
Benoit took four months off from work in 2006 for undisclosed personal reasons, World Wrestling Entertainment attorney Jerry McDevitt said.
"He was feeling depressed, that kind of thing," McDevitt said.
In the days before the killings, Benoit and his wife argued over whether he should stay home more to take care of their mentally handicapped seven-year-old son, according to a lawyer for the WWE wrestling league.
The child suffered from a rare medical condition called Fragile X Syndrome, an inherited form of mental retardation often accompanied by autism.
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