Celebrity Justice
Benoit's Last Victim Will Seal Fate of His Millions

In a macabre twist to the Chris Benoit case, the fate of the wrestler's multi-million-dollar estate will be determined by whether he killed his wife Nancy or his son Daniel first during his murderous rampage in June -- and Nancy's family is already contesting the official police story as it lays claim to the inheritance.

It comes down to this, according to an ABC News report: If Benoit killed Daniel the morning after ending Nancy Benoit's life, as authorities have suggested, the wrestler's two children from a previous marriage will get the money. Otherwise, Nancy's family stands to take the real estate, cash, and investments in question.

Richard Decker, a lawyer for Nancy Benoit's family, is skeptical of the Fayetteville, Ga. police findings, as well of those of the coroner. "Like everyone else, I've seen preliminary findings and opinions," he tells ABC. "We're not so sure that what we're hearing is exactly correct."

And how's this for creepy? A Georgia state statute known as the "slayer statute" says that Benoit himself, though he died after his wife and son, is considered the first person to die in the incident, which is why the order of Nancy and Daniel's death is in play.


Reader Comments

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31. I don't understand why our system always places CHILDREN LAST!!!!! Only in America!! We claim to care so much about our children, but you just don't see it at all. I do not know how old his kids are, but referring to them as children does kind of make you think they are under 18. Why would her family be so disgraceful that they would want to take anything from kids??? The kids didn't make him who he was and they don't deserve to be punished. It should not matter who died when.....the KIDS should be the number one priority at all times. Her family are grown adults and capable of supporting themselves......KIDS should always be the top in line after any death no matter what. If her family is that greedy that they would take from kids they are sick and demented individuals!!!

Posted at 1:50PM on Aug 16th 2007 by Diana

32. This sort of sounds like Nicole Brown Simpson's family, more so than Ron Goldman's. First the Brown family wanted part of the proceeds from that "book". But when the judge ruled in the Goldman family's favor, all of a sudden, they want everyone to boycott the book. Why? BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT GET A PENNY!

And if she was an abused wife, why didn't anyone in her family help (or try to) her? Maybe they figured that if Chris ever did kill her, they'd sue him for wrongful death, and go for custody of Daniel. They just never guessed that the little boy would be killed, too.

Posted at 3:31PM on Aug 16th 2007 by JEWISH PRINCESS

33. I looked it up online.....his two other kids are 10 and 14. No wonder the guy did what he did when you look at the family he got stuck with!! What a bunch of sick jerks!! How could anyone take money from kids and make them suffer and pay? And how warped of a country do we live in that would not automatically put the KIDS first!! It takes a real looser to go get an attorney to bully little kids! These people deserve nothing less than rotting in HELL!!!!!!!! I would have said split it, but since this family got so greedy I say they should get NOTHING!!!!

Posted at 2:00PM on Aug 16th 2007 by Diana

34. What a mess.
God bless all those hurt in this horrible tragedy.

Posted at 2:05PM on Aug 16th 2007 by beautiful hybrid

35. To number 34 you asked why should Nancy's family get the money? Well its called a wrongful death suit. I don't think Nancy wanted to die but in this day and age of lawyers and everyone looking out for #1. It will happen guranteed.

Conditions for filing wrongful death claim
The death must have been caused, in whole or in part, by the defendant's conduct, even though there was no direct intention to kill the victim. The defendant must have been deemed negligent or strictly liable for the victim's death. Also the deceased has dependent party such as family members who have suffered from emotional and monetary damages as a result of the death

I think it fits the bill.

Posted at 2:33PM on Aug 16th 2007 by Mike

36. which one was the man?

Posted at 2:17PM on Aug 20th 2007 by Cindi Smith

37. Now this is just plain sad.

Posted at 5:16PM on Aug 16th 2007 by hello, it\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

38. the money should go to his kids period

Posted at 5:33PM on Aug 16th 2007 by skwcw

39. Well, considering the fact that Nancy was upset and arguing with Chris over him changing his life insurance policy, making his other two children and his ex wife the benefactors, is it really any surprise that Nancy's family are after money? The story is Nancy was furious that Chris and his ex wife had a close bond.

And if Nancy's family is seriously questioning that Daniel was killed first - doesn't that lend to the theory that Chris killed Nancy after he found his little boy dead? I doubt that's the case but it just seems stupid to even suggest that Daniel was killed first. People say stupid things to get money. His kids deserve the estate. They are without a father and the man they loved, respected and probably idolized will have his memory erased from wrestling and be forever known as a cold blooded killer.

Posted at 7:16PM on Aug 16th 2007 by lord koskov

40. I agree with Stacy. At worst, it should be split between them. At best though, the lion share should go to Benoit's surviving children (ages 11 and 14 the last I read).

While I do feel for Nancy's family (I am a wrestling fan and was a fan of both Nancy and Chris Benoit), getting this money WILL NOT BRING HER BACK NOR THEIR GRANDSON. This is almost as sickening as the current O.J. thing with the Goldman's.

Call me a softy but I feel his surviving children should get the money or at least the lion's share of it. Any money that Nancy saved of her own should go to her family.

I do agree with their lawyer on one thing, I am still not totally convinced of the police's findings. While I am willing to accept that Chris did this crime, there are parts of their investigation that doesn't make sense.

Posted at 7:26PM on Aug 16th 2007 by egriffin

41. Lord Koskov, I didn't think abou that but now that you mention it, Nancy's family would win technically but if they proved that Nancy was killed first, wouldn't that open up a new can of worms because some have suggested that Nancy may have killed Daniel and Chris (in a fit of rage) killed her in retaliation.

I don't think that's what happened BUT I have read that before.

In any case, I don't care if they do have a wrongful-death suit, Benoit's other two kids should get that money! And it is funny that Benoit, days before the murders, changed the life insurance policy to where his ex and his older kids would get the money! Not taking up for Chris because his actions (as it stands now) were cold-blooded but it makes you wonder what he knew prior to this! Also, I have to recant my original stance about it being similiar to the Goldman's situation. It actually mirrors the O.J. situation from The Brown's point of view. Both families knew their sister was being abused by their famous spouse yet did very little about the situation. The only difference here is that O.J. didn't kill his kids (which doesn' t make him any better by the way).

On Chris himself, he made an evil decision. As a wrestling fan and a fan of sports in general, I held him in high regard (even more than O.J. in his prime in football and definitely as a man). Now, he'll just be remembered as a cold-blooded killer at least as it stands right now. As I said earlier, there are parts of the case I am still not totally convinced of and I really don't think even the police know what the hell they are talking about!

Posted at 7:50PM on Aug 16th 2007 by egriffin

42. Nancy's family commented earlier when it appeared that they would get the estate that they would see that Chris' other two children would be taken care of. That sounds to me like caring people. Morally they should get half. Nancy was making her own money and left the business to care for their child . She also managed his career after their marriage. Until that gutless wonder decided to TIE HER UP in order to strangle her, the Toffolonis had two daughters and one grandchild. Since the surviving daughter is unable to have children, that pig has stolen their future.

Posted at 10:26PM on Aug 17th 2007 by Pat

43. This is CRAZY. Nancy's family deserves NOTHING. Let the surviving kids have what THEIR Father worked for. People in America are getting crazier & sicker by the minute. Greed is one of the 7 Deadly Sins & Nancy's parents definitely have that deadly sin. Why do they even think they are entitled to ANYTHING? Do they realize they are making a spectacle of themselves. For Heaven's Sake. Leave those kids money & assets be. You BOTH should be ASHAME of yourselves. What's next on your ajenda? His kids are the next of kin. You two are of no Blood Relation to him & deserve ZERO. Sad, very sad case. Because of you two the Attorneys will come out on top & get most if not all of what Benoit left behind. People like you two makes me happy that I don't have a big bank account.

Posted at 7:34PM on Aug 26th 2007 by LetTheRichRestInPeace

44. I first read about this in the paper this morning. It said that if Nancy died after Daniel, her family would be entitled to a portion of Benoit’s estate. Regardless, any money that Nancy made would have been long gone. She’s been out of wrestling for approx 7-10 yrs, if not, longer than that. I feel for her family but to take money from kids makes me want to vomit. She should be ashamed of herself. If Benoit was still alive, then maybe it’s understandable but he’s not. So she should be living it up while those innocent kids suffer?

Posted at 9:04PM on Aug 17th 2007 by Magnola

45. Her family must be very sick individuals.....they are not intitled to anything...his kids, no matter what the age should benefit from his hard work.not her family!!!! They are money hungry and should be ashamed!!!! THEY MAKE ME SICK!

Posted at 11:38PM on Aug 17th 2007 by PROUD AMERICAN

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