The former professional wrestling champion Brian Adams died Monday after he was found unconscious in his home. He was 44.
Adams, best known as Crush, showed no visible signs of injury and foul play was not suspected, the Tampa police spokeswoman Janelle McGregor said. Authorities were awaiting autopsy results from the medical examiner before proceeding with their investigation.
Adams’s wife, who was not identified, found her husband not breathing and called 911 about 11 a.m. Fire Rescue workers later pronounced him dead, McGregor said.
Adams, a former world tag team champion, last performed for what is now World Wrestling Entertainment in 2001 and served intermittently on the roster beginning in 1990, W.W.E. said. The W.W.E. spokesman George Cabico had no further comment.
Adams’s death comes less than two months after the professional wrestler Chris Benoit killed his wife and son before hanging himself on the cable of a weight machine in their home in Georgia. Prescription anabolic steroids were found in the home, raising questions about whether the drugs played a role in the murders and suicide.
Adams was arrested in March 1995 and charged with receiving anabolic steroids through the mail, according to The Miami Herald.
Pro Wrestler Brian Adams Dies
CHRIS BENOIT DIES
Deaths Ruled Murder-Suicide
Police are treating the deaths as a double murder-suicide.
Sheriff Tommy Pope said that Nancy Benoit was killed Friday, as was Daniel, the 7-year-old son of her and Chris Benoit. Benoit then hanged himself Saturday night or early Sunday morning, Pope said.
Pope would not elaborate on the method of death of Nancy Benoit and her son. The Associated Press reported earlier Tuesday that she was strangled and her son was smothered.
Chris Benoit was found hanged in his weight room by the cable of a weightlifting machine, according to District Attorney Scott Ballard.
Authorities also said they are investigating whether steroids may have been a factor in the deaths, prompting WWE's response.
"Lots of prescription medications were found from doctors, with what we believe to be legal prescriptions," Pope said.
He confirmed that anabolic steroids were among the medications found.
Ballard said test results may not be back for weeks or months.
Ballard said Nancy Benoit's feet were bound and that Bibles were placed next to the bodies of both her and Daniel.
"I'm baffled about why anybody would kill a 7-year-old," Ballard said. "I don't think we'll ever be able wrap our head around that."
World Wrestling Entertainment said on its Web site that it asked authorities to check on Benoit and his family after being alerted by friends who received "several curious text messages sent by Benoit early Sunday morning."
WWE said that people from the Fayette County Sheriff's Department, in Fayetteville, Ga., initially had a difficult time entering Benoit's new Fayetteville home Monday afternoon, because it was guarded by two large German shepherds roaming freely around the property.
Pope said the three were found about 2:30 p.m. Monday in three different rooms of their home south of Atlanta.
WWE also said on its Web site that it has further information on the deaths but has been asked by authorities not to release it.
The 40-year-old Benoit is a native of Canada. His wife, Nancy, was 43.
Benoit was a former world heavyweight champion, Intercontinental champion and held several tag-team titles during his career. His names in the ring included "The Canadian Crippler."
WWE issued an earlier statement extending "its sincerest thoughts and prayers to the Benoit family's relatives and loved ones in this time of tragedy."
"Chris was beloved among his fellow Superstars, and was a favorite among WWE fans for his unbelievable athleticism and wrestling ability. He always took great pride in his performance, and always showed respect for the business he loved, for his peers and towards his fans. This is a terrible tragedy and an unbearable loss," WWE said on its Web site.
Benoit had been scheduled to perform at the "Vengeance" pay-per-view event Sunday night in Houston but was replaced at the last minute because of what announcer Jim Ross called "personal reasons."
The WWE canceled its live "Monday Night RAW" card in Corpus Christi, Texas, and USA Network aired a three-hour tribute to Benoit in place of the scheduled wrestling telecast.
Benoit's wife managed several wrestlers and went by the stage name "Woman."
Benoit has two other children from a prior relationship.
Police are treating the deaths as a double murder-suicide.
Sheriff Tommy Pope said that Nancy Benoit was killed Friday, as was Daniel, the 7-year-old son of her and Chris Benoit. Benoit then hanged himself Saturday night or early Sunday morning, Pope said.
Pope would not elaborate on the method of death of Nancy Benoit and her son. The Associated Press reported earlier Tuesday that she was strangled and her son was smothered.
Chris Benoit was found hanged in his weight room by the cable of a weightlifting machine, according to District Attorney Scott Ballard.
Authorities also said they are investigating whether steroids may have been a factor in the deaths, prompting WWE's response.
"Lots of prescription medications were found from doctors, with what we believe to be legal prescriptions," Pope said.
He confirmed that anabolic steroids were among the medications found.
Ballard said test results may not be back for weeks or months.
Ballard said Nancy Benoit's feet were bound and that Bibles were placed next to the bodies of both her and Daniel.
"I'm baffled about why anybody would kill a 7-year-old," Ballard said. "I don't think we'll ever be able wrap our head around that."
World Wrestling Entertainment said on its Web site that it asked authorities to check on Benoit and his family after being alerted by friends who received "several curious text messages sent by Benoit early Sunday morning."
WWE said that people from the Fayette County Sheriff's Department, in Fayetteville, Ga., initially had a difficult time entering Benoit's new Fayetteville home Monday afternoon, because it was guarded by two large German shepherds roaming freely around the property.
Pope said the three were found about 2:30 p.m. Monday in three different rooms of their home south of Atlanta.
WWE also said on its Web site that it has further information on the deaths but has been asked by authorities not to release it.
The 40-year-old Benoit is a native of Canada. His wife, Nancy, was 43.
Benoit was a former world heavyweight champion, Intercontinental champion and held several tag-team titles during his career. His names in the ring included "The Canadian Crippler."
WWE issued an earlier statement extending "its sincerest thoughts and prayers to the Benoit family's relatives and loved ones in this time of tragedy."
"Chris was beloved among his fellow Superstars, and was a favorite among WWE fans for his unbelievable athleticism and wrestling ability. He always took great pride in his performance, and always showed respect for the business he loved, for his peers and towards his fans. This is a terrible tragedy and an unbearable loss," WWE said on its Web site.
Benoit had been scheduled to perform at the "Vengeance" pay-per-view event Sunday night in Houston but was replaced at the last minute because of what announcer Jim Ross called "personal reasons."
The WWE canceled its live "Monday Night RAW" card in Corpus Christi, Texas, and USA Network aired a three-hour tribute to Benoit in place of the scheduled wrestling telecast.
Benoit's wife managed several wrestlers and went by the stage name "Woman."
Benoit has two other children from a prior relationship.
