Philadelphia Personal Injury Attorney Blog | Pomerantz Perlberger & Lewis LLP

It has been discovered that the pro wrestler who killed his family and then himself earlier this year had suffered brain damage from his years in the wrestling ring, and those concussions can help explain why he killed his wife, son and himself. Analysis by doctors affiliated with the Sports Legacy Institute suggests that repeated concussions sustained by the wrestler could have contributed to the killings in the wrestler’s Atlanta home.

Since the murders, steroid use has lingered as a possible theory since anabolic steroids were found in the wrestler’s home. The Institute, which researches the long-term effects of concussions, coordinated the testing using samples of Chris Benoit’s brain tissue, which were provided by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. A spokesman for the Institute said that although there is no definitive answer to the brain injuries’ role in the murders, the level of brain damage Benoit had can certainly cause depression and irrational behavior.

Benoit’s brain showed the same degenerative processes that doctors found in brains of three men who had played pro football and committed suicide. There were abnormal protein deposits caused by trauma to Benoit’s brain. At the present time, there is no evidence that the anabolic steroids Benoit was taking cause such protein deposits.

Unfortunately, concussions are common in professional wrestling even though many wrestling moves are staged.

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury in Philadelphia or anywhere in Pennsylvania, please contact a Pennsylvania Personal Injury Attorney at Pomerantz Perlberger & Lewis today to schedule your initial consultation.