Albany County, New York prosecutors said Wednesday that pro wrestler Chris Benoit had received packages from an Orlando, Fla. company whose owners have admitted to prescribing drugs — including steroids — even though the company knew the patients had no medical need for the drugs.

The press release did not indicate the contents of the packages that were sent to Benoit, who authorities believe killed himself after killing his wife, Nancy and their 7-year-old son Daniel over the weekend at their gated home on Green Meadow Drive in unincorporated Fayette County near the eastern edge of Peachtree City.

The Albany County District Attorney’s Office conducted the investigation into Signature Pharmacy and an online “wellness clinic” called MedXlife.com, which has lead to multiple indictments and guilty pleas from five pharmacists and one doctor connected to the case, officials said.

The gruesome scene was discovered after 2:30 p.m. Monday when sheriff’s deputies responded to the home on a report that officials from World Wrestling Entertainment were concerned about Chris Benoit’s well-being because he had failed to appear at two wrestling events in Texas Saturday and Sunday.

Both Nancy and Daniel Benoit had been asphyxiated, and Chris Benoit hung himself using a weight machine in the family’s basement weight room, police said.

Albany County, NY District Attorney David Soares said in the news release that the investigation is still ongoing into Signature Pharmacy and MedXlife, which sent more than $200,000 in illegal steroids and prescription medication into Albany County.

“Our thoughts are with the friends and loved ones of the Benoit family,” Soares said.

Two of the defendants in the case, MedXlife owners Greg Trotta and Brian Schafler, admitted in open court that they used Dr. Gary Brandwein to prescribe the controlled substances, including steroids, even though it was known the patients had no medical need for the drugs, Soares said.
Soares said through the Internet steroids are available to anyone, whereas they were once “only available in gyms and through underground distribution.”

“Steroids are dangerous, can cause violent side effects and more needs to be done to ensure these drugs and other controlled substances are regulated, and do not end up in the hands of anyone, adults or children, without a valid prescription,” Soares said.

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