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Lawyer: Benoit's Diary Shows Signs Of Depression, Dementia

POSTED: 5:54 pm EDT September 13, 2007
UPDATED: 10:24 am EDT September 14, 2007

Channel 2 Action News has learned exclusive details of the entries in wrestler Chris Benoit's diary.

His father's attorney believes the wrestler's writings show signs of dementia and depression years before Benoit killed his wife, child and himself.

The photocopied first page of the diary is inscribed, 'To Christopher from Nancy,' with the date November 25, 2005.

All the handwritten entries are addressed to Eddie Guerrero, a close wrestling friend of Benoit's, who died in 2005 of an enlarged heart.

"He was upset, very upset, about Eddie's death. He says in a number of places how much he loved Eddie and what dear friends they were. He also says at one point that, 'I will be with you soon,' so it appears as though he was having some thoughts about his own mortality," said Carry Ichter, Benoit's father's attorney.

The entries also speak of Benoit's love and admiration for his wife, Nancy, and son, Daniel -- both of whom he killed in the weekend of June 22.

He spoke of the exhaustion, drudgery and loneliness of the road, but did not describe abusing drugs.

"It's plain that he was depressed. It's plain that he was beginning to exhibit some of the signs of the dementia that's associated with the brain injuries he sustained because he talks in there about not being able to remember things," said Ichter. "Chris, at the end had become intensely paranoid, to the point that he would not take the same route to the airport on a consistent basis, to the point that he would not allow the family outside of the house."

The diary was found in the trash outside Benoit's Fayetteville home shortly after the deaths.

Ichter, who has known Benoit for years, is now representing his father in the legal process which will decide who is heir to Benoit's multi-million dollar estate -- his children from a prior marriage or the family of his wife, Nancy. They left no will.


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