Doctor’s office raided

ATLANTA (AP) — Federal drug agents raided the office of a doctor who prescribed testosterone to a pro wrestler who killed his wife and son and then hanged himself, authorities said yesterday.

The raid at Dr. Phil Astin’s office in Carrollton began Wednesday night and concluded early yesterday, said agent Chuvalo Truesdell, a spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Administration. The search warrant was obtained in connection with the Chris Benoit investigation, he said. No arrests were made.

Hours before the raid, Dr. Astin told the Associated Press he had treated Benoit for low testosterone levels, which he said likely originated from previous steroid use.

Among other things, investigators were looking for Benoit’s medical records to see if he had been prescribed steroids and, if so, whether that prescription was appropriate, according to a law-enforcement official speaking on the condition of anonymity because records in the case remain sealed.

Dr. Astin did not return repeated calls to his cell phone from the Associated Press yesterday.

Dr. Astin prescribed testosterone for Benoit, a longtime friend, in the past but would not say what, if any, medications he prescribed last Friday when Benoit visited his office.

Benoit strangled his wife and smothered his son over the weekend, placing Bibles next to their bodies, before hanging himself with the cable of a weight machine in his home, authorities said. No motive was offered for the killings, which were discovered Monday.

Anabolic steroids were found in Benoit’s home, leading officials to wonder whether the drugs played a role in the slayings. Some experts think steroids cause paranoia, depression and violent outbursts known as “roid rage.”

A “closed” sign hung on the front door of Dr. Astin’s office yesterday. On the side door was another sign that read: “Our office is closed until further notice and Dr. Astin cannot be reached for comment.”

Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard said in a statement yesterday that he could not immediately comment on the raid.

Also yesterday, Mr. Ballard told the AP that 10 empty beer cans were found in a trash can in the Benoit home. An empty wine bottle was found a few feet from where Benoit hanged himself, Mr. Ballard said.

It could take several weeks for toxicology tests to be completed on Benoit to see what medications, if any, were in his system.

Benoit took four months off from work in 2006 for undisclosed personal reasons, World Wrestling Entertainment attorney Jerry McDevitt said.

“He was feeling depressed, that kind of thing,” Mr. McDevitt said.

In the days before the killings, Benoit and his wife argued over whether he should stay home more to take care of their mentally disabled 7-year-old son, according to an attorney for the WWE wrestling league.

The child suffered from a rare medical condition called Fragile X Syndrome, an inherited form of mental retardation often accompanied by autism.