Autopsy The Last Hours of... Season 5 Episode 5 Chris Benoit
- March 15, 2020
- 44 min
Autopsy: The Last Hours of... is a gripping true crime documentary series that investigates the final days and hours of some of the world's most famous and controversial individuals. In season 5, episode 5, the series explores the tragic case of Chris Benoit, a professional wrestler who shocked the world when he murdered his wife and son before taking his own life in 2007.
The episode delves deep into the events leading up to the tragic murder-suicide, with forensic pathologist Dr. Jason Payne-James examining the autopsy reports, police statements, and other medical evidence to reconstruct the final moments of Benoit's life.
Benoit, a beloved figure in the wrestling world, had a long history of concussions and head injuries. As Dr. Payne-James explains, the repeated trauma to his brain had resulted in a condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which can cause severe depression, aggression, and other behavioral changes.
Through interviews with Benoit's friends, family, and colleagues, including fellow wrestlers and medical experts, the episode explores the toll that Benoit's injuries and mental health struggles took on his personal and professional life. The show also examines the role of the controversial painkiller OxyContin in Benoit's downfall, as well as the pressures and expectations that professional wrestlers face in the hyper-competitive world of WWE.
Despite the tragedy of Benoit's death, the episode offers a sobering and insightful look at the dangers of chronic traumatic encephalopathy and the importance of recognizing and treating head injuries. It also shines a light on the complex and often dark world of professional wrestling, and the toll that physical and emotional trauma can take on those who live in it.