Former WCW wrestler Chase Tatum found dead in Atlanta

The former WCW wrestler Chase Tatum was found dead on Sunday at his Atlanta home of what appears to be an accidental drug overdose, it was reported earlier today. Chase Tatum's body was discovered by a friend at his Buckhead home, a neighborhood in Metro Atlanta, in the afternoon on Sunday. Tatum could not be revived by the emergency personnel and was pronounced dead. . A toxicology report has been ordered by the Fulton County Medical Examiner, which will take anywhere from six to eight weeks, the local coroner's office said.

Chase Tatum was recovering from back surgery, which he had 10 days earlier to repair a degenerative disc and an accidental overdose with painkillers is the likely cause of dead, although this must be confirmed by the toxicology report first. Roy Tatum, the father of Chase, told the Atlanta Journal Constitution that his son had been battling a painkiller dependence for years but had made plans to enter a rehabilitation facility in Miami. "He was in the process of getting his life back together. He was confident he was going to turn things around, to live a normal life again without those painkillers," Tatum's father was quoted on Monday.

Chase Tatum started his short career with the WCW in 1999, when he was accepted on his first try and debuted in pro-wresting shortly after. Chase Tatum retired from wrestling after about two-and-a-half years. However, his brief wrestling career left him with severe back problems but without health insurance to pay for the surgery. According to his father, it was then when Chase turned to painkillers to keep him going. Following his brief WCW career, Chase Tatum found success as an actor, staring the low-budget comedy, "Who's Your Caddy?" in 2007 alongside costar rapper Big Boi of Outkast. Tatum also worked as a road manager and personal assistant with Outkast. Chase Tatum's funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at Mount Paran Church of God in Atlanta.

Published on 03/25/2008