Death, arrest stun wrestler's friends

Date: 02-05-2003 Posted by: Anabolic Info TeamUnited States

Hours after his arrest on charges of possessing illegal bodybuilding drugs, former wrestling superstar Lex Luger walked out of the Cobb County jail on bond Friday.

Later Friday, the Cobb County medical examiner's office said preliminary autopsy results confirmed that no sign of foul play was found in the death of his companion, the wrestling figure known as Miss Elizabeth.

Luger, whose real name is Lawrence Pfohl, emerged from the Cobb County Detention Center at about 1 a.m. on $25,000 bond, following what must have been one of the worst days of his life.

Miss Elizabeth, whose real name was Elizabeth Hulette, 42, died Thursday morning in the home they shared. Then, as police were investigating her death, they say they hit upon more than a thousand illegal bodybuilding pills and arrested the former wrestling star.

Police are not linking the woman's death to the discovery of the drugs. No cause of death has been determined, and the medical examiner's office said it could be a month or two before toxicology results are complete.

At Main Event Fitness on Powers Ferry Road, where Pfohl is part owner, members were solemn and upset. When the couple's photos flashed on the TV news, people broke from their workouts to watch.

"Elizabeth was one of the sweetest, most wonderful people," said Irene Carlos, who often worked out with Hulette. She was upset that Pfohl had to spend the first hours of mourning behind bars.

Pfohl and Hulette moved last year into a town house in the nearby River Stone subdivision. They had purchased a $300,000-plus home with giant stainless steel appliances and a basement that they crafted into a personal sports bar with about 10 televisions.

Neighbor Glenn Robins said he had looked forward to meeting Pfohl when they all held a block party. "I was hoping he would show me his famous move -- the Torture Rack," he said.

But his wife, Vivian, recalled seeing the wrestler at his lowest moment Thursday morning. She was driving her son to school when she saw Pfohl sitting on his front steps. She had seen the emergency crews arrive. Pfohl's head was hanging down.

"As I passed, he kind of looked up at me," she said. "He looked very sad."