Levens, Ribeiro involved in tragedies

The MMA world was jolted by news that UFC and International Fight League veteran Justin Levens and his wife were found dead in their California home due to an apparent murder-suicide, as well as reports that World Extreme Cagefighting bantamweight prospect Will Ribeiro is in a coma following a motorcycle crash in Brazil.

Levens, 28, and his wife, Sara McLean-Levens, 25, were found dead of gunshot wounds in their home in Laguna-Niguel, Calif., on Dec. 17. Authorities told Sherdog.com News Editor Loretta Hunt that initial evidence suggests Levens was the shooter. Levens and his wife were set to appear in court on Wednesday on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, according to local media. An autopsy showed Levens had been shot in the head and his wife in the heart, and that they had been dead for about four days before Sara’s mother found them. A handgun was found near Levens’ body, and Hunt reported that what looked to be painkillers and anti-depressant medication was found at the scene.

Levens, who battled drug issues, was said to be despondent over the loss of IFL teammate Jeremy Williams, who committed suicide last year. In fact, the IFL built an emotional television show around Levens fighting in Williams’ memory in May 2007, when he lost to Brian Foster. Levens, who faced Evan Tanner and Jorge Santiago in his two UFC appearances in 2006, had lost his last five fights and was suspended in July by the California State Athletic Commission for having high doses of the painkiller oxymorphone in his system.

Toxicology reports on the body are due back in six to eight weeks. Local media in California reported the story with an emphasis on the fact that Levens used “The Executioner” as his nickname in MMA, while an ABC News report drew a parallel with the murder-suicide case perpetrated by professional wrestler Chris Benoit last year.

Ribeiro, who lost to Brian Bowles at WEC 37 on Dec. 3, remains in a coma in a Brazilian hospital following a motorcycle crash on Dec. 16. Ribeiro was a passenger on the motorcycle and was not wearing a helmet, according to a report at WEC.tv. Riberio's manager, Ed Soares, told WEC.tv that Ribeiro, 25, had lost sight in at least one of his eyes and has a 50/50 chance of waking from the coma. Ribeiro burst onto the WEC scene with a dynamic striking display in a split decision win over former bantamweight champion Chase Beebe in June.