NFL Scout Blaise Taylor Found Guilty of Murdering Pregnant Girlfriend
Blaise Taylor has learned his fate in the murder trial for his pregnant girlfriend.
The former scout for the Tennessee Titans was convicted July 1 of four felony murder counts in the case of Jade Benning’s 2023 death, according to court documents viewed by E! News.
A Nashville jury arrived at their unanimous verdicts in just under three hours, determining that Taylor was guilty of one count of second-degree murder of Benning, one count of first-degree murder for the unborn child, one count of first-degree felony murder of Benning and one count of first-degree felony murder of the unborn child.
Taylor has maintained his innocence since his 2024 arrest and pleaded not guilty to all charges.
During the eight-day trial, prosecutors alleged that the former college football player intentionally drugged Benning with a lethal dose of cocaine in her pink lemonade during a date night at her Nashville apartment in February 2023. However, Taylor’s legal team argued that Benning, a professional chef, had a history of drug use and had been abusing drugs and alcohol while pregnant.
Benning was rushed to the hospital after Taylor reportedly called 911, telling dispatch that his girlfriend seemed to be having an allergic reaction. She died one week later on March 6, her 25th birthday.
At the time of her death, she was pregnant with who was believed to be Taylor’s baby. The 5-month-old fetus died two days after Benning was hospitalized.
“She had a smile that would light up the room, a laugh that was contagious, and a heart that loved everyone,” Benning’s obituary read. “She loved her tattoos, music, and a good Netflix series. But most of all, she loved spending time with the extensive group [of] friends and family who got to share her warmth over the years.”
Taylor’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Sept. 9, when the court will determine if he will serve his sentences consecutively or concurrently, according to local news outlet WKRN.
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