Blaise Taylor convicted of killing girlfriend and unborn baby

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• Guilty verdicts and recommended punishment
• How quickly the jury reached a decision
• Prosecution’s timeline and allegations
  • Evidence cited by the state
• Autopsy results and medical details
• Defense reaction and plans to appeal
• Victim background and timeline of events
• Taylor’s past: football, coaching and scouting work
• What happens next in the case

A Davidson County jury has convicted former college football player Blaise Taylor in the deaths of his ex-girlfriend, Jade Benning, and her unborn child. The verdict, returned quickly after closing arguments, sets a path toward a life sentence for the most serious counts while legal teams prepare for the next steps in a case that gripped Nashville last year.

Guilty verdicts and recommended punishment

On July 1, a jury found Taylor, 30, guilty on four counts tied to the deaths of Benning and her fetus. The convictions include:

• Second-degree murder in Benning’s death.
• First-degree felony murder related to Benning’s death.
• First-degree premeditated murder in the death of the unborn child.
• First-degree felony murder during a separate felony tied to the fetus’s death.

Following deliberations, jurors recommended a life sentence for the first-degree murder convictions. A separate sentencing hearing for the second-degree murder count is scheduled for September 9.

How quickly the jury reached a decision

The eight-day trial concluded with closing arguments and a verdict reached in about two hours. Courtroom observers said Taylor remained silent as the foreperson read the guilty verdicts at the Davidson County Criminal Court.

Prosecution’s timeline and allegations

Prosecutors say the fatal events began on the evening of February 25, 2023, during what the state described as a date night at Benning’s apartment. The district attorney argued that Taylor slipped cocaine into Benning’s drink, causing a fatal overdose days later.

According to the prosecution, Benning contacted a friend that night and said she suspected her drink had been tampered with. Witness testimony recounted Benning confronting Taylor about the taste and raising concerns that he didn’t want her to continue her pregnancy.

Evidence cited by the state

• Witness accounts of Benning’s suspicion the night of Feb. 25.
• Medical findings showing a high level of cocaine in Benning’s blood at death.
• The timing of the fetus’s loss on Feb. 27 and Benning’s later death on March 6, 2023.

Autopsy results and medical details

An autopsy reported an elevated cocaine concentration in Benning’s system. The toxicology found 1,787 nanograms of cocaine per milliliter of blood at the time officials examined her death.

Prosecutors used that result to support their assertion that a supplied dose of the drug was the proximate cause of the fatal outcome.

Defense reaction and plans to appeal

Taylor’s legal team denied responsibility and called the prosecution’s theory incorrect. They argued the evidence did not prove Taylor administered a lethal dose and pointed to Benning’s own alleged drug use as a potential cause.

Taylor’s lead attorney said they respect the judicial process but plan to challenge the verdict. The defense maintains Taylor’s innocence and said an appeal is forthcoming.

Victim background and timeline of events

• Feb. 25, 2023 — Date night at Benning’s apartment; she later reported concerns about her drink.
• Feb. 27, 2023 — The unborn child was lost, according to court filings.
• March 6, 2023 — Benning died on what would have been her 25th birthday.

Family members and friends described deep grief after the losses. Prosecutors emphasized the emotional impact while arguing for accountability.

Taylor’s past: football, coaching and scouting work

Taylor played college football at Arkansas State University from 2014 to 2017. He later served as a graduate assistant at Duke University and worked as a scout for the Tennessee Titans between 2021 and 2023.

His career in football provided the public profile that drew attention to the case as it moved through the courts.

What happens next in the case

Sentencing for the second-degree murder conviction is set for September 9. The defense has signaled an intent to pursue appellate review after the life-term recommendation for first-degree murder.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys have been contacted for further comment as legal filings continue to develop.