Blaise Taylor, a former NFL scout and standout Arkansas State football player is facing a tragic and deeply troubling legal case. Taylor has been indicted on two counts of first-degree murder, accused of poisoning his pregnant girlfriend, Jade Benning, and their unborn child in Nashville back in 2023.
The details are as disturbing as they are heart-wrenching. Last year, Benning, just 25 years old at the time, tragically passed away on her birthday, March 6, 2023, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She had been rushed to the hospital on February 25, 2023, after Taylor placed a distress call to 911, reporting what he claimed to be an allergic reaction suffered by Benning.
Jade’s medical condition deteriorated rapidly. Adding to the horror, Benning’s unborn child, a five-month-old fetus, also perished, succumbing to the poison allegedly administered by Taylor. Despite efforts by law enforcement, Benning passed away before she could provide any insight into the events leading to her untimely demise.
The investigation that followed was extensive and meticulous. Homicide Unit Detective Adam Reese, alongside forensic experts and medical professionals, jumped on a months-long inquiry, ultimately resulting in the indictment of Taylor for murder. The authorities allege that Taylor poisoned Benning during a visit to her apartment on Lebanon Pike on that fateful night of February 25.
Who was Jade Benning? Meet Blaise Taylor’s deceased ex-girlfriend
Jade Benning was a 25-year-old resident of Nashville, Tennessee. She was born on March 6, 1998, in Little Rock, Arkansas. After graduating from Little Rock Central High School in 2016, Jade was deeply involved in cheerleading from a young age.
She served as the cheer captain at Horace Mann Middle School and then went on to become captain of both the JV and Varsity squads at Central.
Transferring her discipline and dedication to another passion, Jade pursued culinary arts, graduating in 2020 from Brightwater Culinary Arts. She pursued a successful career, holding positions as the Head Pastry Chef at Mirabellas Table, a Chef at Earnest Bar & Hideaway, and operating her own catering business, JTB Eatery.
Blaise Taylor’s Career: Overview
Blaise Taylor played as a defensive back at Arkansas State, where he served as team captain and earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors.
After wrapping up his time at Arkansas State University, Blaise Taylor ventured into the coaching realm, landing a position as a defensive coach at Duke University. Following his stint there, he transitioned into the NFL, spending four years as a scout for the Tennessee Titans. However, his tenure with the Titans came to an end in 2023.
Next, he took on roles as an analyst with Utah State University’s football program from July 1, 2023, until March 1, 2024, when he departed for a new opportunity.
On March 5, 2024, Taylor was set to join Texas A&M’s coaching staff as a defensive analyst, though this move had not been officially confirmed by the university at the time. Notably, Taylor’s ties to Texas A&M run deep, as the son of Trooper Taylor, an associate head coach at the university.
Amid the legal drama, Texas A&M Head Football Coach Mike Elko has issued a statement expressing condolences to all affected by the tragedy. He mentioned the importance of allowing the legal process to unfold with care and fairness.
