Ex-college football player Blaise Taylor facing life in prison for murder
Former college football star Blaise Taylor was arrested for first-degree murder and now prosecutors are seeking a life sentence.
Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence in prison for Blaise Taylor, the former college football player, NFL scout, and coaching assistant who is accused of killing his girlfriend and her unborn child.
The Nashville District Attorney General's office is seeking to put Taylor in prison for life without the possibility of parole after police said he poisoned his pregnant ex-girlfriend and her five-month old fetus, both of whom died in March.
Taylor is facing two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of felony murder.
Taylor's girlfriend, Jade Benning, died at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville on March 6 of last year, her 25th birthday, according to investigators.
She was taken to the hospital in an ambulance on the night of Feb. 25, 2023 after Taylor reportedly called 911 and claimed that Benning was suffering from an apparent allergic reaction.
Benning's medical condition worsened dramatically and her 5-month-old fetus, whom Taylor is believed to have fathered, died on Feb. 27, 2023.
Detectives were unable to interview Benning before she died.
Investigators later determined that Taylor poisoned Benning without her knowledge while he visited her at her apartment on the night of Feb. 25, 2023.
Taylor started four seasons at defensive back for Arkansas State, serving as a team captain and earning first-team All-Sun Belt honors at DB and as a punt return specialist.
He holds school records with 1,151 punt return yards, 36 pass defenses, and 30 pass breakups.
Taylor's bond hearing is set for April 15.
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