Former Titans Scout Blaise Taylor Found Guilty of Murder
A jury convicted the ex-Arkansas State defensive back and NFL scout in the 2023 poisoning death of Jade Benning and her unborn child.
Blaise Taylor, a former Tennessee Titans scout and standout defensive back at Arkansas State, has been found guilty of murder in the 2023 poisoning death of Jade Benning and her unborn child, according to ESPN's reporting on the verdict. A jury convicted Taylor on four counts and recommended a sentence of life in prison, with formal sentencing scheduled for September 9. The case drew attention because of Taylor's background in college football and his years working in an NFL scouting department.
What was Taylor convicted of?
According to ESPN's reporting on the verdict, a jury found Blaise Taylor guilty on four counts. Those counts were second-degree murder of Jade Benning, first-degree murder of her unborn child, and two counts of first-degree felony murder. Prosecutors said Taylor poisoned Benning's pink lemonade with cocaine. The jury recommended a sentence of life in prison. A formal sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 9. Taylor was arrested in 2024, roughly a year after Benning's death.
Who was the victim and what did prosecutors describe?
The victim was Jade Benning, who was 25 years old. She was pregnant at the time, and prosecutors said the unborn child, at about five months, was also a victim in the case. According to the timeline presented at trial and reported by ESPN, the lemonade was poisoned in February 2023, and Benning was rushed to the hospital on February 25 after Taylor called 911. The unborn child died on February 27. Benning died on March 6, 2023, which was her 25th birthday. On the 911 call, Taylor told the dispatcher that Benning was having an allergic reaction.
What was Taylor's football background?
Blaise Taylor played defensive back at Arkansas State from 2014 to 2017, where he was a four-year starter. He earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors as a defensive back and punt returner and served as a team captain. After his college career, Taylor spent four years working in the Tennessee Titans scouting department, according to ESPN. At the time of his arrest, he was working as a defensive analyst at the University of Utah. His football background was a central part of why the case received national coverage.
Sources
- ESPN: Ex-Titans scout, Arkansas State DB Taylor found guilty of murder
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