{"id":359908,"date":"2026-07-02T19:05:38","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T13:35:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=359908"},"modified":"2026-07-02T19:05:38","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T13:35:38","slug":"football-scout-convicted-of-killing-girlfriend-and-unborn-baby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/07\/02\/football-scout-convicted-of-killing-girlfriend-and-unborn-baby\/","title":{"rendered":"Football Scout Convicted of Killing Girlfriend and Unborn Baby"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Former college football player Blaise Taylor<\/strong> was convicted of killing his former girlfriend Jade Benning<\/strong> and her unborn child.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, July 1, a Nashville jury found Taylor, 30, guilty on all 4 counts related to the deaths of Benning and her unborn baby in 2023, per WSMV 4 News<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The athlete was convicted of second degree murder and first degree felony murder during commission of a felony in Benning\u2019s death, in addition to first degree premeditated murder and first degree felony murder through the commission of a felony for the unborn child\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

Later, the jury advisable a sentence of life imprisonment for the first-degree murder chargers, per WKRN<\/a>. Taylor will probably be sentenced on September 9 for the second-degree murder charge.<\/p>\n

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Related: <\/span>How Long Does Cheerleader Laken Snelling Face In Prison?: The whole lot to Know<\/span>
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\n\t\t\tLaken Snelling, a former competitive cheerleader on the University of Kentucky, has been arrested after allegedly giving birth and hiding her newborn\u2019s body in a closet.\u00a0 Snelling, 22, was initially taken into custody on August 30, 2025, after a 3rd party called the police and reported finding an infant\u2019s body that was \u201ccold to the [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Per local reports, the jury reached its guilty verdict inside two hours of closing arguments concluding within the eight-day trial on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Taylor sat silent because the jury foreperson read out the decision on the Davidson County Criminal Court.<\/p>\n

Us Weekly<\/em> has reached out to Taylor\u2019s attorney and the Nashville District Attorney\u2019s Office for comment on the decision.<\/p>\n

Taylor\u2019s lawyer Letitia Quinones-Hollins<\/strong> told WKRN of Wednesday\u2019s court ruling, \u201cWhile we respect the jury system and the method, we must also respectfully disagree with today\u2019s verdict and plan to appeal the choice because Blaise didn’t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c[Taylor] maintains that he’s innocent and we’ll proceed working to prove that,\u201d the lawyer went on. \u201cWe understand and respect the pain that Ms. Benning\u2019s family and friends feel over her tragic death and the death of her unborn baby, but putting an innocent man behind bars can be a tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Throughout the trial, the prosecution accused Taylor of administering a fatal dose of cocaine to Benning through a drink during a date night at her apartment on February 25, 2023.<\/p>\n

Nashville Assistant District Attorney Jan Norman<\/strong> told the court on Wednesday, June 24, that Benning called a friend that February night to say that she feared Taylor can have spiked her drink because he didn’t want her to hold her pregnancy to term. (Per the prosecution, Taylor suspected the unborn child was his.)<\/p>\n

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\n Jade Benning<\/span> Jade Benning\/Linkedin<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWhat did you set in my drink?\u201d Benning demanded to know, in accordance with friend Nijaiha Jackson<\/strong>. \u201c\u2018I knew my drink tasted funny. You probably did this since you didn\u2019t want the infant.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

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