Former NFL scout receives consecutive life terms for poisoning pregnant girlfriend

In a Nashville courtroom, former Tennessee Titans scout Blaise Taylor was handed consecutive life sentences after a two-hour jury deliberation resulted in unanimous convictions on two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of felony murder. Prosecutors alleged Taylor deliberately gave a lethal dose of cocaine to his pregnant girlfriend, Jade Benning, during a February 2023 date night, leading to her death on March 6, her 25th birthday, and the loss of the unborn child.

The defense presented 87 letters praising Taylor’s character, none of which referenced Benning or “baby Ivy,” a point emphasized by Assistant District Attorney Jan Norman. Relatives of Benning, including her mother, delivered victim impact statements. At the time of the crime, Taylor was employed as a defensive analyst at Utah State and had previously been a four-year defensive back at Arkansas State. His attorney described the trial as flawed and said the conviction will be appealed.