NASHVILLE, TN – Former Tennessee Titans scout, Blaise Taylor, 27, made his initial court appearance on Wednesday, facing charges of a double homicide. The district attorney’s office is pushing for a life sentence without parole for Taylor, who is accused of poisoning his pregnant girlfriend, Jade Benning, and causing the deaths of both her and their unborn child.
Taylor was apprehended in Utah by U.S. Marshals, acting on an indictment from Nashville police. Prior to his arrest, Taylor had been employed by the Tennessee Titans. Due to the tragic death of the unborn child, whom Taylor is believed to be the father of, he faces two counts of first-degree murder.
On February 25, 2023, Benning was hurried to the hospital following a 911 call from Taylor, who reported that she was having an allergic reaction. Her condition deteriorated rapidly, preventing her from providing a statement to the police. Benning, who was five months pregnant, lost her baby on February 27 and succumbed to her own injuries on March 6, her 25th birthday. The alleged incident took place in Nashville.
Taylor, who is charged with poisoning his pregnant girlfriend, first appeared in court via video link on Wednesday. The district attorney’s office has announced its intention to seek a life sentence without parole for Taylor.
Taylor, who had been a scout for the Tennessee Titans from 2019 to 2023, was arrested in Utah in connection with the deaths of Jade Benning and her unborn child, Ivy. His bond hearing is scheduled for April 15.
Benning had a successful career as the head pastry chef at Mirabellas Table, chef at Earnest Bar & Hideaway, and ran her own catering business, JTB Eatery in Nashville. According to her obituary, “To know Jade was to love Jade. She had a smile that would light up the room, a laugh that was contagious, and a heart that loved everyone.”