NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TCD) — A 27-year-old college football coach has recently been arrested in connection with the death of his pregnant girlfriend, who died on her 25th birthday in 2023.
According to a news release from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, on the night of Feb. 25, 2023, 27-year-old Blaise Taylor called 911 and reported that his girlfriend, Jade Benning, “appeared to be having an allergic reaction.” She was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center via ambulance, where her unborn 5-month-old fetus died two days later. Benning also passed away on March 6, 2023.
Police were unable to interview Benning prior to her death.
Investigators allege Taylor poisoned his girlfriend without her knowledge while visiting her apartment on Feb. 25. Following the victim’s death, Taylor reportedly moved to Utah, where police arrested him on a Nashville grand jury indictment charging him with two counts of first-degree murder. Police will work with Utah authorities to extradite Taylor back to Nashville.
Taylor previously played football for Arkansas State from 2014 until 2017 as a defensive back before working as a scout for the Tennessee Titans, the Nashville Tennessean reports.
Taylor also reportedly served as a defensive analyst at Utah State but was hired by Texas A&M’s defensive staff on March 6, where his father works as a coach.
According to the victim’s obituary, Benning graduated from Brightwater Culinary Arts in 2020 and worked as a head pastry chef and chef. She reportedly owned her own catering business, JTB Eatery.
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