NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – The murder trial of Blaise Taylor, a former Tennessee Titans scout accused of giving his pregnant girlfriend Jade Benning a fatal dose of cocaine, continued Thursday into its third day with testimony from investigators and forensic experts.
Sgt. Colin Feeney with Metro Nashville Police testified that he was assigned to clear and secure Benning’s apartment for homicide detectives on February 27, 2023, two days after Benning was hospitalized. Sgt. Feeney testified that domestic violence investigators failed to follow protocol to protect the scene. He said the apartment should have been secured prior to his arrival by the domestic violence division.
A retired Metro officer who worked the crime scene testified that Benning’s friends entering her apartment after she was hospitalized does not automatically mean evidence was tampered with.
“Somebody just being inside to collect an article does not automatically mean it’s contaminated,” the officer said.
Nicole Dowell, a forensic scientist with the Metro Nashville Police Crime Lab, testified that she tested drinking glasses and juice bottles found in Benning’s apartment and did not find any drug residue. When asked if it was possible the glasses had been washed, Dowell said yes. She also acknowledged it was possible there were never any drugs in the glasses.
A friend of Benning’s testified Wednesday that she smelled cleaning products when she entered the apartment that night.
A digital forensics expert with Nashville Police, Det. Thomas Miller, examined evidence from Benning’s phone and presented photos and text messages to jurors showing a timeline of her pregnancy and interactions with Taylor.
According to the prosecution, Benning, who was nearly six months pregnant at the time, had planned a date night with Taylor the night of the incident. The two had an on-and-off relationship, and Taylor had initially said he did not want a child. They resumed dating in January, a month before her death, in an attempt to strengthen their relationship.
During the date, Benning and Taylor had dinner. Two friends stopped by during that time.
According to prosecutors, Benning overdosed on a high level of cocaine in her apartment about an hour after her friends left. Taylor is accused of poisoning her by adding drugs to her drink.
Det. Miller shared several photos from Benning’s phone during his testimony, which showed her excited about the pregnancy. Throughout her pregnancy, she had posted pictures of herself working out and drinking mocktails, showing her preparing for motherhood.
One text message from Benning to Taylor, sent three months before her death, stated: “You said how you felt and stated that moving forward you want no part, so I will let it be that. I will not involve you at any point. I will love this child unconditionally with or without you.”
According to the defense, Taylor reached back out to Benning about two months after that message was sent with the intention of working on their relationship.
The medical examiner is expected to testify on Friday.
Taylor is facing two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of felony murder.
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