NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Testimony from a critical witness highlighted the opening days of the first-degree murder trial of former NFL scout Blaise Allen Taylor. Taylor is accused of poisoning his pregnant girlfriend, Jade Benning, and their unborn child in February 2023.
The central issue in the case is whether the defendant intentionally laced a beverage with a lethal dose of cocaine to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, or whether the victim died from recreational substance use.
Taylor, 30, a former pro scout for the Tennessee Titans, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of felony murder, according to records from the Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk.
Case Timeline and Key Facts
According to investigators, the case stems from an incident at an apartment on Lebanon Pike in Nashville. The progression of the case follows a precise chronological timeline based on municipal and medical examiner data:
- February 25, 2023: Taylor placed an emergency 911 call at 9:38 p.m. claiming Benning was experiencing a severe allergic reaction. Emergency responders found her unresponsive with pink, frothy fluid near her mouth, as detailed in reports reviewed by Court TV.
- February 27, 2023: Benning’s five-month-old fetus, a baby girl whom authorities state Taylor fathered, died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
- March 6, 2023: Benning passed away in the hospital on her 25th birthday without having been able to speak to police investigators.
- March 2024: Following a multi-month investigation into toxicological findings, a grand jury indicted Taylor on murder charges, leading to his arrest by U.S. Marshals in Utah.
- June 23, 2026: The jury trial formally commenced in Nashville before Judge Steve Dozier.
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During the opening phase of the trial, prosecutors called Nijaiha Jackson, Benning’s childhood best friend, to the stand. Jackson provided key testimony regarding a final phone call, which prosecutors argue provides direct evidence of Taylor’s involvement. Jackson recalled a late-night phone conversation on the night Benning fell ill, describing how Benning’s voice sounded faint, weak, and distressed.
According to Jackson’s testimony, she participated in a brief call during which she heard Benning confront Taylor, asking what he put in her drink and stating that it tasted funny.
Jackson testified that Benning told Taylor he did this because he did not want the baby, a detail highlighted during the WSMV reporting of the trial. The prosecution argues that this statement demonstrates a clear motive to terminate the pregnancy against Benning’s wishes.
However, emergency medical technicians testified that Benning’s condition showed no signs consistent with an allergic reaction, such as swelling or hives, and that Taylor appeared frantic and physically interfered with medical efforts, as shown in the prosecution’s opening video roadmap.
Background and Defense Arguments
The defense team, led by attorney Letitia Quinones-Hollins, has heavily contested the prosecution’s theory, pointing out significant gaps in the physical evidence. The defense emphasized that the specific cup Benning drank from was never recovered from the scene by investigators.
Furthermore, the defense highlighted that the medical examiner could not definitively rule the manner of death as a homicide, classifying it instead as undetermined on the official autopsy report.
A subsequent toxicology report revealed extraordinarily high levels of cocaine in Benning’s system. Medical examiner testimony indicated that the drug concentration was the highest recorded by the office and far exceeded typical recreational use, pointing to oral ingestion via a liquid beverage.
Defense attorneys have introduced arguments regarding Benning’s history of substance use, suggesting that she may have ingested the substance voluntarily, according to details broadcasted during the live trial stream.
Upcoming Legal Proceedings
The trial is scheduled to continue in Nashville and is projected to last approximately two weeks.
The prosecution relies heavily on the forensic toxicology data and the testimony of Benning’s friends to establish intent, while the defense continues to focus on the lack of physical evidence from the apartment and the undetermined classification on the autopsy report.
If convicted on the first-degree murder charges, Taylor faces life in prison without the possibility of parole or potentially the death penalty under Tennessee state law.
