Former NFL scout found guilty of Murdering his unborn child and girlfriend

Former NFL scout and Arkansas State football standout Blaise Taylor was found guilty Wednesday in a Nashville courtroom for the murders of his pregnant girlfriend, Jade Benning, and their unborn child, bringing a tragic case that has gripped the football community to a dramatic conclusion.

A Tennessee jury convicted the 30-year-old Taylor on four felony counts stemming from the 2023 deaths of Benning and her unborn baby. Jurors are now deliberating Taylor’s sentence, with life in prison without the possibility of parole among the potential outcomes.

Prosecutors argued that Taylor deliberately poisoned Benning by lacing her pink lemonade with cocaine on Feb. 25, 2023. According to investigators, Taylor later called 911 claiming Benning was suffering from an allergic reaction.

Emergency responders rushed the 25-year-old to a Nashville hospital, but her condition rapidly deteriorated. Benning never regained the ability to speak with investigators before her death. She died on March 6, 2023, her 25th birthday. Her unborn son, who was approximately five months into the pregnancy and whom authorities believe Taylor fathered, died on Feb. 27, 2023.

Following the trial, the jury found Taylor guilty on four counts:

• Second-degree murder of Jade Benning
• First-degree murder of Benning’s unborn child
• First-degree felony murder of Jade Benning
• First-degree felony murder of the unborn child

The verdict marks the end of a high-profile case that stunned both the football world and the Nashville community.

At the time of his arrest in 2024, Taylor was working as a defensive analyst at the University of Utah. Prior to joining the Utes’ coaching staff, he spent four years in the Tennessee Titans’ scouting department after beginning his NFL career as a scout.

Before entering the professional ranks, Taylor built an impressive football résumé at Arkansas State. A four-year starter from 2014 to 2017, he served as a team captain while earning First-Team All-Ssun Belt honors as both a defensive back and punt returner.

The convictions close a case that transformed Taylor from a respected football evaluator with a promising coaching future into a convicted murderer facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life behind bars.

The sentencing phase is ongoing, with jurors now determining Taylor’s punishment. If sentenced to life without parole, he would spend the remainder of his life in prison for the deaths of Jade Benning and their unborn child.