Former Tennessee Titans Pro Scout Blaise Taylor, who was accused of poisoning his pregnant girlfriend in February 2023, was found guilty yesterday of murder. The 30-year-old faces a potential life sentence for the death of 24-year-old Jade Benning, who died from a lethal dose of cocaine.

Beginning of Trial

Taylor’s trial began on June 23, 2026, with opening statements. His defense outlined the couple’s timeline and how they ended up together on that night. They also asserted that Benning had a drug and alcohol problem, and overdosed on her own accord.

However, prosecutors alleged that Benning received her pink drink that night, made by Taylor, and that he laced it with cocaine, then called 911 claiming she was suffering from an allergic reaction. One theory is that he never intended to kill the victim, but that he was trying to end her pregnancy, which he had already established he did not want.

Defendant and Victim’s Relationship

The two met on a dating app towards the end of 2022, expecting nothing more than a casual fling. After Benning found out she was pregnant, they did not see eye to eye on what to do, so they went their separate ways. It was not until the first day of the New Year in 2023 that they rekindled their relationship and decided to try to work it out.

Two months later, Benning died from a drug overdose, which the defense claims she had a history of using throughout her pregnancy. Prosecutors called upon multiple witnesses to prove the defense’s claims false, including Benning’s stepmother, coworker, Taylor’s coworkers, medical experts, and a forensic toxicologist.

Charges and Sentencing

Taylor was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of felony murder. His trial lasted approximately eight days before both sides delivered closing arguments and the jury deliberated for under three hours.

On July 1, 2026, a Nashville jury returned with its verdict. They found him guilty of four counts, including first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and two counts of felony murder. 

The jury unanimously recommended that Taylor be sentenced to life in prison for the first-degree murder charge. However, he will be sentenced on the other charges on September 9, 2026, and the judge will determine whether they are to run concurrently or consecutively.

Crucial Piece of Evidence

Arguably the most important piece of evidence and testimony came from Benning’s friend, Nijaiha Jackson, who testified to her best friend’s last words. The victim, while suffering from a debilitating overdose, called her best friend that night before she died.

“You put something in my drink,” Jackson testified to Benning’s final words on the phone. “You did this so something would happen to the baby.”

Benning was six months pregnant at the time of her death, and after she and Taylor came back together, she invited him over to her apartment the night of February 25, 2023. She planned the evening expecting to celebrate her birthday, eat good food, and paint canvases for the baby’s nursery.

Jackson had stopped by at some point during the couple’s date for chicken alfredo, but according to her testimony, she left around 8 p.m. Nearly an hour and a half later, Jackson gets a call from Benning, who was now alone with Taylor in her apartment.

“She made sure Blaise Taylor was not the only one to hear her last words,” assistant district attorney Jan Norman said to the jurors in her closing argument. “She made sure that you heard her last words.”

Career of Blaise Taylor

At the time of Taylor’s arrest in 2024, he was working as a senior defense analyst for the Utah State University football team. Before then, he worked as a scouting assistant for the Tennessee Titans, rising to the role of Pro Scout. However, shortly after Benning’s death, he parted ways with Tennessee.