On February 25, 2023, Blaise Taylor was outside Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, answering police questions. His date, 24-year-old Jade Benning, was rushed to the hospital unresponsive. Taylor described the event as a typical date night that escalated into a medical emergency, sharing his initial concerns with his father, a seasoned college football coach.
Jade, a professional chef, had planned a special evening at her apartment, intending to strengthen her relationship with Blaise, an assistant football scout for the Tennessee Titans. Tragically, after a few selfies, she began feeling unwell, leading to vomiting and seizures. Blaise called 911 on his father’s advice after a brief call with him. Responders found Jade face down with no pulse, and she was transported to the hospital.
Jade’s friend, Nijaiha Jackson, returned to Jade’s apartment, learning her friend was unresponsive. Jackson, along with family and friends, described Jade as spirited, a trait recognized from her time as a high school cheerleader. Originally from Little Rock, she moved to Nashville to pursue a culinary career and the dream of owning a restaurant. Her father, Dennis Browning, noted her tendency to unite people despite her parents’ divorce.
Jade discovered her pregnancy in November 2022, attributing the fatherhood to Blaise. She planned to name the baby Ivy. Bridget Benning Burks, Jade’s mother, learned this through a sent picture of a positive pregnancy test. Despite issues with Blaise wanting the pregnancy terminated, Jade decided to carry the pregnancy without him if necessary, with her family ready to support her.
On the date night, shortly after Jade became ill, she made a call to Njaiha, accusing Blaise of tampering with her drink. Nijaiha conveyed these concerns to Bridget, adding urgency to the happening. During this emergency, Jade’s mother was informed her daughter had been without oxygen for 45 minutes, leaving her brain dead and her baby with similarly dire outcomes. Disturbingly, toxicology results showed cocaine in Jade’s system, a shock to her family, who claimed she abstained from any harmful substances after confirming her pregnancy.
As the investigation continued, police enquired into Jade’s call and previous conversations regarding Blaise’s disinterest in fatherhood. The police interaction with Blaise and his eventual removal from the hospital are noteworthy, with Jade’s hospital status being kept confidential for safety. Blaise’s family stayed concerned but remained uninformed during this time.
Blaise’s involvement became further complex when Nijaiha, concerned over a sluggish investigation, independently examined Jade’s apartment, finding a misplaced camera. Convinced the changing camera’s position was Blaise’s attempt to avoid detection, they retrieved Jade’s comforter, later found to contain cocaine traces.
The medical examiner ruled Jade’s death as cocaine toxicity, with extraordinary amounts usually unseen in typical overdose cases. Despite no direct evidence against Blaise, her family remained determined about his involvement. The absence of drug purchase evidence and the fact that the drinks taken from the apartment contained no cocaine complicated accusations.
Blaise relocated to Utah, taking a collegiate football analyst job before his arrest on murder charges a year later. Released on a bond, his defense argued no evidence linked Blaise to the drugs. The prosecution, however, built a case citing his attempt to avoid paternity and deliberate poisoning, leveraging the call Jade made.
The June 2026 trial spanned over seven days, incorporating witness testimonies and the intervention of Blaise’s past, shared by ex-girlfriend Apple Dennie. Her recount of Blaise seeking abortion pills for another past pregnancy reflected potential premeditated intentions. However, the defense highlighted the absence of actual wrongdoing or previous cooperation.
Medical experts discussed substances found like cocaethylene, forming from alcohol and cocaine mixing, often presenting a lethal mix. The arguments highlighted cocaine presence as the definitive lethal factor rather than any mishandled fentanyl found on the comforter. The defense maintained other environmental contamination could explain fentanyl traces, while the prosecution called on Blaise’s outward actions as calculated innocence.
During closing arguments, the prosecution remained firm on the deliberate poisoning premise, while the defense reiterated insufficient evidence to support homicide claims or concocted motives for such actions. Additionally, questioning Jackson’s solitary account of Jade’s call raised reliability issues.
The jury, after brief deliberation, found Blaise guilty across multiple counts, resulting in life sentences for the convicted actions against Jade Benning and her unborn child. Though guilty convictions brought Jade’s family justice, the irreparable void left by her death and her child’s stays. Commemorations continue through lifelong reminders and gatherings acknowledging Jade’s enduring spirit.