A former college football player turned NFL scout is accused of poisoning his fiancée and killing her and her unborn child.
Blaise A. Taylor, 27, was detained in Utah on Thursday and is expected to be extradited to Tennessee, Nashville police said.
Taylor reportedly contacted 911 on the night of February 25, 2023. He allegedly stated that his girlfriend, Jade Benning, looked to be experiencing an allergic reaction and requested assistance. Her health quickly became critical. According to officials, first responders transported her to the hospital via ambulance.
“Her unborn fetus died on February 27, 2023,” authorities reported. They claimed Taylor was the baby’s father.
Benning died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on March 6, her 25th birthday.
“Benning was not able to be interviewed by police before she died,” cops said in their report.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Taylor quit his position as a scout with the Tennessee Titans in May 2023. According to authorities, Taylor relocated to Utah following the deaths.
He joined the Utah State University football team as a senior defensive analyst. In a July 28 statement, the school emphasized his experience as a state defensive back and punt returner at Arkansas State from 2014 to 2017.
But his business connection had already ended when he was detained on Thursday.
“He left March 1 for another institution, so he was not employed with us at that time,” Utah State spokesperson Amanda DeRito told Law&Crime in an email.
After months of inquiry, authorities allege Taylor poisoned Benning without her knowledge while visiting her apartment.
According to Nashville police, Deputy US Marshals detained Taylor on Thursday based on a grand jury indictment. He was charged with two charges of first-degree murder. According to records, he is currently in detention in Cache County, Utah.