Titans Scout Poisoned Pregnant Girlfriend, Jury Finds

By Jordan Reyes. Jul 8, 2026

A Date Night at Her Apartment

Former Titans scout Blaise Taylor poisoned his pregnant girlfriend during a February date night at her Nashville apartment, lacing her pink lemonade with a lethal dose of cocaine. On July 1, 2026, a Nashville jury convicted him of her murder - and the murder of their unborn daughter.

Taylor, 30, was found guilty on four counts: second-degree murder in the death of Jade Benning, first-degree premeditated murder in the death of her unborn child, and two additional felony murder counts. The jury recommended life in prison.

Jade Benning

Jade Benning was 24 years old and five months pregnant on the night of February 25, 2023. Prosecutors said Taylor had been seeing her for months and that the pregnancy was his. He did not want to be a father.

According to the prosecution’s closing arguments, Taylor arrived at Benning’s apartment that evening carrying cocaine he intended to use without her knowledge. He dissolved it in her drink. Benning became gravely ill that night. Taylor called 911, telling the dispatcher she appeared to be having an allergic reaction.

She was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where her condition immediately became critical. Her fetus died within two days. Jade Benning died on March 6, 2023 - her 25th birthday.

The Trial

Taylor had worked as a defensive scout with the Tennessee Titans for four years before the incident. After Benning’s death, he moved to Utah and took a position as a senior defensive analyst at Utah State University. He was later offered a role at Texas A&M. He was arrested in Logan, Utah, in March 2024 - within days of starting his new position - after Nashville detectives concluded months of investigation and obtained a warrant.

At trial, the prosecution presented toxicology evidence establishing that cocaine had caused Benning’s fatal collapse. Nashville Assistant District Attorney Jan Norman argued Taylor had expressed a desire to end Benning’s pregnancy and had, according to one witness, previously discussed putting a substance in another woman’s drink to cause an abortion without her knowledge.

Taylor did not testify. His defense contested the toxicology evidence and argued prosecutors had not proved intentional poisoning beyond a reasonable doubt.

July 1, Nashville

The jury deliberated for approximately three hours before returning guilty verdicts on all four murder counts on July 1, 2026.

Benning’s mother, Bridgette Burks, addressed the court during sentencing. ‘It’s just a void that will always be there,’ she said. ‘Is your day-to-day life different without Jade? Most of the time people ask ‘Are you okay?’ I say ‘Yes,’ but behind closed doors, I’m not.’

Taylor’s mother, Dr. Evelyn Taylor, spoke about her son’s character without addressing the trial.

Taylor’s defense team confirmed plans to appeal. ‘We must also respectfully disagree with today’s verdict and plan to appeal the decision because Blaise did not do this,’ his attorneys said in a statement.

What Remains

Formal sentencing in the case is scheduled for September 9, 2026. The jury’s recommendation of life in prison carries weight under Tennessee law.

Dennis Browning, Benning’s father, emerged from the courthouse on July 1 and spoke to reporters. ‘Definitely glad everything is over and justice is served,’ he said.

Jade Benning was 24 years old when she died. Her daughter never had a name.

References: Blaise Taylor GUILTY: Ex-NFL scout found guilty of poisoning pregnant girlfriend | Former Titans scout Blaise Taylor found guilty of murder in pregnant girlfriend’s death | Blaise Taylor verdict: Ex-NFL scout convicted of murdering Jade Benning and unborn child