Former Arkansas State football player Blaise Taylor is facing charges in a double-murder case involving his pregnant girlfriend, Jade Benning, who died from a fatal overdose in her Tennessee apartment last year. According to prosecutors, Taylor deliberately administered a lethal dose of cocaine to Benning on February 25, 2023, resulting in the deaths of both Benning and their unborn child.

Taylor, 30, is charged with four counts of murder in connection with the case. Witnesses and evidence presented at the trial suggest a contentious relationship, with Benning reportedly resisting Taylor’s alleged insistence that she terminate her pregnancy. In a text message shared with a close friend prior to her death, Benning stated, “I’m going to tell him today that I’m not having the abortion . . . so he can just get it out of his head,” implying pressure from Taylor to end the pregnancy.

Prosecutors argue that the overdose was intentional and linked to this conflict, while details from the defense have not been publicly disclosed. The case remains under judicial review as jurors continue to hear testimony and examine evidence. The circumstances surrounding both Benning’s death and the loss of her unborn daughter have drawn significant attention due to the involvement of the former athlete and the tragic nature of the incident.