Former Tennessee Titans scout Blaise Taylor is currently on trial after he was accused of killing his pregnant girlfriend, Jade Benning, and her unborn child. Throughout the high-profile case, several bombshells about the killing were discussed including Benning’s cause of death. Taylor has pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
In February 2023, Benning was hospitalized when she seemed to suffer an allergic reaction. She died days later in what appeared to be an accident, though the horrific truth of her death has since been uncovered.
Us Weekly breaks down what to know about the case, including how Benning actually died.
What Was Jade Benning’s Cause of Death?
On the evening of February 25, 2023, Taylor called 911 to request medical assistance for his girlfriend as she allegedly suffered from an allergic reaction, according to the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.
“I don’t know. I think she’s having an allergic reaction,” Taylor told the 911 dispatcher in a clip that played during the trial, according to WZTV. “We were making cookies and painting, and she says she wasn’t feeling good. Now I’m going back to the room to check on her.”
By the time emergency responders arrived, Benning was found without a pulse and face down across a bed. She was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and was unable to speak with investigators as her health deteriorated.
Dr. Michael Olushoga, who treated Benning, said during his testimony that “all clinical signs” indicated she was dead by the time she arrived at the hospital.
Additionally, a Vanderbilt physician testified that Benning had severe brain damage and her unborn child had a low heart rate at the time she was admitted to the hospital.
Benning’s unborn child — a daughter whom she planned to name Ivy — died two days later, while the expectant mother died on March 6, 2023, on her 25th birthday.
Medical examiners testified during the trial that Benning’s cause of death was a fatal combination of a large amount of cocaine that had dissolved in alcohol, per the outlet.
Blaise Taylor Was Arrested 1 Year After Jade Benning’s Death
One year after Benning and her unborn child died, the MNPD announced that Taylor had been arrested in Utah on March 14, 2024, after a Nashville grand jury indicted him on two counts of first-degree murder “for the poisoning deaths” of the two victims.
What Was Blaise Taylor’s Motive for Killing Jade Benning?
While Taylor has pleaded not guilty to the charges, his alleged motive was revealed during the June 2026 trial.
Prosecutors claimed that Taylor spiked Benning’s pink lemonade with cocaine and alcohol because he didn’t want her to give birth to the child, according to WZTV. The unborn child was believed to be his.
However, Taylor’s attorneys claimed that Benning died as a result of her own drug use, per WZTV.
The trial remains ongoing, and the closing arguments were scheduled to take place on July 1, 2026.
If Taylor is convicted, he could face up to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
