Former football scout on trial in girlfriend’s poisoning death in Nashville

Jury selection opened Monday in Nashville in the trial of Blaise Taylor, the former Tennessee Titans scout and Utah State senior defensive analyst accused of poisoning his girlfriend, Jade Benning, and causing the death of the unborn child she was carrying. Taylor, 30, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of felony murder, and prosecutors have sought life without parole if he is convicted.

The state’s case centers on events inside Benning’s apartment on Lebanon Pike. Prosecutors allege Taylor was with Benning when she was poisoned without her knowledge, then later tried to frame the episode as a medical emergency when he called 911 at 9:38 p.m. on Feb. 25, 2023, and said she appeared to be having an allergic reaction. Benning was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center that night, and her condition worsened over the next several days.

The unborn child died on Feb. 27, 2023, and Benning died at Vanderbilt on March 6, her 25th birthday. A toxicology review found cocaine in Benning’s system, and a medical examiner testified that the level appeared higher than could be explained by recreational use alone. Prosecutors say that evidence supports their theory that Taylor poisoned her while she was pregnant with a girl.

At the earlier bond hearing, Benning’s best friend testified that she overheard Benning say, “My drink tasted funny, I can’t even walk straight, you did this to do something to the baby.” Homicide detective Adam Reese also testified that a cup visible in scene photos later appeared to be missing.

Taylor was arrested in Utah in March 2024 by deputy U.S. marshals after a Nashville grand jury indictment. He later posted a $2.5 million bond and was released from Davidson County Jail, with roughly $250,000 in bonding-company fees paid to secure that release. The case had been delayed earlier in 2026 by a January winter storm before jury selection began June 22 and opening statements and testimony started June 23.

He joined Utah State after four years with the Tennessee Titans, where he was promoted to pro scout in June 2021. Before that, he served as a defensive graduate assistant at Duke and was a four-year starter and team captain at Arkansas State.