Bond set for former Titans scout who allegedly poisoned girlfriend, unborn baby to death
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A Davidson County judge set a very hefty bond for a former Tennessee Titans staff member accused of fatally poisoning his girlfriend and their unborn child last year.
Jade Benning died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on March 6, 2023, her 25th birthday, according to the Metro Nashville Police Department. She was rushed to the hospital via ambulance on the night of Feb. 25, 2023, after her boyfriend, Blaise Taylor, reportedly called 911 and said Benning appeared to be having an allergic reaction.
Officials said Benning’s medical condition immediately became critical and her 5-month-old fetus, who Taylor is believed to have fathered, died on Feb. 27, 2023. Detectives were unable to interview Benning before she died.
Investigators determined Taylor poisoned Benning without her knowledge while visiting her at her townhome in the 1500 block of Lebanon Pike on the night of Feb. 25, 2023.
More than a year later, authorities said 27-year-old Taylor was arrested by deputy U.S. marshals in Cache County, Utah, on March 14 after a Nashville grand jury indictment charged him with two counts of first-degree murder.
According to Taylor’s LinkedIn, the Titans employed Taylor as a scout for four years. In addition, Utah State University described Taylor as a former senior defensive analyst, saying he left the school on March 1 to “begin a new role at another institution.” Based on the court documents, that new role was with Texas A&M, but he was suspended from that job when he was arrested.
College football coach charged with poisoning girlfriend, unborn baby to death in Nashville
On April 18, after Taylor was extradited from Utah, a hearing was held per his “Motion to Set Reasonable Bond,” according to court documents, adding that he was indicted on two counts of first-degree premeditated murder and two counts of first-degree felony murder.
During that hearing, the court heard from Nijaiha Jackson, a childhood friend of Benning who was roommates with her until the pregnant victim reportedly moved into her own apartment in early 2023 so she and her unborn baby would have more space.
Jackson said she met Taylor for the first time on Feb. 25, 2023, when Benning planned a dinner date for Taylor and herself. After Jackson and a friend briefly stopped by Benning’s apartment to meet Taylor, she and Benning kept texting, until 9:29 p.m., when she got a phone call from Benning, who didn’t greet or address her directly, per the court documents.
[Benning] ‘sounded wavy’ but she overheard, ‘You did this to me! You put something in my drink, I knew it tasted funny!’ She also heard [Benning] state that she could not walk straight and ‘Blaise, you’re scaring me!’ The victim mentioned the drink multiple times before she said she was going to pass out, then she stopped talking. [Jackson] screamed into the phone which disconnected. She called back and when [Taylor] answered she asked what was going on. [Taylor’s] response was, ‘I didn’t do anything.’ Her male friend also called back and [Taylor] responded he didn’t know what happened before the phone disconnected again. [Taylor] finally responded to multiple return calls and said that he was ‘about to call 911, I can hear the ambulance. I gotta go.’
Jackson said she drove back to Benning’s apartment just in time to see the victim — whose complexion was gray — in an ambulance while a paramedic performed chest compressions. She then drove to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where Taylor reportedly became agitated when Jackson discussed the phone conversation. Jackson added that she was upset with Taylor because Benning accused him of harming her.
During cross-examination, Jackson testified that Taylor and Benning were not in an exclusive relationship, adding that an exhibited photo of Benning holding an ultrasound picture was taken in February 2023, but she didn’t post it on social media because “Blaise didn’t want anyone to know.”
According to court documents, Benning — a professional chef — had previously experimented with marijuana in foods and shared marijuana with Jackson prior to Benning’s pregnancy, but she and Jackson never did cocaine together. Jackson also remembered seeing a pink drink in the kitchen, even though Taylor was not drinking.
Dr. Erin Carney, a forensic pathologist at the Center for Forensic Medicine, testified that Benning’s blood sample when she was admitted to the hospital reflected a large concentration of cocaine that could only be reached through ingestion rather than inhalation or injection. She added that Benning appeared to have no history of cocaine use or heart conditions.
The court also heard from Mical Johnson, a former coworker of Taylor’s during his time with the Tennessee Titans, who said Taylor did not speak of a girlfriend or a baby, didn’t appear upset the day after Benning was hospitalized, and continued acting normal for the rest of the week.
Taylor’s mother appeared in court with several family members, saying Taylor had never been arrested, graduated from high school early, and attained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Upon release from custody, Taylor would reportedly stay with his family in Texas or they would arrange for housing if he was required to stay in Nashville, so he could work in either location or focus on his nonprofit work.
During cross-examination, Taylor’s mother said she never met Benning and only learned of the pregnancy in late December 2022.
The court also heard from Joe Cauthen, who said he originally recruited Taylor to play college football in Arkansas and later recruited him to Utah State as a football analyst, so he stayed close with Taylor’s family and couldn’t offer a reason as to why Taylor wouldn’t appear in court.
During cross-examination, Cauthen revealed Taylor was fired from coaching football in Utah, but he continued to be paid per contract terms. In addition, Taylor was reportedly still being paid on his Titans contract when he was recruited to Utah State.
MNPD Homicide Detective Adam Reese, who investigated Benning’s apartment on Feb. 26, 2023, testified to a Davidson County Grand Jury that the manner of death was premeditated homicide, even though the forensic pathologist could not conclude it was homicide, despite finding it suspicious, according to the court documents.
Items were taken from Benning’s apartment for further processing, including a comforter with vomit that reportedly tested positive for cocaine. However, Reese said some items around the apartment that were seen in pictures taken on Benning’s phone before she went to the hospital were not found during the crime scene investigation — namely, a cup from which Benning was allegedly drinking.
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The court documents provided the following summation of the end of last week’s hearing:
In closing, the State characterized [Taylor’s] ‘unthinkable act,’ a lack of ties to Davidson County, and an extreme flight risk as justification for the Court to find insufficient conditions for release. Upon the Court’s observation, it is constitutionally required to set a bond on noncapital offenses, the State asked the Court to set a ‘significant’ amount, collect [Taylor’s] passport, and order no social media as a condition. Defense counsel suggested that no proof has been offered that [Taylor] is a flight risk other than the nature of the charges and asked the Court to set a reasonable bond.
On Wednesday, April 24, the court issued an order setting Taylor’s bond at $2.5 million.
According to the order, “a defendant facing noncapital offenses is constitutionally and statutorily required access to bail as made by sufficient sureties.” The judge also considered multiple factors, including the fact that Taylor isn’t a Davidson County resident but is willing to stay in the area if necessary, he could find outside employment or work with his nonprofit, his family would help him with future court appearances, and he has no criminal history.
“Despite these findings, the Court is troubled by the nature of the offenses and the likelihood of convictions,” the order states. “While this Court does not prejudge a case based upon testimony from a bond hearing, the Court is concerned at the accounted events, the balance of available evidence for conviction, and the potential for significant sentences mandated against [Taylor]. The Court puts significant weight on this factor.”
If the $2.5 million bond is made, it needs to be secured by two qualified bonding companies. Taylor will also be required to wear a GPS monitoring device with a 10 p.m. curfew, forbidden from leaving Davidson County, and banned from contacting any potential witnesses, per the court documents.
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