Chilling crime scene pictures revealed the alleged cocaine-laced drink former faculty soccer star Blaise Taylor is accused of utilizing to fatally poison his girlfriend and their unborn child.
The carousel of eerie pictures, proven to a jury Thursday throughout Taylor’s double-murder trial, captured the within of Jade Benning’s Nashville, Tennessee, condo – the place the ex-Arkansas State participant allegedly served her the lethal concoction on Feb. 25, 2023.
A criminal offense scene investigator recalled discovering remnants of the drink whereas authorities searched the condo on Feb. 27, 2023 – the identical day Benning’s unborn daughter died at a neighborhood hospital.
Benning died days afterward March 6, which might have been her twenty fifth birthday.
“The gadgets of curiosity that had been recognized to me by the murder unit had been the 2 bottles – the Minute Maid and the V8 Splash bottle there within the center,” the investigator advised the courtroom whereas pointing to a photograph of the house’s kitchen island.
The picture confirmed an almost empty bottle of bright-red V8 Splash and a half-full container of pink lemonade sitting on the counter alongside two water glasses – one in all which was fully empty, whereas the opposite was roughly a quarter-full of clear liquid.
Cops solely took these 4 gadgets into proof throughout their search, the investigator mentioned.
Different heart-wrenching crime scene snaps captured Benning’s being pregnant pillows strewn throughout the lounge ground, her smiley-face-clad slippers tucked partially underneath a mattress and a slew of latest child gadgets awaiting the arrival of the couple’s daughter, who was reportedly going to be named Ivy.
Packing containers of Pampers diapers, toddler system and an computerized child bouncer packed one of many residence’s walk-in closets, and cops additionally found toddler garments and different pregnancy-related gadgets whereas on the residence, the investigator advised jurors.
Extra pictures from contained in the kitchen seem to point out noodles packed in a to-go container and baked chocolate chip cookies sitting on a pan on high of the range – remnants of Benning’s supposed final meal.
The 30-year-old Taylor, who prosecutors say killed Benning as a result of he didn’t need the child, known as 911 as his girlfriend misplaced consciousness on the condo at round 9:38 p.m., in accordance with dispatch audio performed for the jury Wednesday.
“I don’t know, I believe she is having an allergic response. We had been consuming, cooking and hanging, after which she mentioned she wasn’t feeling good,” an audibly breathless Taylor may very well be heard saying within the name.
“Every thing was advantageous after which. … I don’t know what’s taking place,” he continued, whereas the 911 operator repeatedly requested him for the condo constructing tackle and what Benning was allergic to.
“I don’t assume she’s allergic to something – I don’t know,” he replied, in accordance with the recording.
EMTs reportedly discovered an unresponsive Benning face down in her mattress after they arrived about 20 minutes later.
Shortly earlier than shedding consciousness, Benning accused Taylor, then 27, of spiking her drink throughout a name made to her finest good friend, in accordance with the good friend and Nashville Assistant District Lawyer Jan Norman.
“‘What did you set in my drink?’” Norman mentioned in courtroom Wednesday, recounting Benning’s alleged final phrases.
“I knew my drink tasted humorous. You probably did this since you didn’t need the child.’”
Taylor’s protection crew has painted him as an excited father-to-be and claimed that Benning abused medication and alcohol.
“There was just one person who night time that known as 911 … and that was Blaise,” lawyer Letitia Quinones-Hollins advised jurors.
The previous Tennessee Titans scout – who has been required to put on a GPS monitor since posting the $2.5 million bond set by a choose in April 2024 – faces life in jail with out parole if he’s convicted on the highest homicide prices.
He has pleaded not responsible.
