Former Auburn Assistant Football Coach’s Son Accused of Poisoning Pregnant Girlfriend, Say Police

Blaise Taylor, a former football standout at Auburn High School and the son of former Auburn Tigers assistant football coach Trooper Taylor, has been arrested and charged with allegedly poisoning his girlfriend and their unborn child in Nashville, Tennessee last year. The 27-year-old Taylor was arrested in Cache County, Utah, by Deputy United States Marshals following a Nashville grand jury indictment charging him with two counts of first-degree murder. Taylor’s girlfriend, Jade Benning, passed away at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on her 25th birthday, after being rushed to the hospital on February 25, 2023, when Taylor called 911 claiming she was having an allergic reaction. Benning’s unborn child, believed to be fathered by Taylor, also died two days later.

A graduate of Auburn High School, Taylor played football at Arkansas State between 2014 and 2017. Following his college career, Taylor worked as a scout for the Tennessee Titans for four years and as a senior defensive analyst at Utah State University. Despite his promising football career and successful professional transition, Taylor now faces serious criminal charges related to the suspected poisoning of his girlfriend and their unborn child in Nashville. The tragic events surrounding Benning’s death and the loss of their unborn child have shocked and saddened those who knew Taylor and the victims, including fans of Auburn football and the broader college football community.

Details of the case indicate that Taylor called 911 on the night of February 25, 2023, reporting Benning’s apparent allergic reaction, which led to her being taken to the hospital and later dying on her 25th birthday. Benning, unable to provide any information to detectives before her death, was unable to shed light on the circumstances leading to her medical emergency and subsequent passing. The loss of Benning and their unborn child has left a cloud of tragedy and mystery over Taylor, who now faces legal consequences for his alleged involvement in the deaths of his girlfriend and their expected child.

Taylor’s connections to the football world, including his time playing college football and working for the Tennessee Titans and Utah State University, make his arrest and the charges against him all the more stunning. Despite his professional successes and career aspirations in scouting and coaching, Taylor now faces accusations of poisoning his girlfriend and their unborn child, resulting in their tragic deaths. The legal process will now unfold as Taylor faces the consequences of the alleged actions that have led to this devastating outcome for Benning, their unborn child, and their families.

As the case continues to unfold, the shocking allegations against Blaise Taylor will undoubtedly draw attention and scrutiny from those who knew him and followed his football career. From his time as a standout athlete in high school to his professional endeavors in NFL scouting and college football coaching, Taylor’s life trajectory has taken a dark turn with the charges of first-degree murder in connection to the deaths of his girlfriend and their unborn child. The impact of these tragic events on Taylor, his family, and the communities where he was known and respected remains to be seen as the legal process moves forward, shedding light on the circumstances and motives behind the losses of Jade Benning and their expected child.