Son of Former Auburn Assistant Coach Indicted for Double Murder
ICARO Media Group
In a shocking turn of events, Blaise A. Taylor, the son of former Auburn Tigers assistant head coach and wide receivers coach Trooper Taylor, has been indicted on two counts of first-degree murder. The charges stem from the deaths of Taylor's girlfriend and her unborn child, according to media and police reports out of Tennessee.
Taylor, 27, was apprehended by Deputy United States Marshals in Utah on Thursday night, following a request from the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department. A Nashville grand jury had issued an indictment against him, accusing him of poisoning his girlfriend and fathering the unborn child, resulting in their tragic deaths.
The incident unfolded on the night of February 25, 2023, when Taylor called 911 after his girlfriend, Jade Benning, experienced an apparent allergic reaction. She was swiftly rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, but her condition worsened rapidly, leading to the death of her unborn child on February 27. Tragically, Benning herself passed away on March 6, 2023, which coincided with her 25th birthday.
Nashville police launched a months-long investigation, consulting with scientists from crime laboratories and doctors from the Medical Examiner's Office. Their thorough efforts culminated in the issuance of a murder indictment against Taylor. Allegedly, he clandestinely poisoned Benning while visiting her apartment on the night she was rushed to the hospital.
Following the tragic deaths, Taylor relocated from Tennessee to Utah, where he joined former Arkansas State Coach Blake Anderson at Utah State University as a senior defensive analyst. However, the process is now underway to extradite him back to Nashville to face the charges brought against him.
Blaise A. Taylor had previously made headlines in 2010 when he filed a federal lawsuit against Auburn University, claiming discrimination due to his hairstyle. He attended Auburn High School while his father served on the coaching staff under then-head football coach Gene Chizik.
As this distressing case unfolds, the community remains in shock over the alleged actions of the son of a prominent coach. The court proceedings will provide an opportunity for justice to prevail and bring closure to the grieving families involved.