December 2, 2015

• Douglas Benefield’s wife, Renee Benefield, died from a heart condition. Their daughter, Eva, discovered her mother after returning home from school. Source
• During the investigation into Renee Benefield’s death, Mount Pleasant police reviewed her cellphone and documented prior marital conflict between Renee and Doug. Investigators summarized that Renee had stated Doug kicked her during their honeymoon and also documented a prior incident involving Doug placing a gun to his own head. The coroner concluded Renee died from a heart condition. Source

August 25, 2016

• Doug Benefield met Ashley Byers at Ben Carson’s Palm Beach residence shortly after Carson suspended his presidential campaign. Ashley had been involved with Donald Trump’s campaign operation in Florida, while Doug had connections to donors associated with Ben Carson. Source

August 27, 2016

• Two days after meeting Ashley, Doug left for a business trip to Israel. While he was away, Doug and Ashley continued communicating constantly through calls and text messages.

September 1, 2016

• Six days after meeting, Doug and Ashley exchanged “I love you” messages through text communication.

September 6, 2016

• Doug and Ashley submitted a marriage application. Source

September 7, 2016

• Doug and Ashley married at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. The ceremony was attended by a single witness and officiated by Doug’s friend, Trip Cormeny. Source

January 2017

• Eva’s 15-year-old friend Sidney moved into the home with Doug, Ashley, and Eva.

April 2017

• Doug underwent a vasectomy reversal procedure because he and Ashley wanted children.

April 14, 2017

• Doug punched a hole in a wall during an argument with Ashley. During the same period, Ashley alleged Doug struck and threw family pets. Source

June 15, 2017

• Doug pulled a loaded gun during an argument with Ashley and threw it at her. The firearm struck a wall. Doug then held the gun to his own head, threatened suicide, and fired a shot into the ceiling. Source
• Doug later stated in court records: “She wouldn’t stop talking about Eva. She wouldn’t stop, so I literally grabbed the first thing on the table in front of me, which happened to be the gun.” Source

June 2017

• Days after the gun incident, Doug and Ashley hosted a wedding reception at a Charleston hotel. Source

September 2017

• Doug and Ashley launched The American National Ballet in Charleston, South Carolina. Source

September 18, 2017

• Ashley returned to South Carolina while Doug was overseeing the ballet launch. She packed her belongings and left him a note explaining she was leaving. Source

October 23, 2017

• The American National Ballet ceased operations after financial and organizational problems. Source

October 27, 2017

• During an injunction hearing, Doug admitted to throwing a loaded firearm at Ashley during an argument. Source
• Doug also admitted punching holes in the walls of their home during arguments. Source

November 3, 2017

• A restraining order was issued by a judge in Charleston, South Carolina. Source

December 2, 2017

• Ashley claimed she became ill after opening a package mailed by Doug. She later filed for a protective order. Source

May 30, 2018

• Ashley filed for divorce in Manatee County, Florida under Case #2018DR002534AX. Source

July 30, 2018

• Ashley and Doug appeared in court in Florida regarding custody and domestic violence allegations. Judge Diana Moreland denied Ashley’s poisoning allegations, ruling there was “not a single scintilla of credible evidence” she had been poisoned.

Summer 2019

• Doug admitted placing a tracking device on Ashley’s vehicle and hired a private investigator. Source

September 27, 2020

• Doug and Ashley were preparing to move to Maryland together when an argument escalated inside Ashley’s home in Bradenton, Florida.
• Ashley shot Doug during the confrontation and claimed self-defense.
• Deputies found Doug suffering from gunshot wounds to his leg, arm, and chest. Investigators initially stated evidence suggested Doug was not facing Ashley when she fired. Source
• The medical examiner later determined Doug Benefield’s fatal gunshot entered from front to back through the chest. Source

October 17, 2020

• Doug’s family and friends scattered his ashes at Sullivan’s Island Beach in South Carolina.

November 2020

• Ashley Benefield surrendered at the Manatee County Jail and was charged with second-degree murder.

1991

• Ashley Christina Byers was born on December 5, 1991, in Nueces, Texas, to Alicia and Raymond Byers. Ashley began dancing at age 8 in Annapolis, Maryland, where she trained at several local studios before studying and graduating from The Maryland Youth Ballet. During her training, Ashley participated in The Kennedy Center Class series and trained with prestigious companies including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet. Source
• Throughout her ballet training, Ashley worked with Ben Stevenson, Suzanne Farrell, and Susan Jaffe. She later danced professionally with companies including The Baltimore Ballet, Ballet Theatre of Maryland, Sarasota Ballet, and Ballet Pensacola.
• Ashley left high school to attend Maryland Youth Ballet full time. Source
• After graduating, Ashley performed professionally with several ballet companies along the East Coast, including Ballet Theatre of Maryland, Baltimore Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, Ballet Pensacola, Brandon Ballet, and Wilmington Ballet Company, but she was unable to secure a permanent full-time ballet position. Source
• Ashley later began teaching children’s dance classes and sewing costumes for workshops while also building a modeling portfolio through lingerie, swimsuit, and ballet-themed photography.

July 14, 2012

• Ashley married fellow dancer Keaton Thomas. Both later appeared in Wilmington StarNews, which described them as professional dancers performing together as the Snow King and Queen while also being married off stage. Source
• Ashley and Keaton were later featured in Wilmington StarNews discussing their ballet performances together. Source

August 18, 2014

• Ashley and Keaton Thomas divorced.

2014 to 2015

• Ashley suffered a torn hamstring injury that ended her ballet career. She later announced on Facebook that she had retired from ballet after approximately six years to pursue modeling full time.

February 18, 2015

• Ashley joined Model Mayhem under the name “Christina Alessia” and began working as a swimsuit model online. Source

2015

• Ashley continued building her modeling portfolio through swimsuit and fashion photography. Source
• Ashley’s modeling portfolio included lingerie, swimsuit, and ballet-themed photography. Source

April 2016

• Ashley was introduced publicly as a “retired ballerina” during the Illinois GOP Convention and later joined Donald Trump’s campaign operation in Sarasota, Florida as an office staffer. Her responsibilities included managing the campaign office, and she reportedly earned approximately $3,000 per month plus expenses. Source
• Ashley later became a District Manager alongside her mother Alicia Byers for Donald Trump’s Florida campaign operations in Sarasota. Archived campaign promotional material described the Sarasota headquarters operating seven days a week under the direction of Ashley and Alicia Byers. Source

June 27, 2016

• Reports published during the presidential campaign stated that Donald Trump’s campaign paid more than $22,000 to Ashley, described as a Florida model with limited political experience, for local campaign management work. Source

August 25, 2016

• Ashley met Doug Benefield at Ben Carson’s Palm Beach residence shortly after Carson suspended his presidential campaign. Despite their 30-year age difference, the two quickly developed a romantic relationship.
• At the time, Ashley worked within Donald Trump’s campaign operation in Florida while Doug maintained relationships with influential Ben Carson donors and political contributors. Source

August 27, 2016

• Two days after meeting Ashley, Doug departed for Israel on a business trip. Despite the distance, the pair remained in constant communication through calls and text messages.

September 1, 2016

• Ashley and Doug exchanged “I love you” messages only six days after meeting.

September 2016

• By the time Doug returned from Israel, Ashley and Doug had already decided to marry, reportedly keeping their plans quiet from Doug’s teenage daughter Eva.

September 6, 2016

• Ashley and Doug married at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. The ceremony was attended by a single witness and officiated by Doug’s friend Trip Cormeny. Source

Late 2016

• Ashley moved into Doug’s Mount Pleasant, South Carolina home, where she reportedly struggled to bond with Doug’s daughter Eva, who was still grieving the death of her mother Renee Benefield only nine months earlier.

Modeling and Portfolio Records

• Modeling Mayhem profile. Source
• Additional modeling content and promotional photography. Source
• Ashley’s professional modeling portfolio. Source

1961

• ‘Douglas Glass Benefield was born on October 2, 1961, in Palo Alto, California. He was named after his uncle, Tommie Douglas Benefield Sr., a pilot. Doug was the son of Johnnie and Suzanne Benefield.
• Doug grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, where he attended church camps and later described experiencing a traumatic assault by a hotel owner at age 15.

1970s

• Doug’s father, John Wesley Benefield, died in March 1977 in Huntsville, Alabama, at the age of 44.
• Doug developed a reputation as a talented wrestler beginning in junior high school.
• He competed on the varsity wrestling team at Huntsville High School for four years and consistently ranked among the top 10 wrestlers in Alabama.

1980

• Doug graduated from Huntsville High School.

1984

• Doug graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, with a degree in Biology.
• While attending Texas A&M, Doug became a founding member of the Aggie Cowboys fraternity, which later became Beta Theta Pi.
• Doug also painted murals and designed business logos during his college years.

1985

• Doug joined the United States Navy in San Diego, California.
• He initially served as a navigator and co-pilot for the S-3B Viking aircraft aboard Navy aircraft carriers.

1988

• Doug attended Aviation Officer Candidate School and completed flight school to become a Naval Flight Officer.

January 18, 1992

• Doug married his first wife, Tracy Lynn Benefield.
• Doug later stated during a deposition that Tracy suffered from significant mental health issues.

1993

• Doug transitioned from navigator to pilot and entered Intelligence School to become an Intelligence Officer.
• After completing training, Doug moved into Navy Intelligence operations.

December 23, 1996

• Doug and Tracy Lynn finalized their divorce after living together for less than one year.

1999

• Doug retired from the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander.
• After leaving the military, Doug founded and managed the “Kiva Han” restaurant in Charleston, South Carolina.
• Doug also worked with security and communication technology companies connected to United States government contracts.

December 25, 1999

• Doug married Renee Cousar Benefield and moved into her home along with her two children from a previous marriage.

2001

• Doug and Renee welcomed their daughter Eva.
• Shortly after Eva’s birth, Doug underwent a vasectomy.

2007

• Doug became involved in multiple technology startup companies operating in private and government sectors.

2015

• Doug worked with Ben Carson as part of Carson’s national security advisory team and collaborated with General Bob Dees on policy matters.
• Due to Doug’s frequent travel to Washington, D.C., his marriage to Renee reportedly became strained, with the couple allegedly living in separate rooms inside the same home.

December 2, 2015

• Renee Benefield died from an undiagnosed heart condition. After school, Eva returned home and was unable to enter through the front door. After receiving no response, Eva looked through a window, saw her mother inside, and sought help from a neighbor, who forced entry into the home and discovered Renee on the floor. Source
• During the investigation into Renee’s death, police reviewed Renee’s cellphone and documented prior marital conflict between Renee and Doug, including allegations involving violence during their honeymoon and an incident involving Doug placing a gun to his head. Investigators concluded Renee died from a heart condition. Source

2015 to 2016

• Doug remained active with Seacoast Church in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, where he regularly participated in Bible study and shared scripture with family and friends.

August 25, 2016

• Doug met Ashley Byers at Ben Carson’s Palm Beach residence shortly after Carson suspended his presidential campaign.
• At the time, Doug worked as a consultant connected to technology companies and defense contractors through Cyber Solutions International. Source
• Doug also maintained connections with political donors associated with Ben Carson. Source

August 27, 2016

• Doug departed for Israel on a business trip two days after meeting Ashley, but the pair continued communicating constantly through calls and text messages.

September 1, 2016

• Doug and Ashley exchanged “I love you” messages only six days after meeting.
• Doug reportedly told Ashley he wanted “oodles of children.”

September 6, 2016

• Doug and Ashley married at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. The ceremony was attended by one witness and officiated by Doug’s friend Trip Cormeny. Source

2017

• Doug and Ashley became legal guardians of Eva’s friend Sidney, who reportedly came from a difficult home environment.
• Doug and Ashley launched The American National Ballet in Charleston, South Carolina. Source
• Doug promoted the ballet company publicly as an inclusive organization welcoming dancers of varying ethnicities and body types.

April 2017

• Doug underwent a vasectomy reversal procedure because he and Ashley wanted children.

April 14, 2017

• Doug punched a hole in a wall during an argument with Ashley.
• Ashley later alleged Doug also struck and threw family pets during the same time period. Source

June 15, 2017

• During an argument involving tensions over Eva, Doug grabbed a loaded firearm and threw it at Ashley. The gun struck a wall.
• Doug then held the firearm against his head, threatened suicide, and fired a shot into the ceiling. Source

June 2017

• Days after the firearm incident, Doug and Ashley hosted a wedding reception at a Charleston hotel. Source

August 16, 2017

• Ashley texted Doug saying, “Baby I literally can’t move I feel so sick.”
• Ashley later moved to Florida to stay with her mother while Doug remained in Charleston working on the ballet company.

September 17, 2017

• While Doug was overseeing the ballet launch, Ashley returned to South Carolina, packed her belongings, and left Doug a note explaining she was leaving him. Source

September 23, 2017

• Doug posted a photograph of Ashley publicly with the caption “Got the ballet shoes out and getting ready to launch a national ballet.” Source

October 2017

• The American National Ballet collapsed shortly after opening amid financial instability.
• Doug reportedly claimed the ballet company had a $2.5 million budget that allegedly did not actually exist.
• Doug borrowed significant amounts of money to fund payroll for dancers and operations.

October 10, 2017

• Doug drove from South Carolina to Alicia Byers’ Florida residence during an escalating argument with Ashley.
• Ashley’s family reportedly asked Doug to leave, but the dispute continued throughout the night before he departed the next day.

October 23, 2017

• The American National Ballet formally ceased operations despite promising dancers long-term contracts and health insurance. Source

October 27, 2017

• During an injunction hearing, Doug admitted throwing a loaded firearm at Ashley during an argument. Source
• Doug admitted punching holes in walls during arguments. Source
• Doug admitted firing a gun into the ceiling and striking the family dog in the face. Source

December 2, 2017

• Ashley claimed she and her mother became sick after opening a mailed package from Doug.
• Ashley filed for a protection order. Source

April 2018

• Ashley checked herself into Tampa General Hospital without informing Doug and later delivered their daughter.

May 30, 2018

• Ashley filed for divorce in Manatee County, Florida under Case #2018DR002534AX. Source

July 2018

• Doug later admitted firing another gunshot into the ceiling during a confrontation and reportedly told Trip Cormeny, “I did the dumbest thing I’ve ever done in my life.” Source

July 30, 2018

• Doug and Ashley appeared together in Florida court for the first time in 10 months regarding custody and domestic violence allegations.
• Judge Diana Moreland denied Ashley’s poisoning allegations, stating there was “not a single scintilla of credible evidence” Ashley had been poisoned.

November 2018

• Doug and Ashley began attending marriage counseling in an effort to reconcile.

2019

• Doug and Ashley reconciled again for the sake of their daughter, though the marriage remained unstable.
• During Easter weekend 2019, Eva later stated Ashley and Alicia Byers told her Doug killed Renee and would eventually kill Ashley and Alicia.

Summer 2019

• Doug secretly placed a tracking device on Ashley’s vehicle and hired a private investigator who informed him Ashley was allegedly seeing another man. Source
• Doug later acknowledged placing the tracker in text messages sent to Ashley. Source

November 2019

• The couple’s marriage counselor discovered Doug had secretly recorded counseling sessions and terminated joint therapy, although the therapist reportedly continued treating Ashley individually.

May 2020

• Ashley contacted Doug during the COVID-19 lockdown period seeking reconciliation and trauma counseling.
• Doug later described Ashley in an email to attorney Stephanie Murphy as “very conciliatory.”

September 27, 2020

• Doug and Ashley were preparing to relocate together to Maryland when an argument escalated at Ashley’s Bradenton, Florida home.
• Ashley shot Doug during the confrontation and claimed self-defense.
• Deputies found Doug on the bedroom floor suffering from gunshot wounds to his arm, leg, and chest. Source
• Investigators initially concluded Doug did not appear to be facing Ashley when the shooting began.
• The medical examiner later determined Doug’s fatal gunshot wound entered from front to back through the chest. Source

October 17, 2020

• Doug’s family and friends scattered his ashes at Sullivan’s Island Beach in South Carolina.

1961

• Douglas Glass Benefield was born on October 2, 1961, in Palo Alto, California, to Johnnie and Suzanne Benefield .

1980

• Doug graduated from Huntsville High School, where he had competed as a varsity wrestler for four years.

1984

• Doug Benefield graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, with a degree in Biology.

1991

• Ashley Christina Byers was born on December 5, 1991, in Nueces, Texas, to Alicia and Raymond Byers. Source

1992

• Doug married his first wife, Tracy Lynn Benefield. The marriage reportedly lasted approximately six months.

1996

• On December 23, 1996, Doug and Tracy finalized their divorce.

1998

• Ashley began dancing at age 8 in Annapolis, Maryland, where she trained at several local studios before attending Maryland Youth Ballet.

1999

• Doug retired from the United States Navy as a Lieutenant Commander.
• On December 25, 1999, Doug married Renee Cousar Benefield and moved into Renee’s home with her two children from a previous marriage.

2000

• Doug founded and managed the “Kiva Han” restaurant in Charleston while also consulting in security and communication technology connected to United States government contracts.

2001

• Doug and Renee welcomed their daughter Eva.

2015

• In December 2015, Renee Benefield died from an undiagnosed heart condition. Their daughter Eva returned home from school and discovered her mother deceased inside the home. Source
• During 2015, Ashley Byers reportedly met Donald Trump during a campaign event and later stated he offered her a campaign job immediately. Ashley later traveled with the campaign and worked long hours at rallies and campaign offices. Source

2016

• On August 25, 2016, Doug Benefield and Ashley Byers met at Ben Carson’s Palm Beach residence shortly after Carson suspended his presidential campaign.
• Ashley worked in Donald Trump’s Sarasota campaign office at the time, while Doug worked as a consultant connected to technology companies and defense contractors. Source
• Doug also maintained ties to influential political donors associated with Ben Carson. Source
• On August 27, 2016, Doug departed for Israel on a week-long business trip.
• On September 1, 2016, only six days after meeting, Doug and Ashley exchanged “I love you” messages through text communication.

2017

• Doug and Ashley founded The American National Ballet in Charleston, South Carolina. Source
• The company also maintained an official Facebook presence. Source

August 3, 2017

• Ashley learned she was pregnant.

August 26, 2017

• Ashley relocated to Bradenton, Florida, where her mother Alicia could assist with her pregnancy care.

September 2017

Doug moved to Florida and rented an apartment near Alicia Byers’ residence.

• Later in September 2017, Ashley and her mother returned briefly to Charleston, South Carolina. Ashley packed her belongings and left Doug a note describing him as “possessive” and “controlling.” She also referenced the prior firearm incident involving Doug shooting into the ceiling and stated she feared for her safety and the safety of her unborn child. Source
• On October 20, 2017, The American National Ballet shut down operations amid financial and organizational instability. Source
• Ashley later released a public statement regarding the closure of the ballet company. Source

2018

March 2018

• Ashley checked herself into a hospital approximately three weeks before her due date and claimed Doug had poisoned her.

March 19, 2018

• Doctors performed a C-section and delivered a healthy baby girl. Doug reportedly did not know the child had been born.

April 2018

• Ashley filed an injunction seeking to deny Doug custody or visitation rights involving their daughter.

July 2018

• the couple attended hearings related to Ashley’s request for domestic violence protection.
• In September 2018, the judge denied Ashley’s motion and established a visitation schedule for Doug and Ashley regarding their daughter.

2019

August 2019

• Ashley arrived during a custody exchange wearing an engagement ring. Doug hired a private investigator who reportedly informed him Ashley was seeing another man.
• Doug filed for divorce.
• Ashley later accused Doug of physically and sexually abusing their daughter. Doug denied the allegations, and Child Protective Services reportedly found no evidence supporting abuse claims.
• Ashley also accused Doug of poisoning both her and Renee Benefield. Renee’s autopsy concluded she died from coronary artery sclerosis, a heart condition.
• Doug and Ashley reconciled again during 2019 but separated later that same year.

2020

• During the summer of 2020, Doug and Ashley reconciled once more.
• In spring 2020, Ashley informed Doug she planned to move to Maryland with their daughter and her mother Alicia Byers.
• Doug obtained employment in Maryland and rented an apartment near Alicia Byers’ home.
• On September 27, 2020, Doug packed a U-Haul truck with the family’s belongings as they prepared to move to Maryland together.
• Later that evening, a neighbor called 911 after Ashley arrived at his home holding a .45 caliber handgun and stated she had shot Doug after he attacked her. Doug died approximately one hour later at a local hospital. Source
• Investigators later stated evidence suggested Doug did not appear to be facing Ashley when the shooting began. Source
• The medical examiner later concluded Doug’s fatal gunshot wound traveled from front to back through the chest. Source
• On November 4, 2020, Ashley was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.
• Ashley later posted bond and pleaded not guilty while awaiting trial.

2024

• Jury trial proceedings for Ashley Benefield were scheduled to begin on July 23, 2024. Source

July 30, 2024

• Ashley Benefield was found guilty of manslaughter with a firearm, a lesser included offense instead of second-degree murder.

December 3, 2024

• Ashley Benefield was sentenced to 20 years in prison followed by 10 years probation.