The murder of Jade Tristan Benning

About

TN v. Blaise Taylor Timeline

Murder of Jade Benning

Jade Tristan Benning was a 25-year-old aspiring chef from Arkansas who moved to Nashville, Tennessee. She was pregnant with a baby girl, Ivy, and was approximately five months pregnant when she suffered a medical emergency inside her apartment on February 25, 2023.

Blaise Allen Taylor was a former Tennessee Titans pro scout. Jade and Taylor met through Hinge and had a casual, non-exclusive relationship. After Jade learned she was pregnant, the two communicated about the pregnancy, their relationship, co-parenting, and Taylor’s level of involvement.

On February 25, 2023, Jade planned a date night at her apartment with Taylor. Later that evening, she became critically ill. Taylor called 911 and reported an allergic reaction or something Jade had eaten. Jade was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where she remained hospitalized until she was removed from life support on March 6, 2023, her 25th birthday.

Records

Jump to: Timeline Video Images Records

Timeline

November 2016

Apple Dennie met Blaise Taylor while they were college students.

January 2017

Apple Dennie became pregnant and later chose to have an abortion. Taylor attended the appointments.

Summer 2017

Taylor discussed Xavier Winford’s pregnancy and abortion-related ideas.

June 20, 2018

Messages dated June 20, 2018 were later discussed during a legal dispute. These messages were noted as not part of the evidence.

December 2021

Jade Benning moved from Arkansas to Nashville.

January 2022

Jade began her new job in Nashville as a chef.
Jade Benning and Blaise Taylor matched on Hinge and began a casual, non-exclusive sexual relationship.

August 2022

Jade and Taylor began seeing each other after meeting through Hinge. Their first dinner date was described as occurring at Stoney River in mid-August.

September 12, 2022

The first day of Jade’s last menstrual period was listed in her OB record.

September 26, 2022

The approximate conception date was calculated from Jade’s last menstrual period.

September 28, 2022

9:45:35 AM A series of text messages between Jade and Taylor began.
6:52:01 PM Jade texted Taylor that she wanted to stay with him again that night.
10:59:08 PM Taylor replied that she could come over.
11:04 PM Jade said she was finishing at the gym and would come over soon.
11:10 PM Jade texted that she was on her way.
11:11:16 PM Taylor texted that the door was unlocked.
11:12 PM Jade heart-reacted to Taylor’s message.

October 3, 2022

Jade and Nijaiha Jackson exchanged messages about edibles, smoking, and possibly mushrooms. Jade wrote that an edible had “kicked my ass.” Nijaiha replied, “Weed or some other ?” Nijaiha later clarified that “some other” referred to mushrooms.

November 2, 2022

Jade confirmed her pregnancy with a home test and discussed paternity with Nijaiha. Nijaiha initially believed Dez was more likely the father, but Jade ultimately believed Taylor was the father.

November 3, 2022

Nijaiha accompanied Jade to an appointment where the pregnancy was confirmed.

November 6, 2022

12:49:50 PM Jade messaged Nijaiha that Taylor was talking about the pregnancy situation.
12:50:06 PM Jade said she was going to tell Taylor she was not having an abortion.
12:51 PM to 1:45 PM Jade and Nijaiha exchanged messages about Jade’s decision, Taylor’s expected reaction, and Jade telling her father about the pregnancy.
4:38 PM Jade sent Taylor a message saying she thought it was best to cut ties because they were not in agreement about the pregnancy. She told him she would love the child unconditionally with or without him and said he could decide whether to attend her November 16 appointment.

November 9, 2022

Jade had a conversation involving an unidentified aunt who allegedly offered her gummies without knowing Jade was pregnant. Jade reportedly said she needed to eat first. It was not established whether the gummies contained THC or whether Jade consumed them.

November 16, 2022

Jade had her first OB appointment and first ultrasound.

2:13 PM A video was recorded inside the doctor’s office showing an ultrasound.
2:59 PM A video was recorded of Jade leaving the appointment. The pregnancy was normal. Taylor was not present.

December 12, 2022

Jade created or started a Pinterest board titled “Baby Nursery Inspiration.”

December 28, 2022

Jade’s second OB appointment was listed in her calendar.

December 31, 2022

4:26:02 PM Jade messaged Taylor that she would be off work in about 30 or 45 minutes and would call him when she left.
A separate exchange between Jade and Nijaiha showed Jade had sent Nijaiha a screenshot of a missed call from Taylor. Nijaiha appeared surprised because Jade and Taylor had not spoken for a significant period, and Jade appeared excited that Taylor had called.

January to February 2023

Jade and Taylor spent time together. Jade wanted Taylor at pregnancy appointments, including the February 2 gender reveal, but he did not attend because of work.

January 1, 2023

Taylor and Jade met at a park at Jade’s suggestion for approximately five hours. They discussed getting to know each other better for possible co-parenting. Taylor requested a paternity test.

January 8, 2023

Jade and Taylor exchanged messages about Jade possibly joining him on work trips. Taylor told Jade that travel would likely be unrealistic once the baby arrived and said he wanted her to understand how much her life would change.

January 26, 2023

11:29 AM Jade texted Taylor an appointment photograph and reminded him that her appointment was the following Thursday at 9:45.
12:01 PM Jade told Taylor she hoped he could make it and said it was important to her that he be there when she found out the baby’s gender.

February 4, 2023

2:29:07 PM Jade and Taylor exchanged texts. Taylor said it had been productive and that everything was good as long as they were on the same page moving forward. Jade replied that they would be.

February 5, 2023

Nijaiha asked Jade, “When are you going to post?” Jade’s exact response was not publicly read in the available material, but the response itself did not mention Taylor.

11:50 AM Jade and Taylor exchanged texts about Valentine’s Day. Jade joked that Taylor would still be her Valentine.
11:48 PM Jade texted Taylor: “Sweet dreams though. About to try and go to sleep since I have to be up early for the appointment.”

February 6, 2023

A non-invasive prenatal blood test was listed in Jade’s calendar.

2:27 PM Jade and Taylor exchanged messages with a photograph.
2:36 PM Jade sent Taylor another photograph. Taylor loved it. They discussed their earlier relationship. Taylor said Jade made a choice after he gave her two options. Jade described it as a “crazy ultimatum.”
4:39 PM Jade took a series of kitchen photos that included pregnancy or sonogram material and the indoor camera.
6:30 PM to 7:09:36 PM Jade and Taylor continued texting about planning breakfast and another date night.

February 10, 2023

Jade had an OB appointment with Dr. Alison Mullaly.

12:46 PM Jade texted Taylor that the doctor appointment went well, everything was normal, and they were waiting for test results.

February 15, 2023

Jade created a pregnancy-progress selfie.

February 20 to February 22, 2023

Four shopping-cart videos showed baby-related items in Amazon, Old Navy, and another child-related site.

February 22, 2023

8:37 AM Blink application data began showing Jade’s camera as offline.
2:48:40 PM A cached Blink profile image showing the camera view was created in the application database. This did not necessarily show the camera’s live view at that moment.

February 23, 2023

Taylor returned from a work trip early in the morning.
Jade visited Taylor briefly before he went to work and asked to see him that night.
10:35 AM Jade created a screenshot of her lock screen with a sonogram image as the background.

February 24, 2023

Jade and Taylor ate at Waffle House. Jade later wanted to see him again, but he did not return the message. Jade planned a date night for February 25 involving painting and dinner. No alcohol was planned because Jade was pregnant.
10:31 PM to 10:50 PM Taylor and Xavier Winford exchanged messages. Taylor told Xavier not to doubt anything when it came to them, said everything would work out, and said he loved her and wanted her to love him back.

February 25, 2023

Unknown Time Jade texted “Danny Weed”: “Hey, my coworker wants to get a half from you.”
Danny replied: “I got you when I get back.”
Unknown Time Jade received a Snapchat from an unidentified contact whose display name began with “Lauren.” The account was not connected to Lauren Weber in the available material.
Earlier in the Day Jade texted Nijaiha about having a paint night with Taylor, asked whether Nijaiha had paint, and asked what she should cook. Nijaiha suggested chicken Alfredo. Jade also told Lauren Weber about the dinner and date night.
12:26 PM Jade texted Taylor: “Also, will you be free around 7?” Taylor asked what she wanted to do and what he should wear. Jade told him to dress comfortably and come to her house around 7. Taylor agreed.
4:05 PM Jade’s phone stored a parking-location artifact at Walmart as she was leaving work.
4:38 PM Jade’s phone stored a parking-location artifact showing arrival at her residence.
6:02 PM Jade received a text from Jarius Porter. The message content was not available.
6:03 PM Jade texted Taylor: “Let me know when you head over.”
6:07 PM Jade texted Jarius that she was making Alfredo and Nijaiha might come over.
6:08 PM Jade received a pregnancy email titled “Your pregnancy week 23 day five.”
6:10 PM to 6:19 PM Jade and Bridgett exchanged Instagram messages and photos.
6:26 PM Taylor texted Jade: “Okay.”
6:43 PM Jarius texted Jade. The content was not available.
6:44 PM Three Snapchat messages were logged on Jade’s account. Their contents were not recoverable.
6:48:26 PM Jade sent a dinner-setup photograph to the contact saved as “B.”
6:51 PM Taylor texted Jade: “On my way.”
6:55 PM Jade loved or heart-reacted to Taylor’s “On my way” message. Jade texted Jarius: “I haven’t had it in a minute too.”
7:01 PM An unidentified Snapchat account messaged Jade: “I’m already up.” The sender was not identified and no follow-up was found.
7:02 PM Nijaiha texted Jade: “He said he wants some pasta.”
7:07 PM Jarius texted Jade. The content was not available.
7:13 PM Jade answered a call from Nijaiha lasting about one minute.
7:20 PM Jade texted: “Blaise is probably going to like this .”
7:23 PM Braylen sent Jade an image message on Snapchat. The content was not described.
7:24:02 PM Jade texted Nijaiha: “LOL, I’m about to make the plate.”
7:24:08 PM Nijaiha texted Jade: “Okay, we’re close.”
7:24:55 PM Jade texted Jarius: “I just had to have it.”
7:33 PM Jade answered another incoming call from Nijaiha. The call lasted about nine seconds. This was used to estimate when Nijaiha and Keyaunte arrived to pick up food.
7:45 PM to 8:00 PM Nijaiha and Keyaunte were believed to have left Jade’s apartment.
8:03:06 PM Nijaiha texted Jade: “That was a cute interaction we all had. I hope y’all had a great date night. Love you.” Jade responded affirmatively and said Taylor had said they should stay or hang out again.
8:12:02 PM Nijaiha texted Jade that it was sweet of Taylor and that she did not want to intrude. She said they could plan something soon and Taylor could teach them how to play spades.
8:29 PM A brief unlocked-state entry appeared in Jade’s phone data.
8:29:50 PM A photo or live photo of the dinner and painting setup was created at Jade’s apartment.
9:00 PM to 9:07 PM Pinterest searching or scrolling activity was recorded, apparently connected to painting ideas.
9:07 PM to 9:19:58 PM Pinterest activity continued.
9:10 PM A photo of painting progress was created.
9:19:49 PM Jade’s phone entered an unlocked state.
9:20:59 PM Jade’s phone entered a locked state that continued until 9:29:06 PM.
9:24:33 PM to 9:28 PM A 12-photo series involving Jade and Taylor was created. The 12th photo was later deleted.
9:28:13 PM Taylor called his father. The call lasted approximately 30 seconds.
9:28:45 PM The final photograph in the series was created.
9:29 PM The final photograph was marked for deletion.
9:29:06 PM Jade’s phone entered an unlocked state.
9:29:27 PM to 9:35:33 PM Jade’s phone called Nijaiha. Nijaiha later reported that Jade’s voice sounded “wavy,” scared, and not normal. Nijaiha said she heard Jade confront Taylor and ask what he put in her drink. According to Nijaiha, Jade said her drink tasted funny, accused him of doing it because he did not want the baby, and asked what was in his hand. Taylor allegedly responded, “Nothing.”
9:30:17 PM Nijaiha texted Jade: “What’s going on?”
9:30:22 PM Nijaiha texted Jade: “Are you talking to me?”
9:35:36 PM The call to Nijaiha ended.
9:35:49 PM Jade’s phone entered a locked state that continued until 6:44 AM on February 26.
9:38:58 PM Taylor called 911 and reported an allergic reaction or something Jade ate.
9:40 PM EMS was dispatched.
9:41 PM EMS was en route.
9:47:11 PM Nijaiha called Jade’s phone. The call was answered while the phone remained locked and lasted about 2 minutes and 12 seconds.
9:48 PM EMS arrived at the scene.
9:50 PM Jade was found face-down on the bed, near the end of the bed. Pink frothy liquid was around her mouth and on the comforter. No CPR was performed inside the apartment.
Between 9:50 PM and 10:00 PM EMS administered Narcan during resuscitation. No response was observed.
10:00 PM The ambulance departed for Vanderbilt. Nijaiha and Taylor went to Vanderbilt. Nijaiha told medical staff and law enforcement what she heard during the call. Taylor remained at the hospital.
10:12 PM The ambulance arrived at Vanderbilt.
10:31 PM Initial hospital blood specimens were collected for clinical purposes.
10:59 PM A clinical urine specimen was collected.
Approximately 10:30 PM to 11:30 PM Lauren Weber went to Jade’s apartment, retrieved Jade’s keys, blew out a candle, and locked the apartment before going to the hospital.
11:27 PM A fentanyl dose was dispensed but wasted. It was not administered to Jade.
11:41 PM Officer body-camera footage began or displayed a timestamp around this time.
11:43 PM Taylor was interviewed at the hospital.

February 26, 2023

12:01 AM Taylor was interviewed again at the hospital.
12:15 AM Succinylcholine was documented as administered by another provider.
12:41 AM The first fentanyl MAR entry was identified as dispensed.
12:45 AM Fentanyl was started or infused under an order associated with Paul Francois.
12:45 AM to 1:30 AM Keyaunte Jones arrived at Vanderbilt.
Approximately 2:00 AM Nijaiha estimated that she left the hospital.
2:40 AM A recorded interview with Taylor ended.
Approximately 3:00 AM to 3:30 AM Bridgett Benning Burks arrived in Nashville at Vanderbilt.
Approximately 3:30 AM to 4:00 AM Bridgett received Jade’s phone from Jade’s stepmother at the hospital and viewed the Blink app’s live feed.
6:44 AM Jade’s phone exited the locked state that began at 9:35:49 PM the night before.
9:22 AM or PM, time unclear Corrected collection information was assigned to the fentanyl-positive NMS clinical urine originally labeled February 25 at 10:59 PM.
Early Afternoon Stephanie Franklin arrived in Nashville and went to the hospital.
1:35 PM Another clinical urine sample was collected.
4:00 PM to 7:00 PM Stephanie Franklin and others entered Jade’s apartment wearing gloves. They photographed and recorded parts of the apartment, moved the Blink camera, and removed the comforter.
7:08 PM Blink application data recorded a motion-detected event.
7:11 PM Blink application data recorded a motion-detected event.
Approximately 9:00 PM Investigators were notified that Vanderbilt believed Jade would become brain-dead.
9:27:39 PM A phone artifact showed the Recents or call-log view.
9:37:01 PM A phone artifact showed a blank application-switcher image.

February 27, 2023

1:00 AM Keyaunte Jones became known to investigators during the investigation.
1:35 AM A crime-scene investigator received a request to respond to Jade’s apartment.
1:50 AM Police executed the apartment search warrant and cleared the residence.
2:00 AM A crime-scene investigator arrived, received the bagged comforter and washcloth in the parking lot, photographed the apartment, and collected selected liquids and containers.
Early Morning A warrant was obtained for blood collection. Hospital staff drew two tubes of blood, which were packaged and deposited in a refrigerated evidence box.
2:17 AM A collection requested for antemortem blood specimen under NMS work order 23086183.
8:23 AM A Vanderbilt record showed an addendum cocaine-screen result as positive.
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Taylor was at work on time all day.
10:25 AM The MNPD crime laboratory received the blood-draw kit from the property room.
4:03 PM to 4:04 PM A collection time was associated with a separate urine specimen.
Unknown Time Baby Ivy died.

February 28, 2023

The medical examiner’s office was notified that Jade was expected to die from an anoxic brain injury. Discussions began about testing, and the first hospital blood sample was requested for retention.

March 6, 2023

Jade was removed from life support on her 25th birthday.
Her cause of death was later tied to acute cocaine toxicity and oxygen deprivation-related brain injury.

Aftermath and Early Case Issues

The manner of death was classified as undetermined.
Testing reportedly showed extremely high cocaine levels, cocaethylene, and pink vomit positive for a large amount of cocaine. Fentanyl was also discussed in connection with medical treatment, timing, and toxicology findings.
Questions were later raised about the apartment being unsecured after the incident because friends and family entered the apartment, photographed or moved items, removed the comforter, and later turned items over to investigators.
Questions were also raised about the handling of hospital blood samples before they reached the medical examiner’s office.

March 14, 2024

Update: Blaise Taylor was returned to Nashville this evening from Logan, Utah. He is being held without bond pending a hearing in Davidson County Criminal Court. Source

Deputy United States Marshals, at the request of the MNPD, this evening arrested Blaise A. Taylor, 27, in Utah on a Nashville grand jury indictment charging him with two counts of first-degree murder for the poisoning deaths of his girlfriend and her five-month-old fetus which Taylor is alleged to have fathered.
Jade Benning died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on March 6, 2023, her 25th birthday. She was rushed to the hospital by ambulance on the night of February 25, 2023, after Taylor telephoned 911 at 9:38 p.m., said Benning appeared to be having an allergic reaction, and asked for paramedics. Benning’s medical condition immediately became critical. Her unborn fetus died on February 27, 2023. Benning was not able to be interviewed by police before she died.
Months of investigation, led by Homicide Unit Detective Adam Reese and involving scientists from crime laboratories and doctors from the Medical Examiner’s Office, led to Wednesday’s return of the murder indictment against Taylor. He is alleged to have poisoned Benning without her knowledge while visiting her Lebanon Pike apartment on the night of February 25.

Taylor moved to Utah after the deaths. The MNPD will be working with Utah authorities to arrange for Taylor’s return to Nashville.

Taylor was employed as a senior defensive analyst at Utah State University, which provided the following statement:

Utah State University is aware of the arrest of former employee Blaise Taylor, who left the University on March 1, 2024, to begin a new role at another institution. Taylor had worked as an analyst with the USU football program since July 1, 2023. The University is not involved in this law enforcement matter and all questions should be directed to the Metro Nashville Police Department.

July 1, 2026