A former Arkansas State University football player and Tennessee Titans scout was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday for the 2022 murder of his girlfriend and her unborn daughter.
Blaise Taylor, 30, was convicted in July following a nine-day trial in Nashville, Tennessee. He was found guilty of killing Jade Benning and her unborn child, Ivy. On Wednesday, a judge ordered Taylor to serve two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.
During the sentencing hearing, Benning’s mother delivered an emotional victim impact statement, reflecting on the pain caused by her daughter’s death.
"What haunts me most is knowing Jade was aware something was wrong," she said. "She knew she was losing control of her body, and before help arrived, she knew something terrible had been done to her and her family. What makes the loss even harder to bear is that Jade believed she was safe. She trusted the person responsible."
Benning’s mother also spoke about the lasting grief of losing her daughter and the unborn granddaughter she never had the chance to meet.
The case, which drew local and national attention, ended with a verdict that ensures Taylor will spend the rest of his life in prison for the crime.
Further details about the trial and the events leading to Benning’s death can be found in coverage from KATV.