This story beforehand aired on Sept. 7, 2024. It was up to date on July 26, 2025.
After practically 4 years, the trial of Ashley Benefield, the previous ballerina charged with second-degree homicide for taking pictures her estranged husband Doug, started in the summertime of 2024. Within the lead-up to the trial, a small group appeared close to the courthouse to help Ashley’s claims of self-defense.
Among the many supporters was Ashley’s mom Alicia and Ashley and Doug’s 6-year-old daughter Emerson, who stopped to talk to a reporter.
Emerson: It seems like I’m standing up for the best factor and that I’m doing the best factor for her.
Emerson’s public present of help caught the eye of her half-sister, Doug’s daughter Eva Benefield. Eva, often called “evathefreakindiva” on TikTok, let her half million followers know simply how she felt.
EVA BENEFIELD (On TikTok): So, I feel that we must always in all probability cease shoving cameras in 6-year-old’s faces once they do not know what’s occurring …
A JURY CONSIDERS: DID ASHLEY BENEFIELD KILL IN SELF-DEFENSE OR WAS IT MURDER?
Lead prosecutor Suzanne O’Donnell mentioned she believes Ashley killed Doug to ensure she’d all the time be No. 1 in Emerson’s life.
Suzanne O’Donnell: I feel Ashley wished sole custody of her baby and was very afraid that she was going to lose custody altogether.
In her opening assertion to jurors, O’Donnell outlined the state’s principle of the case.
SUZANNE O’DONNELL (in court docket): This was a custody battle that this mom was going to win in any respect prices. And the associated fee was the lifetime of Doug Benefield. And that’s homicide.
Protection lawyer Neil Taylor made his argument that Ashley shot Doug in self-defense after he bodily assaulted her.
NEIL TAYLOR (in court docket): Douglas Benefield was a violent abuser. Ashley Benefield’s efforts to placate him was completely per what abused ladies do.
For the primary time ever, Ashley would inform a jury what she says occurred that night time.
The trial happened in Bradenton, Florida, close to the place Ashley was residing along with her mom when she killed Doug. It was the end result of an extended and sophisticated relationship.
SUZANNE O’DONNELL (in court docket): … and it goes all the way in which again to once they met, again in 2016.
In 2016, Doug was residing in Charleston, South Carolina, and was a advisor for know-how firms. At 54 years outdated, Doug was 30 years older than Ashley however, as she informed the jury, she was nonetheless smitten with him.
ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court docket): He was humorous. Very good. Charming. We simply immediately clicked.
Ashley Byers, 24, met Doug Benefield , 54, at a dinner in Florida in August 2016 and sparks flew instantly. The couple married 13 days later, in his hometown of Charleston, S.C.
Tonnie Benefield
The couple met at a political dinner. On the time, Ashley was working within the Sarasota marketing campaign workplace of Donald Trump and generally helped fire up the crowds at his rallies.
Ashley additionally had finished some swimsuit modeling and for a time had danced with the Maryland Youth Ballet. Simply 13 days after assembly, they married.
Stephanie Murphy is Doug’s civil lawyer.
Stephanie Murphy: Lots of people ask … why on earth did they get married so quick? I imply, come on … when Doug first met her, she was each single bit as lovely as these modeling images will present … She was a knockout!
NEIL TAYLOR (in court docket): Describe the person you thought you’d married.
ASHLEY BENEFIELD: He was very loving and attentive …We laughed lots and (crying) he made me really feel very particular and beloved.
Doug invited nearly nobody to the marriage, not even his teenage daughter Eva.
Jim Axelrod | “48 Hours” contributor: He loves this woman, his 15-year-old daughter … he goes and will get married and doesn’t even inform her.
Tommie Benefield: Yeah.
Tommie Benefield is Doug’s cousin.
Tommie Benefield: …it’s bewildering … I’d’ve talked him out of it. Eva actually would’ve talked him out of it.
Eva was nonetheless coping with an unspeakable trauma. 9 months earlier, her mom, Doug’s then-wife, had died. It was Eva who found the physique of 56-year-old Renee Benefield of their house, useless from an undiagnosed coronary heart ailment.
Eva Benefield: … after my mother died, he actually took, form of, a motherly function together with a fatherly function.
Jim Axelrod: Wow.
And he made his daughter a promise.
Eva Benefield: And I mentioned, “are you gonna remarry, are you gonna start dating? … Are you gonna have other kids?” Like, “what’s gonna happen?” and he mentioned, “No, Eva. I’m here for you. I don’t plan on doing any of that.”
However simply 9 months later, Doug informed his daughter he had married his new girlfriend.
Jim Axelrod: That’s lots.
Eva Benefield: It’s a lot.
Doug inspired Ashley to try to mom a reluctant Eva who was solely 9 years youthful.
Eva Benefield: … he principally informed her that I wanted anyone … I wanted a motherly function in my life. And I didn’t suppose that I wanted that.
Ashley would later inform jurors there was rigidity in the home and simply months into their marriage the couple had a significant argument about Eva.
ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court docket): He pulled the gun out and maintain it to his head. He mentioned that he’s gonna blow his f—— brains out and I used to be gonna have to look at him. After which he pulled the set off and he shot a gap within the ceiling within the kitchen.
Doug’s pal Journey Cormeny remembers Doug being embarrassed when he informed Cormeny that he fired a gun in the home.
Journey Cormeny: In his phrases he mentioned, “I did the dumbest thing I’ve ever done in my life.”
However Ashley didn’t go away Doug after that incident. As a substitute, two days later, Doug and Ashley went forward with a proper marriage ceremony reception. The newlyweds have been additionally planning for the longer term. Ashley had a grand plan to create a nationwide ballet firm.
Journey Cormeny: I don’t know that Doug may spell ballet earlier than he met Ashley.
And so they wished to start out a household.
Journey Cormeny: You understand, if you love anyone, what do you wanna do? You wanna make her glad.
ASHLEY BENEFIELD’S LETTER TO HER HUSBAND AND AN ALLEGATION OF POISON
Regardless that there was a rising rigidity at house between Ashley and Eva —
Eva Benefield : He promised me that issues — issues have been going to be OK finally.
— Doug went forward with serving to Ashley comply with her dream — establishing a ballet firm in Charleston with a novel mission. Athena Nikolakopulos interviewed with Ashley and beloved what she heard about her imaginative and prescient for the brand new firm, the American Nationwide Ballet.
Athena Nikolkopulos: She didn’t need a cookie cutter firm … She wished ladies that have been tall, ladies that have been brief.
Ashley, a dancer as soon as with the Maryland Youth Ballet, wished to create an inclusive ballet firm. Doug wished to make Ashley glad, associates say, and he was decided to make her dream a actuality.
Jim Chatwin
As they labored to get the corporate off the bottom, Ashley centered on her different dream of changing into a mom. There was one downside. Doug had a vasectomy, however he agreed to have it reversed. Then earlier than lengthy, Ashley was pregnant. Jim Axelrod: How did that sit with you?
Eva Benefield: It didn’t sit effectively in any respect. … He mentioned he wasn’t planning on doing any of that … so this kinda felt like one other stab within the again. In the summertime in 2017, some 40 dancers from everywhere in the world started arriving in Charleston to work with Ashley. However Ashley was nowhere to be discovered.
Athena Nikolkopulos: We get there and we’re like, “Where is she?” And Doug pronounces that she’s bedridden with a extremely troublesome being pregnant.
On the finish of August, Ashley went again to Florida to dwell along with her mom, whereas Doug tried to make the ballet work in Charleston.
ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court docket): We determined collectively. He mentioned that he couldn’t maintain me. He was too busy and that my mother may maintain me higher, so I used to be glad to go.
However one September night when Doug was out, Ashley and her mom got here again to the home in Charleston. Ashley would inform the jury about that night time.
ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court docket): I had determined I used to be going to go away him and so I went again to get my issues. … I left him a letter saying why I used to be leaving.
In September 2017, Ashley and her mom returned to Charleston. She packed up her belongings and left a scathing observe. Ashley known as Doug “possessive” and “controlling.” She wrote that the incident when Doug had fired a gun into the ceiling in addition to different unsafe habits had left her fearful for her life and the security of her unborn baby.
State Lawyer’s Workplace
Within the letter, Ashley known as Doug “possessive, controlling and manipulating.” She wrote about that incident the place he’d “shot a hole in the ceiling in the kitchen” and wrote that his habits “has left me fearful for my life and safety as well as that of my unborn child.” She informed the jury why she was so afraid of him.
ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court docket): He would throw issues or break issues or smash issues. He would come at me like he was gonna hit me. He informed me I used to be fortunate that he punched partitions as a substitute of me.
Practically a yr after Doug’s demise, “48 Hours” spoke to his household lawyer Stephanie Murphy concerning the letter Ashley left Doug.
Stephanie Murphy: I actually suppose that Ashley thought that that was gonna be it. Simply pack up her stuff, go away a observe, and it was gonna be over.
However the letter didn’t deter Doug. He despatched textual content after textual content, begging Ashley to rethink. As a substitute, she reported Doug to the authorities.
Eva Benefield: She bought Baby Protecting Companies concerned from Florida.
Ashley informed police that Doug had anger points and was violent. Investigators interviewed Eva.
Eva Benefield: I used to be always having individuals come as much as my door and questioning if my dad was dad. And it simply made me so indignant as a result of he was.
After an investigation, Doug was cleared. However Ashley additionally started asking questions concerning the demise of Doug’s earlier spouse — Eva’s mom Renee.
Ashley texted Doug: “Wait what did she die of again?”
Doug replied that Renee had a 75% artery blockage.
Ashley texted again: “I thought I have heard you say something about medications or something…? Like bad drugs…?”
Doug’s cousin Tommie says Ashley informed him she thought Doug had poisoned Renee.
Jim Axelrod: What was your response? You have to’ve been, like, “What?”
Tommie Benefield: It — it’s out of left subject. … I’ve learn the post-mortem report. It’s clear. Died of a coronary heart assault, basically.
However Ashley, who mentioned she was extra nauseous than she would have anticipated as a pregnant lady, was suspicious.
Stephanie Murphy: Ashley believed that Doug has been poisoning her whereas she was pregnant with their daughter. They have been each large tea followers … and she or he hearkened again to the occasions that Doug was bringing her tea in mattress.
After she left him, Doug despatched her a bundle of tea for her birthday.
ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court docket) Once I opened it, there was an awesome scent, like an actual robust chemical scent and I bought like an prompt headache.
NEIL TAYLOR: Did you report it to the police?
ASHLEY BENEFIELD: Sure.
In accordance with a detective, it was decided that “the substance that was mailed to the victim was just tea.”
NEIL TAYLOR (in court docket): What was the end result?
ASHLEY BENEFIELD: No fees.
The troubled marriage of Ashley and Doug Benefield
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By the beginning of 2018, Doug closed the ballet and was out of communication with Ashley. However he wished to be a part of his new child’s life and requested Stephanie Murphy to ship Ashley a letter permitting him to be there for the beginning. As a substitute, the subsequent day, Ashley checked into the hospital with out telling Doug. It was three weeks earlier than her due date.
Stephanie Murphy: She was at Tampa Common Hospital … claiming … the kid had been uncovered to heavy metals in utero as a result of her husband had poisoned her.
Ashley informed hospital staffers that when Doug discovered she was pregnant, he hit her and locked her in a room again in Charleston. She additionally mentioned he had stalked her in Florida. No fees have been filed, however the hospital took precautions and registered her underneath her center identify: Christina. Three days later, medical doctors carried out a C-section and Ashley gave beginning to a child woman. Doug was not notified.
Stephanie Murphy: I feel that Ashley’s proposal from the very starting was, “You’ll have nothing to do with this child.”
BENEFIELD VS. BENEFIELD
The information that Ashley had given beginning to a child woman in March 2018 took greater than a month to achieve Doug. Ashley mentioned she nonetheless believed he had poisoned her and the newborn, so she signed them up for 26 consecutive days of therapy in a hyperbaric chamber.
Robert Cederoth: It might probably detox the physique of heavy metals and different toxins.
Security Director Robert Cederoth says Ashley and her 3-month-old daughter Emerson spent 40 hours in whole within the chamber. She was the youngest affected person ever handled right here.
Robert Cederoth: Ashley’s daughter was actually small … And so, we ended up taking this — ring and we put it round her waist. It was like — she was like slightly ballerina … and so half of her physique was truly within the hood.
In the summertime of 2018, the poisoning allegations got here to a head when the Benefield’s squared off in a Bradenton, Florida, courtroom. Doug wished to see his daughter and Ashley was requesting an injunction to maintain him distant.
An audio recording was product of the continuing. Ashley accused Doug of poisoning her and informed the choose about that incident when Doug fired a gun into the ceiling.
Doug admitted to firing the gun and defined to Ashley’s lawyer that in an argument, he wished Ashley to cease talking.
ATTORNEY: So, at this level, you determined that the subsequent means you’re going to do to maintain her from speaking about something is to shoot the gun?
DOUG BENEFIELD: Yeah — there’s not a variety of nice methods to — to determine what I used to be considering. It was undoubtedly to place a cease to the dialog.
However Doug denied poisoning Ashley. In September 2018, the choose dominated in Doug’s favor, granting joint custody. She mentioned she didn’t imagine something Ashley needed to say. JUDGE DIANA MORELAND [Court audio]: There’s completely not a single scintilla of credibility that I’m attaching to something that was testified to – not less than on this listening to of Ms. Benefield.
Days later, Doug and Ashley met on the sheriff’s workplace so he may see his 6-month-old daughter for the primary time. Murphy says Ashley steered that the three of them — Doug, Ashley and Emerson — spend time collectively.
Stephanie Murphy: And Doug mentioned, “OK, sure” as a result of Doug wished to make the transition as straightforward for his daughter as doable as a result of, to her, he was a stranger.
Over the subsequent yr, the three of them have been collectively often.
Doug and Ashley started sharing custody of their daughter when she was 6 months outdated.
Tommie Benefield
Stephanie Murphy: Doug thought they have been again collectively, that they have been doing what they have been speculated to do at first, which was to slowly get to know one another — be a household … I assumed the whole lot was gonna be OK.
However issues weren’t OK and Doug was in for an enormous shock, Murphy says. In August 2019, Doug came upon Ashley was courting one other man. Doug filed for divorce and Ashley lodged a brand new spherical of accusations about him.
Stephanie Murphy: Ashley accused Doug of sexually abusing his daughter … she accused him of an entire litany of issues.
Doug vehemently denied the allegations and the sheriff’s workplace appeared to agree. They investigated and closed all the circumstances concerning allegations of abuse with out submitting fees.
Jim Axelrod: I wanna be clear about one thing … Was Doug ever charged with any crime?
Tommie Benefield: No, sir.
In the summertime of 2020, Ashley made plans to maneuver to Maryland along with her mom and daughter. Regardless of the difficulties of their relationship, Doug selected to hitch them.
Doug informed associates he nonetheless wished to be part of his daughter’s life and continued to hope he may reconcile with Ashley and have a contemporary begin in Maryland.
Journey Cormeny: There’s nothing I can say that might probably flip him round on this. He’s gonna do that if it kills him.
It was September 27, 2020, the day the turbulent relationship between the Benefields lastly boiled over. Doug arrived at Ashley and her mom Alicia’s house to assist pack for the transfer.
Stephanie Murphy: Alicia decides to take the newborn for a stroll all the way down to the neighborhood park.
Ashley stayed behind with Doug. It was shortly thereafter, when Ashley ran to her next-door neighbor, sobbing, and carrying her .45 caliber gun. And he known as 911.
JOHN SANT to 911: [It was] proper subsequent door to me. She simply came visiting. Her estranged husband attacked her and she or he says she shot him.
Doug had been shot within the leg and chest. He lived for an hour however died at close by hospital. Ashley’s lawyer met her on the sheriff’s workplace. Detectives started investigating Ashley’s declare of self-defense, however they’d must do it with out her
Stephanie Murphy: She didn’t converse to detectives in any respect.
However after a month of investigation, in November 2020, Ashley Benefield was charged with second-degree homicide. She pleaded not responsible. After 17 days in jail, Ashley posted $100,000 bond.
It was practically three years later, in July 2023, that there was a key listening to within the case that introduced everybody collectively, together with Doug’s daughter, Eva.
EVA BENEFIELD (On TikTok | June 28, 2023): Subsequent week is her first in-person listening to …which suggests I’m gonna see her in particular person for the primary time since … she killed my Dad.
Ashley’s crew had requested for the case to be dismissed, claiming she had shot Doug in self-defense. And prosecutors have been combating it.
SUZANNE O’DONNELL (in court docket 2023): Did you do the post-mortem of Doug Benefield
DR. RUSSELL VEGA | Medical Examiner: Sure, I did.
Eva wasn’t absolutely ready to listen to the main points of her father’s demise.
DR. RUSSELL VEGA: The projectile path went via the chest wall on the best facet after which it hit the best lung
Eva Benefield (Sobs) … it’s speaking about my dad in a means that doesn’t really feel very humane. They referred to the — the homicide, the taking pictures because the incident and—. (Sobs) they — they pulled up footage of his physique and, you realize, they referred to my dad because the sufferer.
EVA BENEFIELD: (Sobs) It’s been troublesome for me to form of grasp what’s occurring after which listening to about it over once more and over once more and over once more. It’s simply — it’s lots.
The choose denied Ashley’s movement to dismiss the case. Ashley must stand trial for killing Doug. And that’s when Ashley would inform the jury her model of what occurred that night time.
ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court docket 2024) I mentioned, “I’m done and you need to leave now.” (crying) … He mentioned, “you can’t f—— leave me.”
ASHLEY BENEFIELD EXPLAINS WHY SHE SHOT DOUG
One of many first witnesses at Ashley’s homicide trial was Doug’s 23-year-old daughter.
Eva Benefield had lived with Doug and Ashley once they have been newlyweds and noticed firsthand how they interacted.
SUZANNE O’DONNELL (in court docket): Did you ever hear your dad at any time yell at her?
EVA BENEFIELD: No.
SUZANNE O’DONNELL : Did you ever see or hear your dad threaten her?
SUZANNE O’DONNELL : Did you ever see or hear your dad get bodily along with her?
EVA BENEFIELD: No
Prosecutors subsequent known as John Sant to the stand. He’s the neighbor Ashley ran to after taking pictures Doug. His 911 name was performed for the jury.
JOHN SANT TO 911: Relax honey, relax. (Ashley could be heard crying within the background) …She’s with me now, fairly upset, the weapon is right here. … She says he attacked her, and she or he shot him.
Prosecutors requested Sant if he had observed any bruises on Ashley that night time.
SUZANNE O’DONNELL (in court docket): At any time throughout this interplay with Ashley, did she seem to have any accidents?
JOHN SANT: No.
The subsequent morning, prosecutors known as Ashley’s mom Alicia Byers to the stand. She swore that Ashley had by no means mentioned along with her particulars of the taking pictures.
SUZANNE O’DONNELL (in court docket): To this present day you’ve by no means talked about it?
ALICIA BYERS: No.
Prosecutor Rebecca Freel discovered that curious.
Rebecca Freel: She by no means mentioned mama, he beat me … or he was coming at me or any of these issues … we thought that was necessary to indicate that the one that’s in all probability the closest to her on the earth was unaware of these issues.
To point out how Ashley behaved when she didn’t get her means, prosecutors known as Det. Chris Gillum of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Workplace to the stand.
Gillum testified that Ashley as soon as demanded that he arrest Doug in court docket earlier than a sitting choose, for contacting her when he was not speculated to. Gillum refused.
DET. CHRIS GILLUM (in court docket): … her tone turned from the crying to very aggressive and she or he mentioned, “you will effing arrest him in front of the judge. And I will make sure you do it.”
SUZANNE O’DONNELL: And what did you say to that?
DET. CHRIS GILLUM: I mentioned, “it’s not going to happen” … She began crying once more and got here out with a remark like um, “I can’t believe you’re willing to allow Doug to kill me and the baby.”
The prosecution offered a video discovered on Doug’s telephone to indicate that Ashley was by no means afraid of Doug. It was taken only one week earlier than the taking pictures. Doug is recording himself taking part in a sport with Ashley, her mom and Emerson and they’re all laughing.
However possibly the prosecution’s most necessary witness was health worker Dr. Russell Vega.
DR. RUSSELL VEGA [looking at projection in court]: That’s the chest harm to the best facet of the best nipple.
He testified concerning the two bullets that hit Doug within the leg and chest.
REBECCA FREEL (in court docket): Would you be so variety as to face up and kinda level in your physique to the place the doorway wound can be?
DR. RUSSELL VEGA (stands and factors to his chest): Definitely (stands and level to his chest).
As a result of prosecutors say Doug was shot within the facet, they theorize that he was seemingly turning to run away when he noticed Ashley level the gun.
SUZANNE O’DONNELL (in court docket): Your honor presently, the state rests.
It was protection lawyer Neil Taylor’s flip. He known as Ashley to the stand and requested concerning the occasions she was afraid of Doug.
ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court docket): … generally he would drive actually scary, yelling and screaming at me and like operating up on curbs. One time he nearly hit a tree.
ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court docket): He would get in my face. He’d yell at me. He’d come at me like he was gonna hit me.
And Ashley mentioned Doug as soon as punched the household canine Sully.
ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court docket): … he punched him within the face so laborious that he knocked him out. I assumed he had killed him.
At an earlier listening to, Doug was requested about Sully.
ATTORNEY: You additionally punched the canine, the day you discharged the firearm?
DOUG BENEFIELD: He jumped up … he’s an enormous canine, and he jumped up in my lap, and yeah, I admit I hit him, I didn’t hit him such as you would hit a punching bag or something, however I hit him.
Taylor requested Ashley to inform jurors her model of the night time she shot and killed Doug. Ashley testified that, because the couple packed for his or her transfer to Maryland, Doug grew to become agitated as a result of Ashley had insisted Doug get his personal residence.
ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court docket): I attempted to alter the topic. I may see how upset he was getting …
Ashley informed jurors that Doug ran into her and pushed a field into her facet. She mentioned he hit her within the face when she tried to go away. Then, she mentioned she ran right into a bed room the place Doug adopted her and that’s when she grabbed her close by .45 caliber gun — considered one of three that have been in home.
Ashley Benefield takes the stand in her trial for the homicide of her estranged husband Doug Benefield.
Pool/Bradenton Herald
ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court docket): I — I simply held the gun like in entrance of me and I — I mentioned, cease, and he like turned and he bought into this like nearly like a combating stance. (crying) He began like transferring his arms and his arms round …
ASHLEY BENEFIELD (in court docket): He began coming in the direction of me after which he lunged at me. (crying) And I simply begin pulling the set off.
NEIL TAYLOR: Inform the women and gents of the jury, why you shot Doug?
ASHLEY BENEFIELD: I used to be scared to demise. (crying) I assumed he was gonna kill me.
NEIL TAYLOR: As you sit right here immediately, Ashley, how do you are feeling about what occurred?
ASHLEY BENEFIELD: Horrible. He’s the daddy of my baby. (crying) And sometime I’m going to have to elucidate all of it to her. (crying)
After a break, Ashley returned to the stand. Taylor then produced an outdated textual content from Doug’s earlier spouse Renee. It was undated, however Ashley mentioned she discovered it on an outdated cellphone. He learn aloud what Renee wrote to Doug.
NEIL TAYLOR (in court docket): reads: “I used to be deeply disillusioned that you simply distorted the reality about who you actually have been once I married you. I beloved you thru discovering out you weren’t actually what you pretended to be — you kicking me so laborious on New Yr’s Eve on our honeymoon, since you have been having bother functioning in sure areas — you holding a gun to your head twice in my house …
Matt Tympanick: … if you hear that textual content message … it … helps Ashley Benefield’s case.
Prison protection lawyer Matt Tympanick, who attended and adopted this trial, says he feels that textual content helps Ashley’s competition that Doug was abusive.
Matt Tympanick: This isn’t the primary lady he has doubtlessly abused.
Doug’s divorce lawyer Stephanie Murphy says she as soon as requested Doug about that textual content, and he confirmed Renee had despatched it to him.
Stephanie Murphy: Doug mentioned that, sure, they’d some struggles and, sure, there was an incident throughout their … honeymoon, nevertheless it was in no way as Renee was describing it.
Ashley’s lawyer ended her direct testimony. Ashley now must go head-to-head with lead prosecutor Suzanne O’Donnell who had a shock in retailer.
THE DEFENSE PUTS DOUG BENEFIELD ON TRIAL
Ashley Benefield walked again into courtroom 6A after a lunch break. She’d spent two hours that morning testifying concerning the alleged abuse by the hands of her husband Doug.
However now, as she took the stand once more.
SUZANNE O’DONNELL (in court docket): I wish to simply begin with a few points.
It was prosecutor Suzanne O’Donnell’s flip. And Ashley admitted Doug by no means bodily abused her earlier than he allegedly hit her the night time of the taking pictures
SUZANNE O’DONNELL (in court docket): I wish to simply begin with a few points.
SUZANNE O’DONNELL: Doug Benefield by no means punched you ever, appropriate?
ASHLEY BENEFIELD: Um, yeah, I’d say that’s appropriate.
SUZANNE O’DONNELL: Doug Benefield by no means choked you ever?
ASHLEY BENEFIELD: Uh, no.
SUZANNE O’DONNELL: He by no means kicked you?
ASHLEY BENEFIELD: No.
The prosecutor known as Ashley down from the witness stand to display what occurred that night time.
ASHLEY BENEFIELD (demonstrating Doug’s actions): I held the gun out in entrance of me and I mentioned cease. (Crying) He bought into this, like, combating pose. He like turned sideways. And he was like transferring round together with his like arms and his arms. And he began like inching ahead in the direction of me.
Suzanne O’Donnell: I feel it’s invaluable in a case like this … that the jury see what her model of occasions is.
SUZANNE O’DONNELL (in court docket): So, he’s standing there. He turns to— like this and begins transferring his arms round?
ASHLEY BENEFIELD: Not like that.
SUZANNE O’DONNELL: Nicely, present me. What was he doing?
ASHLEY BENEFIELD (demonstrating Doug’s actions): And, like, I do know he bought like this, I imply, was like making, like, combating motions. I don’t— I don’t know, I’m not a fighter, I don’t know.
Suzanne O’Donnell: I don’t know that it got here off as real as she anticipated it to. … We’ve got to take a look at what she mentioned versus the bodily proof and see if it matches.
ASHLEY BENEFIELD: And he lunged at me he got here in a short time.
SUZANNE O’Donnell: OK, so he lunged, was his fist up when he lunged?
ASHLEY BENEFIELD (crying) I don’t keep in mind.
The state insists Ashley’s story didn’t match with the health worker’s testimony that Doug was shot within the facet. Doug’s cousin Tommie agrees.
Tommie Benefield: If Doug was actually lunging at her the way in which she mentioned, he would’ve been presenting the entrance of his physique. That’s not how he was shot.
Stephanie Murphy: She’s the form of one that finally believes her personal lies … however … simply because somebody believes what they’re saying doesn’t make it true.
However the protection continued to painting the concept that Doug was abusive.
Tommie Benefield They made this all about Doug. They solid Doug within the worst doable mild.
They known as Dr. Jason Quintal, a trauma counselor who labored with the couple within the months earlier than the taking pictures.
DR. JASON QUINTAL (in court docket): Doug occurred as somebody who was, um, domineering and … at occasions can be tremendous controlling.
NEIL TAYLOR: Did you conclude whether or not there was an intimidation problem current?
DR. JASON QUINTAL: Ashley said that she was frightened of Doug.
Ashlet Benefield took the stand at her trial for the homicide of her estranged husband Doug Benefield.
Pool/Bradenton Herald
Home violence professional Bruce Ferris met with Ashley after the taking pictures and mentioned her habits was per having suffered abuse. He addressed that video of Ashley, her mom and Doug laughing only a week earlier than she killed him.
Ferris mentioned victims of home violence typically appease their abusers to maintain the peace.
BRUCE FERRIS (in court docket): We’ve all heard the time period strolling on eggshells, they’re attempting to keep away from aggression by their accomplice as a result of they’ve grown to imagine there’s a menace right here.
Taylor says Ashley was solely pretending to get together with Doug so he wouldn’t hurt her or Emerson.
Jim Axelrod: Are you saying to me that Ashley … was like, I’ll simply type of preserve him glad … in order that he doesn’t get violent with me.”
Neil Taylor: That’s precisely what I’m saying to you.
SUZANNE O’DONNELL (in court docket): Home violence is totally an actual downside. Those who really feel like they can not get out. They haven’t any strategy to get out. That’s not this defendant.
However in closing arguments, Prosecutor O’Donnell informed the jury Ashley was not afraid of Doug — not the day of the video, and never the day she killed him.
SUZANNE O’DONNELL (in court docket): She didn’t must shoot him. She had an agenda and it labored for what she wished, and she or he bought what she wished. … Sole custody of the kid. And that’s homicide. Thanks.
However in his closing, Ashley’s lawyer reminded the jury Ashley spent years attempting to get authorities to guard her and Emerson from Doug.
NEIL TAYLOR (in court docket): She filed criticism after criticism after criticism calling Doug Benefield’s habits to the eye of the authorities, with no end result.
He insisted Ashley solely shot Doug as a result of her life was in peril that night time.
NEIL TAYLOR (in court docket): I’ve offered to you the whole lot that I probably may to indicate you … what Ashley knew about Doug on the time they happened to indicate you that her motion in utilizing lethal power was affordable. … We’re assured you’ll return a verdict of not responsible on this case.
The jury started deliberating within the afternoon and continued late into the night time. After practically seven hours, attorneys, family and friends returned to the courtroom to listen to the jury’s resolution.
COURT CLERK: The defendant is responsible of manslaughter, a lesser-included offense.
Responsible of manslaughter, however not second-degree homicide.
Matt Tympanick: Homicide two requires some form of intent … Manslaughter doesn’t require that, it’s extra of warmth of ardour … The jury’s basically saying, we don’t suppose she pre-planned this, however we additionally don’t suppose she was justified in doing it.
Any conviction that may put Ashley in jail comes as a welcome reduction to Doug’s household and associates.
Tommie Benefield: The spotlight of the trial for me personally was listening to the decision learn out loud … The second-best factor was listening to the press of {the handcuffs}.
Eva up to date her followers concerning the verdict.
EVA BENEFIELD (on TikTok): “My dad got the justice that he deserves.”
She’s hoping sooner or later to play a task within the lifetime of Emerson, who continues to be being raised by Ashley’s mom Alicia.
Eva and Doug Benefield
Eva Benefield (after the decision): I hope that sooner or later she’ll develop into a robust, younger lady and I’ll be capable to get to know her and clarify to her who her father was and — and present her all the photographs and movies and simply actually inform her how — how life ought to have been.
Ashley faces as much as 30 years in jail. State Lawyer Ed Brodsky, who runs the prosecutor’s workplace, says they may ask the choose to condemn her to the utmost.
Ed Brodsky This was an instance of somebody that … wished to take the legislation into her personal arms. … And that was the bridge that she crossed too far.
Stephanie Murphy: Because the years have passed by and the colours fade, you see that she’s truly the Black Swan and all the time has been.
In December 2024, Ashley Benefield was sentenced to twenty years in jail, adopted by 10 years probation for the taking pictures demise of Doug Benefield.
Produced by Paul LaRosa and Dena Goldstein. Richard Barber is the producer-editor.Tamara Weitzman is the event producer. gary Winter, Grayce Arlotta-Berner and Marcus Balsam are the editors. Jordan Kinsey is the sphere producer. Elizabeth Caholo is the affiliate producer. Patti Aronofsky is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the chief story editor. Judy Tygard is the chief producer.
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Jim Axelrod
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