Did Ashley Benefield, a former ballerina accused of homicide, shoot her husband Doug Benefield in self-defense?

This story beforehand aired on June 4, 2022. It was up to date on Sept. 7, 2024.

On an evening in September 2020, Ashley Benefield walked to her neighbor’s home and stated she shot her husband Doug Benefield in self-defense. However was it?

The previous ballerina and bikini mannequin was, some say, much like the devious character within the theatrical movie “Black Swan.” Ashley and Doug Benefield knew one another for simply 13 days earlier than they bought married. She was 24; he was 54 and a widower. 4 years later it ended with one in all them lifeless and the opposite charged with second-degree homicide.

“To Doug … Ashley’s this harmless, pure White Swan,” says Stephanie Murphy, Doug Benefield’s household lawyer. “However beneath these white feathers… she’s an evil lady. …She’s the Black Swan.”

“Since ‘Black Swan’ got here out, I feel that is lots of people’s solely window into ballet, which sucks,” says dancer Athena Nikolakopulos.” However this definitely does parlay into that narrative.”

Over the time the Benefields had been married, there have been strained relationships, allegations of abuse, a failed ballet firm for unconventional dancers, and the tales of members of the family left behind making an attempt to make sense of all of it within the wake of lethal gunshots.

A WHIRLWIND ROMANCE

Jim Axelrod: Do you keep in mind your final dialog together with your dad?

Eva Benefield: … He tried to name me … however I did not choose up as a result of I used to be at work … I stated I will name you later … I by no means known as him. ‘Trigger I assumed every little thing can be all proper. I might get a Bible verse subsequent morning and I will name him, and every little thing can be OK.

Eva Benefield bought a Bible verse by textual content each morning from her father Doug. It was their every day ritual however on September 28, 2020, that Bible verse by no means got here — an indication that every little thing was not OK.

Eva Benefield: I used to be … freaking out and I — I spammed him with textual content messages. I known as him.

Out of desperation, she started Googling the names “Doug and Ashley Benefield” and “accident with Florida man.” Later that day, Eva known as an uncle who had texted her.

Eva Benefield: And I stated, “What’s unsuitable with my dad?” And he stated, “There’s been an accident.” And I stated, “She killed him, did not she?” And he stated, “Yeah, she shot him twice.”

Jim Axelrod: Cling on, these had been the primary phrases outta your mouth? The place was that coming from?

Eva Benefield: I simply had a intestine feeling.

Eva Benefield: I drove a pair blocks down the highway to my pal’s home and so they noticed that I used to be crying … And so they stated, “What’s unsuitable?” And I stated, “Ashley killed my dad.”

It was a tragic finish to a relationship that started at a dinner in Florida again in August of 2016.  Doug met Ashley and felt like he’d been struck by a thunderbolt.

Alice Robb: …he simply — instantly thought Ashley was essentially the most stunning, essentially the most wonderful particular person on this planet.

Author Alice Robb wrote a chunk in regards to the Benefields for Self-importance Truthful. Doug was from Charleston, South Carolina – a guide who labored with know-how firms and protection contractors. The 2 had bonded over conservative values and weapons. 

Stephanie Murphy: The evening that she met Doug for the primary time … she had weapons on her particular person, in her purse, in her bra.

Stephanie Murphy, Doug’s household lawyer, says that when Ashley first met Doug, she was working within the Sarasota marketing campaign workplace of Donald Trump. Her job was to assist provoke the Evangelical vote and work the rallies.

Stephanie Murphy: …you’ll be able to see video of her on the web the place she’s … throwing issues into the group, getting folks actually excited …

Except for her work in politics, Ashley had additionally been a fledgling swimsuit mannequin and a dancer with the Maryland Youth Ballet, the place she was generally a featured performer.

Alice Robb: I’ve seen … movies of her dancing; she was undoubtedly — an excellent, well-trained dancer.

Days after they met, Doug left the nation on a brief enterprise journey and, by the point his aircraft was touchdown again in the USA, the center emojis had been flying quick and livid. 

Alice Robb: … they had been saying “I really like you” to one another inside, I feel, every week or so.

Doug was deeply spiritual, and his pals imagine he wished to marry Ashley earlier than he was intimate together with her. 

Jim Axelrod: What did he say to you?

Journey Cormeny: “Will you marry us?”

Journey Cormeny was one in all Doug’s closest pals and occurred to be an ordained Episcopal pastor on the time. Simply 13 days had handed because the couple had met. Journey wasn’t thrilled however agreed to carry out the ceremony.

Journey Cormeny: I used to be being loyal to my pal.

Doug invited nearly nobody to the marriage, not even his teenage daughter. 

Jim Axelrod: He loves this woman, his 15-year-old daughter … he goes and will get married and would not even inform her.

Tommie Benefield: Yeah.

Tommie Benefield is Doug’s cousin.

Tommie Benefield: It is bewildering … I’d’ve talked him out of it. Eva definitely would’ve talked him out of it.

Eva was shocked – nonetheless coping with an unspeakable trauma.  9 months earlier, Eva’s mom – and Doug’s spouse… 56-year-old Renee Benefield had died. Eva had found her mom’s physique.  

Eva Benefield: I could not get in via the entrance door. And he or she wasn’t answering the doorbell or the knock. So, I crawled via these bushes … The blinds had been open … the lights weren’t on or something. After which I may kinda see her silhouette, so I went to the door and to my neighbor.

The neighbor kicked within the door.  There Renee was – lifeless from an undiagnosed coronary heart ailment.  Within the aftermath… Doug was proper there for his daughter.  

Eva Benefield: … after my mother died, he actually took, sort of, a motherly position together with a fatherly position.

Jim Axelrod: Wow.

Eva Benefield: He made positive … I may go to him with boy issues, with faculty drama, with something. And he would maintain it …

However 9 months later, Eva found Doug had a brand new lady in his life.

Eva Benefield: I used to be upstairs, and he stated, “Eva, we — you could come down and speak to me and Ashley.” … and I stated, “… the one factor that you’d want to inform me about y’all’s relationship is that if y’all — when you proposed.” And as quickly as these phrases got here outta my mouth he stated, “We’re married.”

Jim Axelrod: That is so much.

Eva Benefield: It’s a lot.

Doug inspired Ashley to attempt to mom a reluctant Eva who was solely 9 years youthful.

Eva Benefield: He mainly instructed her that I wanted any person … I wanted a motherly position in my life. And I did not suppose that I wanted that.

The scenario turned much more sophisticated when Doug and Ashley allowed Eva’s pal Sydney to maneuver into the home. Two teenage ladies and a brand new younger spouse had been a flamable mixture and through one heated argument with Ashley, Doug cracked. 

Stephanie Murphy: And in a horrible m — second … he discharged the gun into the ceiling of his home.

His finest pal Journey Cormeny says that Doug was crammed with remorse.

Journey Cormeny: In his phrases he stated, “I did the dumbest factor I’ve ever performed in my life.”

However that didn’t finish the connection. Simply the alternative. Two days after the gun incident, Doug and Ashley threw themselves a proper marriage ceremony reception full with friends this time.

 The newlyweds additionally cast forward with Ashley’s grand plan to create an inclusive ballet firm. 

Stephanie Murphy: The concept of it was actually nice.

However implementing it was one thing else solely.

CHAOS AND CONFUSION

Eva Benefield: As soon as Ashley began inflicting hassle and stress, that is when he began to appreciate how I used to be feeling. … He promised me that issues — issues had been going to be OK ultimately.  

Although there was a rising stress at dwelling between Ashley and Eva, Doug went forward with serving to Ashley comply with her dream: establishing a ballet firm in Charleston with a novel mission.

Michael Smart: Being extra inclusive, having dancers of each shade, shade, physique kind. Issues — these are all issues that I am an enormous believer in.

Ashley and Doug employed Ballet Grasp Michael Smart to coach the dancers.  They talked an enormous recreation about huge cash he says: $10 million they promised they’d secured from backers and boldly named their new firm the American Nationwide Ballet, or ANB.

Jim Axelrod: Once you first met Doug, what sort of man did he strike you as?

Michael Smart:  Variety, a really severe businessman, and had a really methodical method to lots of what he did.

Jim Axelrod: Did he know something about ballet?

Michael Smart: No. … And he was very open about that … I used to be purported to be working with Ashley to get her to know how an organization must be run.

Jim Axelrod: What was your first impression of Ashley?

Michael Smart: Younger. … Formidable … we had been all hoping that she would rise to the event.

In the summertime of 2017, Ashley and Doug had been there as ANB held auditions.

Emmana Hemsley: I undoubtedly thought that it was one thing that I wished to be part of.

Dancer Emmana Hemsley hoped ANB can be her probability to show herself.  

Emmana Hemsley: Being a Black feminine dancer … it is so difficult to audition for different firms the place you do not match the mildew precisely … So, I assumed this might be an ideal match for me.

Athena Nikolakopulos: In the event you’re within the ballet group, you recognize there’s lots of crap that should change.

Athena Nikolakopulos interviewed with Ashley and cherished what she heard about her imaginative and prescient.

Athena Nikolakopulos: It appeared like she was genuinely excited to get this new firm going and that they had been going to attempt to do issues somewhat bit in another way. 

Michael Smart: The vast majority of her dancers had been people that had been very very similar to her, had the drive, had the need, however hadn’t essentially been given a possibility.

Dancer after dancer proudly posted to social media they’d joined the ANB household. However that wasn’t the one household Ashley had in thoughts.

Stephanie Murphy: On high of beginning a ballet firm, Ashley additionally wished to get pregnant.

And within the midst of placing collectively the ballet firm, that is precisely what occurred.

Jim Axelrod: How did that sit with you?

Eva Benefield: It did not sit properly in any respect … so this kinda felt like one other stab within the again … there was a lotta stress. … ‘Trigger now they mainly have two teenage daughters and somewhat woman on the way in which.

On the finish of the summer season in 2017, some 40 dancers from all around the world started arriving in Charleston to work with Ashley.  From the primary assembly they realized what they’d been promised at ANB… wasn’t what they’d be getting.

Athena Nikolakopulos: We get there and we’re like, ‘the place is she?’ And Doug publicizes that she is bedridden with a extremely troublesome being pregnant and he or she wasn’t going to be there for the primary nonetheless many months.

Michael Smart: It was defined to me that they had been going to be creating this state-of-the-art facility in downtown Charleston. … day one, after we’re prepared to start out up, they had been like, “Can we use your facility?”

Athena Nikolakopulos: … every day … one thing would occur — that simply made us really feel much more unsettled. 

On high of all this chaos and confusion, the dancers had been having hassle getting paid. Their checks had been typically late in the event that they arrived in any respect. Doug was scrambling to fulfill the corporate’s obligations.

Emmana Hemsley: We’d ask him, “Hey, the place’s the cash for our sneakers? Or our paychecks?” And he would go to the financial institution and simply pull out money and provides folks money.

Jim Axelrod: Paying you out of his personal pocket in money is just not the sort of factor that is going to encourage confidence

Athena Nikolakopulos: No. No. Confidence had gone a very long time at this level, that was very lengthy gone … we actually thought … we’re like properly, when Ashley comes again, like, that is likely to be what fixes all of this.

However Ashley wasn’t coming again. On the finish of August, citing her troublesome being pregnant, Ashley went again to Florida to dwell together with her mom, whereas Doug tried to make the ballet work in Charleston.

The rumblings about hassle within the Benefield’s marriage grew louder.

Emmana Hemsley: It appeared prefer it was one thing that was going to crash and burn very shortly.

Very shortly. In September, whereas Doug was at an occasion for the ballet, Ashley and her mom drove from Florida to the home in Charleston and dropped a bombshell: the wedding was over

Stephanie Murphy: She got here to Charleston … and packed up her issues after which left Doug this scathing be aware about all of the explanation why she did not wanna be with him anymore.

Within the be aware, Ashley known as him “possessive” and “controlling.” She wrote the incident when he’d 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 youngster.” 

Eva Benefield: I may see the look in his face when he learn it. … I may simply inform his coronary heart was damaged.

However Ashley’s be aware was only the start.

Stephanie Murphy: He had this household that he thought was going to be excellent and comfortable and trustworthy, and it fell aside in essentially the most spectacular manner.

It wasn’t lengthy earlier than the connection would change into really poisonous.

Stephanie Murphy: She thought Doug could have poisoned her.

POISONING ALLEGATIONS

Alice Robb: It is a fairly lengthy letter. … She says on the finish, “don’t harass or attempt to comply with me or I’ll name the police.” … She doesn’t seem to be somebody who’s open to getting again collectively.

Ashley’s scathing be aware to Doug left little doubt about her emotions.

Stephanie Murphy: I actually suppose that Ashley thought that that was gonna be it. … simply pack up her stuff, depart a be aware, and it was gonna be over …

However Doug wasn’t prepared to surrender. He despatched Ashley textual content after textual content, begging her to rethink.  Considered one of them learn: “I’m on my knees and face earlier than God asking you to forgive me.”

However Ashley was not in a forgiving in temper. She determined to name the authorities on Doug.

Eva Benefield: Cops confirmed up at my home after she left my dad and he wasn’t dwelling. I needed to reply the door. … she bought Baby Protecting Companies concerned from Florida. I hadn’t even seen her in months.

Ashley instructed police that Doug had anger points and all in regards to the day he fired his gun inside the home. Investigators interviewed Eva.

Eva Benefield: I used to be continually having folks come as much as my door and questioning if my dad was an excellent dad. And it simply made me so offended as a result of he was. And I simply saved having to repeat myself. “My dad is an effective dad. He is by no means performed something to harm anybody. He would not damage anybody.”

Doug was subjected to a CPS investigation and was finally cleared.

Journey Cormeny: He’d been evaluated by a … psychologist … a full psych analysis, who stated, “There’s nothin’ unsuitable with this man. … He is not harmful.”

Doug was struggling on one other entrance, overwhelmed by dealing with the ballet firm.

Michael Smart: By mid-October … we had been notified that Ashley was stepping down.

Jim Axelrod: Did she bounce or was she pushed?

Michael Smart: Pushed.

Jim Axelrod: Why?

Michael Smart: As a result of there wanted to be management and Ashley was not being a pacesetter.

Smart was within the room when Doug bought a name from Ashley, who was greater than somewhat upset. 

Michael Smart: The telephone rang. He picks it up. And also you hear Ashley screaming, “You took my ballet firm away from me.” 

With Ashley gone, Doug introduced in new leaders, who made drastic adjustments.  On October 23, 2017, a gaggle of dancers had been known as into a gathering, instructed to signal non-disclosure agreements… and fired. Emmana Hemsley was one in all them.

Jim Axelrod: And Doug was of no assist right here? 

Emmana Hemsley: No. … Doug was…yeah, nowhere to be discovered that day.   

Identical to that, half of the corporate’s dancers had been gone. Two days later, Ashley posted on the ballet’s social media pages: “I’m utterly devastated by what has been performed.”  And “The brand new management has destroyed all that we labored so onerous to construct.” 

Athena Nikolakopulos: What occurred damage. It helped to know that … somebody was on our facet there and that, you recognize, this was by no means the intention.

It appeared like a fantastic thought had gone up in smoke. Inside months, the American Nationwide Ballet was performed.  Doug was out greater than $100,000.  His ballet nightmare was over, however his pals say a brand new one was simply starting. Ashley now had questions on Doug’s first spouse, Eva’s mom, Renee, and the way she died.  Ashley texted Doug:

ASHLEY: “Wait what did she die of once more?’

Doug instructed her that Renee had a 75% artery blockage.

ASHLEY: “I assumed I’ve heard you say one thing about drugs or one thing…? Like unhealthy medication …?”

Tommie Benefield: I’ve learn the post-mortem report. It is clear. Died of a coronary heart assault, basically.

It quickly turned clear why Ashley was so involved in how Renee died. She instructed Doug’s cousin Tommie she thought Doug had poisoned Renee despite the fact that Doug was out of city.

Jim Axelrod: What was your response? You should’ve been, like, “What?”

Tommie Benefield: It — it is out of left discipline. I am — I am actually confused by that. 

The native police say they closed the case in 2016 after they bought the coroner’s report. However Ashley talked to author Alice Robb, shared her principle about Renee, and made one other surprising allegation.

Alice Robb: She stated that, you recognize, as a dancer she’d at all times identified her physique properly, and that … she actually felt like she — was much more nauseous than she would’ve anticipated as a pregnant lady. … And he or she stated that … she had been — poisoned.

Stephanie Murphy: Ashley believed that Doug has been poisoning her whereas she was pregnant with their daughter. They had been each huge tea followers … and he or she hearkened again to the instances that Doug was bringing her tea in mattress. As a result of she did not need to get away from bed. 

Doug, nonetheless hoping for a reconciliation and apparently having no thought about Ashley’s suspicions, despatched her a birthday reward on the finish of November 2017. 

Stephanie Murphy: He had bought a beautiful teapot and teacups and saucers and this specialty tea … that was purported to be for pregnant girls.

The reward fed Ashley’s rising issues about Doug. 

Tommie Benefield: She … takes it to the police division … as hazardous supplies and claims that it is how he is poisoning her.

Jim Axelrod: What do the police make of that?

Tommie Benefield: They deal with it as hazardous supplies that day. They take a look at it and show out … it isn’t any toxic supplies.

Ashley additionally despatched her hair to an impartial lab for testing to find out if she’d been poisoned. The report stated her hair confirmed larger than regular ranges of aluminum, zinc, and different metals. However Doug’s lawyer disputes these findings.

Stephanie Murphy: She had gotten loads of lab work performed as a result of she was pregnant. … Her medical data in South Carolina … her labs all got here again regular.

Three weeks earlier than her due date, with out Doug understanding, Ashley checked herself into the hospital.

Alice Robb: I do not suppose she was poisoned, however that does not imply she would not suppose she was poisoned.

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 additionally claimed, with none proof, that Doug was bodily abusive and had held her prisoner again in Charleston. And he or she stated he had been stalking her in Florida. 

With no approach to know if what Ashley instructed them was true the hospital took precautions for her security and assigned her a brand new title: Christina. Three days later the medical doctors carried out a C-section. The child woman was wholesome, however Ashley continued to fret her child had been poisoned.    

Robert Cederoth: Each Ashley and her daughter had been right here each single day, receiving remedies.

NEW ACCUSATIONS

The information that Ashley had given delivery to a child woman in March 2018 took greater than a month to succeed in Doug, says his lawyer Stephanie Murphy.

Stephanie Murphy: The child was born about three weeks early. Doug had no thought.

Child Emerson didn’t have Doug’s final title and Doug was not listed as the daddy on the unique delivery certificates. Nobody was.

Stephanie Murphy: Ashley wished to lift her daughter together with her mom, alone … she did not need to co-parent.

And he or she saved pursing her accusation that Doug had killed Renee. Eva says that, at one level, Ashley and her mom Alicia even pulled Eva apart.

Jim Axelrod: And so they counsel to you that your father had an element in your mom’s loss of life?

Eva Benefield: Proper.

Jim Axelrod: What precisely did they are saying to you?

Eva Benefield: They stated … “We’re involved about your security … Your dad’s a foul man. He does unhealthy issues …” …I simply instructed them to get away from me.

However mom and daughter didn’t go away. Months later, Eva says they renewed their accusations.

Jim Axelrod: And what did they are saying that point?

Eva Benefield:  “Your dad poisoned your mother.”

Jim Axelrod: How’d you react to that?

Eva Benefield: I stated, “No, he did not. I used to be there … I discovered my mother and that brought about lots of emotional trauma … My dad would not do this. He cherished my mother.

Jim Axelrod: I wanna be clear about one thing … Was Doug ever charged with any crime?

Tommie Benefield: No, sir … not one of the allegations had been true.

However she appeared satisfied that she and her 3-month-old child had been poisoned. In her seek for assist, Ashley signed them up for 26 consecutive days of remedy in a hyperbaric chamber.

Robert Cederoth: It could possibly detox the physique of heavy metals and different toxins …

Security Director Robert Cederoth says Ashley and her daughter spent 40 hours within the 12-person chamber that appears extra nautical than medical.

Robert Cederoth: We name them dives as a result of it is — we’re nearly simulating diving, like when the divers go down …

Ashley’s daughter was the youngest affected person ever handled right here. Adults put on a plastic hood whereas contained in the chamber, however with a child, issues bought a bit difficult.

Robert Cederoth: [demonstrates] Ashley’s daughter was actually small, you recognize, at the moment … So, we ended up taking this — ring and we put it round her waist. It was like — she was like somewhat ballerina … and so half of her physique was really within the hood.

In the summertime of 2018, the poisoning allegations got here to a head when the Benefields 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 made from the continuing.

Right here, Stephanie Murphy questions Ashley in regards to the state of her being pregnant:

COURT AUDIO |SEPTEMBER 17, 2018

STEPHANIE MURPHY: You additionally instructed Lakewood Ranch OBGYN that, um, the being pregnant had been uncomplicated, right?

ASHLEY BENEFIELD: Is there a web page you would like me to reference?

STEPHANIE MURPHY: I am simply asking you. Is that what you instructed them?

ASHLEY BENEFIELD: I would not say it was uncomplicated.  My total life has been sophisticated for about two years.

STEPHANIE MURPHY:  OK … the OB, wrote proper in her report ‘the being pregnant has been uncomplicated.’ Was that wrong?

ASHLEY BENEFIELD: I am not answerable for what the physician or the nurse writes.

STEPHANIE MURPHY: OK.

STEPHANIE MURPHY: …you will have accused your husband of poisoning you

ASHLEY BENEFIELD:  Sure … it’s heartbreaking that any person you’d belief would do one thing to you. 

However the decide was not persuaded by two days of testimony and the lab take a look at outcomes Ashley had submitted:

JUDGE DIANA MORELAND [Court audio]: There’s not a single scintilla of credible proof that Ms. Benefield has ever been poisoned or suffered from any sickness of any poison. 

That ruling cleared the way in which for Doug to lastly see his daughter. Days later, he and Ashley met exterior the sheriff’s workplace to trade the newborn. To Stephanie’s shock, Ashley was abruptly very accommodating.

Stephanie Murphy: She then instantly went proper as much as Doug, handed the newborn over, good as she may very well be, very cordial.

She even instructed that that the three of them — Doug, Ashley and the newborn — spend time collectively.

Stephanie Murphy: … and Doug stated, “OK, positive” as a result of Doug wished to make the transition as simple for his daughter as doable as a result of to her, he was a stranger. … And I talked to Doug. I stated, “OK. That is high-quality, in fact. Please watch out.”

For the higher a part of the subsequent yr, Doug, Ashley and their daughter appeared comfortable, not less than based on Doug. Doug even moved to a close-by house in Florida. 

Stephanie Murphy: Doug thought they had been again collectively, that they had been doing what they had been purported to do at first, which was to slowly get to know one another — be a household … I assumed every little thing was gonna be OK.

However, in August 2019, when he met Ashley to select up his daughter, Doug was shocked to see what he thought was an engagement ring on Ashley’s finger.

Stephanie Murphy: Doug employed a personal investigator to search out out what was occurring.

The personal eye instructed Doug that Ashley was seeing one other man and in November 2019, Doug filed for divorce. Quickly after, Ashley started lodging complaints in opposition to Doug.

Stephanie Murphy: Ashley accused Doug of sexually abusing his daughter … she accused him of a complete litany of issues.

Doug vehemently denied harming his daughter and authorities agreed there was no proof. Doug then wrote an electronic mail in March 2020 to the sheriff’s workplace accusing Ashley of getting a “cut up persona.”

However a couple of months later, Doug did one thing that appeared unthinkable. In a head-spinning transfer, he introduced that he and Ashley had been going to attempt once more to be a household and had been relocating to Maryland.    

Jim Axelrod: Tommie … I do know we hold circling again to the identical query, and I am sorry it is simply any viewer of this hour goes to even be asking. What did Doug have to see earlier than he would say, “Trip. We’re performed”?

Tommie Benefield: …he’s nonetheless believing he can rescue and save and have a wedding, a loving marriage …

Jim Axelrod: After any person says you are sexually abusing your daughter, do not you chop and run? Do not you say I attempted?

Journey Cormeny: Proper.

Jim Axelrod:  I am out.

Journey Cormeny: Proper … Sure, most individuals do. However not Doug …

Tommie Benefield: …she’s nonetheless presenting to him and to others that they are gonna put all this again collectively once more.

Buddies held their breath however hoped, for Doug’s sake, {that a} miracle reunion was about to occur.  Journey says he knew higher than to even attempt to speak Doug out of reconciling with Ashley.

Journey Cormeny: … there’s nothing I can say that might presumably flip him round on this. He is gonna do that if it kills him.

SELF-DEFENSE OR MURDER?

Eva Benefield: He stated that their relationship was going very well, and he was simply excited for a contemporary begin. 

On September 27, 2020, Doug Benefield was getting ready to start his new life. He was shifting with Ashley, their younger daughter and Ashley’s mom Alicia from Florida to Maryland.  

Stephanie Murphy: So, it is Sunday evening and Doug is over at Ashley and Alicia’s home … And Doug — is filling up the U-Haul … Alicia decides to take the newborn for a stroll all the way down to the neighborhood park.

Ashley stayed behind with Doug. Quickly after, a neighbor heard screams and known as 911.  

911 CALL: I heard some – any person screaming exterior.

Then Ashley walked to a special neighbor’s home, carrying her .45 caliber handgun. 

Tommie Benefield: She walks subsequent door, gun in hand … tells the neighbor … “I shot Doug in self-defense.” The neighbor calls 911.   

NEIGHBOR TO 911: [It was] proper subsequent door to me. She simply came visiting. Her estranged husband attacked her, and he or she says she shot him].

Ashley might be heard sobbing within the background.

Stephanie Murphy: When the ambulance arrives, Doug was nonetheless respiratory.

Police and EMT’s assisted Doug who had been shot twice in his proper leg and arm. Police famous that the bullet from his arm traveled into his chest cavity. Doug lived for an hour however died at close by Docs Hospital.   

Ashley was not arrested that evening as detectives started investigating her declare of self-defense. However they’d must do it with out her.

Stephanie Murphy: … she did not converse to detectives in any respect.

However Ashley’s mom Alicia instructed the detective that she and her daughter had been victims of home abuse and had been residing in worry of Doug for three-and-a-half years. She claimed that they’d “tried to get assist however no physique [sic] would assist them.”

And Ashley’s lawyer Religion Brown instructed the detective that Ashley was creating an escape plan to get away from Doug as soon as and for all.

Brown instructed the detective: “Ashley was in peril, has a psychologist, two attorneys and a ‘burner telephone.’ Ashley additionally had a protected location and a rental automotive arrange.”

“Ashley was anticipated to implement the plan” the very subsequent day as a result of, as Ashley’s lawyer instructed a detective, “she was very involved Doug was ‘getting wind’ of the plan.”

However, as detectives investigated, Ashley’s declare of self-defense turned problematic. A detective famous that Doug had no weapons or weapons “on his particular person or close to him.”

Stephanie Murphy: She shot an unarmed man.

Within the days and weeks after the capturing, Ashley didn’t reveal what occurred in that second. In November of 2020, Ashley Benefield was charged with second-degree homicide. The arrest warrant famous, it seems that Ashley had exhausted all authorized technique of preserving the kid away from Doug earlier than the capturing. She pleaded not responsible.

And maybe most troubling of all, the forensics decided that: “It doesn’t seem that he was dealing with Ashley when she started capturing.” Ashley’s new lawyer says he’ll problem these forensics at trial.

Alice Robb: I do not know what Ashley believed … 

Author Alice Robb says it is troublesome to know if Ashley was a sufferer or a grasp manipulator. 

Alice Robb: Was she genuinely afraid, and … simply making an attempt to guard her child and save herself? Or was she making an attempt to … get Doug out of her life … simply out of spite simply ‘trigger she hated him?

Eva Benefield: I really feel like she — a part of her wished to imagine that my dad was an excellent man however then there was additionally part of her that was petrified of him and I feel that that half took over.

Jim Axelrod: Why was she petrified of him?

Eva Benefield: I feel all of the allegations she made, simply — she began to imagine them…somewhat an excessive amount of.

Ashley’s mom Alicia Byers has custody of her grandchild. Whereas awaiting trial, Ashley was out on bond and reportedly noticed her daughter incessantly.

Jim Axelrod: Do you ever take into consideration her, Ashley?

Eva Benefield: On a regular basis.

Jim Axelrod: What do you suppose?

Eva Benefield: I simply wanna … know … why would she take away my father, my finest pal, understanding that I haven’t got one other father or mother?

EVA BENEFIELD [on TikTok]: I knew one thing was unsuitable someday when he did not ship me an excellent morning textual content. Um, after which a pair hours later I bought a name that she — that she had shot and killed him …

Eva has been exploring her emotions on TikTok, utilizing her distinctive humorousness to appease her ache.

She posts incessantly below the title “evathefreakindiva” the place she jokes that her model is “the woman with the lifeless dad and mom.”

Eva Benefield: I exploit darkish humor. I — I simply, I do not know, I suppose it is the way in which my mind’s wired. However I might somewhat not sit and sulk. I might somewhat simply make mild of a scenario.

As of late Eva cherishes her time with Sully, the canine who as soon as belonged to her father.

And he or she and Tommie nonetheless go to the seashore at Sullivan’s Island the place her father’s ashes had been scattered.

Jim Axelrod [at the beach with Eva]: After we stand out right here now … all these months later, any peace? 

Eva Benefield:  I do not suppose I’ll get peace till after the trial’s over.

Jim Axelrod: Do you ever dream about your dad?   

Eva Benefield: Just a few instances

Jim Axelrod: What occurs within the dream

Eva Benefield: We’re on this huge home and he enters the room via the — a door. And he says, “I have been in hiding and I want you to assist me.” After which I run with him and there is a tunnel. After which I get up.

On July 30, 2024,  Ashley Benefield was discovered responsible of manslaughter with a firearm within the capturing loss of life of her husband Doug Benefield. Click on right here to examine her trial – and what she stated when she took the stand in her personal protection.

---

Produced by Paul LaRosa and Dena Goldstein. Tamara Weitzman is the event producer. Michael Loftus is the affiliate producer. Richard Barber is the producer-editor. Grayce Arlotta-Berner and Gary Winter are the editors. Patti Aronofsky is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the chief story editor. Judy Tygard is the chief producer.