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 acquired married. She was 24; he was 54 and a widower. 4 years later it ended with one among them useless 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 believe that is lots of people’s solely window into ballet, which sucks,” says dancer Athena Nikolakopulos.” However this actually 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 relations 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 along 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 referred to as him. ‘Trigger I assumed all the pieces could be all proper. I might get a Bible verse subsequent morning and I will name him, and all the pieces could be OK.
Eva Benefield acquired 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 all the pieces was not OK.
Eva Benefield: I used to be … freaking out and I — I spammed him with textual content messages. I referred to as him.
Out of desperation, she started Googling the names “Doug and Ashley Benefield” and “accident with Florida man.” Later that day, Eva referred to as an uncle who had texted her.
Eva Benefield: And I stated, “What’s improper 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: Dangle on, these had been the primary phrases outta your mouth? The place was that coming from?
Eva Benefield: I simply had a intestine feeling.
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.
Tommie Benefield
Eva Benefield: I drove a pair blocks down the highway to my buddy’s home they usually noticed that I used to be crying … They usually stated, “What’s improper?” 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 lovely, essentially the most superb particular person on the planet.
Author Alice Robb wrote a bit concerning the Benefields for Self-importance Truthful. Doug was from Charleston, South Carolina – a advisor who labored with expertise corporations and protection contractors. The 2 had bonded over conservative values and weapons.
Stephanie Murphy: The night time 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 typically a featured performer.
Alice Robb: I’ve seen … movies of her dancing; she was undoubtedly — , well-trained dancer.
Days after they met, Doug left the nation on a brief enterprise journey and, by the point his airplane was touchdown again in the US, the center emojis had been flying quick and livid.
Alice Robb: … they had been saying “I really like you” to one another inside, I believe, per week or so.
Doug was deeply non secular, and his mates consider 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 among Doug’s closest mates and occurred to be an ordained Episcopal pastor on the time. Simply 13 days had handed for the reason that couple had met. Journey wasn’t thrilled however agreed to carry out the ceremony.
Journey Cormeny: I used to be being loyal to my buddy.
Doug invited virtually 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 might’ve talked him out of it. Eva actually would’ve talked him out of it.
Doug did not inform Eva, his 15-year-old daughter from his earlier marriage, that he and Ashley had married. Eva’s mom Renee had died of an undiagnosed coronary heart ailment 9 months earlier.
Fb/Renee Benefield
Eva was surprised – 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 by the entrance door. And she or he wasn’t answering the doorbell or the knock. So, I crawled by these bushes … The blinds had been open … the lights weren’t on or something. After which I might kinda see her silhouette, so I went to the door and to my neighbor.
The neighbor kicked within the door. There Renee was – useless 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 might go to him with boy issues, with college 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 — it is advisable come down and discuss 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 informed her that I wanted anyone … I wanted a motherly position in my life. And I did not assume that I wanted that.
The scenario grew to become much more sophisticated when Doug and Ashley allowed Eva’s buddy 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 greatest buddy Journey Cormeny says that Doug was stuffed with remorse.
Journey Cormeny: In his phrases he stated, “I did the dumbest factor I’ve ever carried out in my life.”
However that didn’t finish the connection. Simply the other. Two days after the gun incident, Doug and Ashley threw themselves a proper marriage ceremony reception full with visitors this time.
The newlyweds additionally solid 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 completely.
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.
Ashley, a dancer as soon as with the Maryland Youth Ballet, wished to create an inclusive ballet firm. Doug wished to make Ashley completely satisfied, mates say, and he was decided to make her dream a actuality.
Jim Chatwin
Regardless that there was a rising rigidity 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 Sensible: Being extra inclusive, having dancers of each shade, coloration, physique kind. Issues — these are all issues that I am a giant believer in.
Ashley and Doug employed Ballet Grasp Michael Sensible to coach the dancers. They talked a giant sport about massive 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: While you first met Doug, what sort of man did he strike you as?
Michael Sensible: Sort, a really severe businessman, and had a really methodical strategy to numerous what he did.
Jim Axelrod: Did he know something about ballet?
Michael Sensible: No. … And he was very open about that … I used to be imagined to be working with Ashley to get her to grasp how an organization must be run.
Jim Axelrod: What was your first impression of Ashley?
Michael Sensible: Younger. … Bold … we had been all hoping that she would rise to the event.
The American Nationwide Ballet in Charleston could be a extra inclusive dwelling to dancers who had been thought of unconventional.
Doug Benefield
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 could be her likelihood to show herself.
Emmana Hemsley: Being a Black feminine dancer … it is so difficult to audition for different corporations the place you do not match the mildew precisely … So, I believed this is able to be a terrific match for me.
Athena Nikolakopulos: In the event you’re within the ballet neighborhood, there’s numerous crap that should change.
Athena Nikolakopulos interviewed with Ashley and liked what she heard about her imaginative and prescient.
Athena Nikolakopulos: It gave the impression of she was genuinely excited to get this new firm going and that they had been going to attempt to do issues a bit of bit otherwise.
Michael Sensible: Nearly all of her dancers had been people that had been very very like her, had the drive, had the need, however hadn’t essentially been given a chance.
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 prime 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 nicely 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 a bit of woman on the best way.
On the finish of the summer season in 2017, some 40 dancers from everywhere in 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 pronounces that she is bedridden with a very troublesome being pregnant and he or she wasn’t going to be there for the primary nonetheless many months.
Michael Sensible: It was defined to me that they had been going to be growing this state-of-the-art facility in downtown Charleston. … day one, once we’re prepared to begin 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 prime 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 satisfy the corporate’s obligations.
Emmana Hemsley: We might ask him, “Hey, the place’s the cash for our footwear? 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 isn’t 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 nicely, when Ashley comes again, like, that is likely to be what fixes all of this.
Whereas they had been constructing the ballet firm, Ashley grew to become pregnant. She started to endure from nausea and returned to Florida so her mom might maintain her.
Jim Chatwin
However Ashley wasn’t coming again. On the finish of August, citing her troublesome being pregnant, Ashley went again to Florida to stay 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 notice about all of the explanation why she did not wanna be with him anymore.
Within the notice, Ashley referred to as him “possessive” and “controlling.” She wrote the incident when he’d fired a gun into the ceiling in addition to different unsafe conduct had left her “fearful for her life and the security of her unborn baby.”
In September 2017, Ashley and her mom returned to Charleston. She packed up her belongings and left a scathing notice. Ashley referred to as Doug “possessive” and “controlling.” She wrote that the incident when Doug had fired a gun into the ceiling in addition to different unsafe conduct had left her fearful for her life and the security of her unborn baby.
State’s Legal professional’s Workplace
Eva Benefield: I might see the look in his face when he learn it. … I might simply inform his coronary heart was damaged.
However Ashley’s notice was just the start.
Stephanie Murphy: He had this household that he thought was going to be excellent and completely satisfied and trustworthy, and it fell aside in essentially the most spectacular method.
It wasn’t lengthy earlier than the connection would turn out to be actually poisonous.
Stephanie Murphy: She thought Doug might have poisoned her.
POISONING ALLEGATIONS
Alice Robb: This can be 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 appear to be somebody who’s open to getting again collectively.
Ashley’s scathing notice to Doug left little doubt about her emotions.
Stephanie Murphy: I actually assume that Ashley thought that that was gonna be it. … simply pack up her stuff, depart a notice, and it was gonna be over …
The troubled marriage of Ashley and Doug Benefield
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However Doug wasn’t prepared to surrender. He despatched Ashley textual content after textual content, begging her to rethink. Certainly 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 acquired Baby Protecting Providers concerned from Florida. I hadn’t even seen her in months.
Ashley informed police that Doug had anger points and all concerning the day he fired his gun inside the home. Investigators interviewed Eva.
Eva Benefield: I used to be continuously having folks 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. And I simply stored having to repeat myself. “My dad is an effective dad. He is by no means carried out something to harm anybody. He would not harm 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’ improper with this man. … He is not harmful.”
Doug was struggling on one other entrance, overwhelmed by dealing with the ballet firm.
Michael Sensible: By mid-October … we had been notified that Ashley was stepping down.
Jim Axelrod: Did she bounce or was she pushed?
Michael Sensible: Pushed.
Jim Axelrod: Why?
Michael Sensible: As a result of there wanted to be management and Ashley was not being a frontrunner.
Sensible was within the room when Doug acquired a name from Ashley, who was greater than a bit of upset.
Michael Sensible: 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 bunch of dancers had been referred to as into a gathering, informed to signal non-disclosure agreements… and fired. Emmana Hemsley was one among 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 fully devastated by what has been carried out.” And “The brand new management has destroyed all that we labored so onerous to construct.”
In October, Ashley left the ballet firm and new management fired half of the dancers. Ashley posted on the ballet’s social media pages that she was devastated, and that the brand new management destroyed all that they labored so onerous to construct.
Athena Nikolakopulos: What occurred harm. It helped to know that … somebody was on our facet there and that, , this was by no means the intention.
It appeared like a stupendous thought had gone up in smoke. Inside months, the American Nationwide Ballet was carried out. Doug was out greater than $100,000. His ballet nightmare was over, however his mates 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 informed her that Renee had a 75% artery blockage.
ASHLEY: “I believed I’ve heard you say one thing about medicines or one thing…? Like unhealthy medicine …?”
Tommie Benefield: I’ve learn the post-mortem report. It is clear. Died of a coronary heart assault, basically.
It quickly grew to become clear why Ashley was so considering how Renee died. She informed Doug’s cousin Tommie she thought Doug had poisoned Renee regardless that Doug was out of city.
Jim Axelrod: What was your response? It’s essential to’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 acquired the coroner’s report. However Ashley talked to author Alice Robb, shared her idea about Renee, and made one other stunning allegation.
Alice Robb: She stated that, , as a dancer she’d all the time identified her physique nicely, and that … she actually felt like she — was much more nauseous than she would’ve anticipated as a pregnant lady. … And she or he 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 massive 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 off the bed.
Doug, nonetheless hoping for a reconciliation and apparently having no thought about Ashley’s suspicions, despatched her a birthday present on the finish of November 2017.
Stephanie Murphy: He had bought a stunning teapot and teacups and saucers and this specialty tea … that was imagined to be for pregnant ladies.
Ashley unleashed numerous accusations in opposition to Doug. Amongst them, she claimed he was poisoning her with tea whereas she was pregnant. Her claims had been investigated however nothing was discovered to substantiate the fees.
Tommie Benefield
The present 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 increased 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 carried out 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 realizing, Ashley checked herself into the hospital.
Alice Robb: I do not assume she was poisoned, however that does not imply she would not assume 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 she or he stated he had been stalking her in Florida.
With no solution to know if what Ashley informed them was true the hospital took precautions for her security and assigned her a brand new identify: Christina. Three days later the medical doctors carried out a C-section. The infant 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 start to a child woman in March 2018 took greater than a month to succeed in Doug, says his lawyer Stephanie Murphy.
Stephanie Murphy: The infant was born about three weeks early. Doug had no thought.
Child Emerson didn’t have Doug’s final identify and Doug was not listed as the daddy on the unique start certificates. Nobody was.
Stephanie Murphy: Ashley wished to lift her daughter together with her mom, alone … she did not need to co-parent.
And she or he stored 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: They usually counsel to you that your father had a component in your mom’s dying?
Eva Benefield: Proper.
Jim Axelrod: What precisely did they are saying to you?
Eva Benefield says at one level, Ashley and her mom even pulled Eva apart to counsel Doug had a component in her mom’s dying.
CBS Information
Eva Benefield: They stated … “We’re involved about your security … Your dad’s a nasty man. He does unhealthy issues …” …I simply informed 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 precipitated numerous emotional trauma … My dad would not try this. He liked 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 therapy 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 virtually 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 acquired a bit difficult.
Robert Cederoth: [demonstrates] Ashley’s daughter was actually small, , at the moment … So, we ended up taking this — ring and we put it round her waist. It was like — she was like a bit of ballerina … and so half of her physique was really inside 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 far-off. An audio recording was made from the continuing.
Right here, Stephanie Murphy questions Ashley concerning the state of her being pregnant:
COURT AUDIO |SEPTEMBER 17, 2018
STEPHANIE MURPHY: You additionally informed Lakewood Ranch OBGYN that, um, the being pregnant had been uncomplicated, appropriate?
ASHLEY BENEFIELD: Is there a web page you need me to reference?
STEPHANIE MURPHY: I am simply asking you. Is that what you informed them?
ASHLEY BENEFIELD: I would not say it was uncomplicated. My whole 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 liable for what the physician or the nurse writes.
STEPHANIE MURPHY: OK.
STEPHANIE MURPHY: …you’ve got accused your husband of poisoning you
ASHLEY BENEFIELD: Sure … it’s heartbreaking that anyone you’ll 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 best way 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 all of a sudden very accommodating.
Stephanie Murphy: She then instantly went proper as much as Doug, handed the newborn over, good as she could possibly be, very cordial.
She even urged 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 potential as a result of to her, he was a stranger. … And I talked to Doug. I stated, “OK. That is tremendous, after all. Please watch out.”
For the higher a part of the subsequent 12 months, Doug, Ashley and their daughter appeared completely satisfied, a minimum of in keeping with Doug. Doug even moved to a close-by condominium in Florida.
Stephanie Murphy: Doug thought they had been again collectively, that they had been doing what they had been imagined to do at first, which was to slowly get to know one another — be a household … I believed all the pieces was gonna be OK.
However, in August 2019, when he met Ashley to select up his daughter, Doug was surprised to see what he thought was an engagement ring on Ashley’s finger.
Stephanie Murphy: Doug employed a non-public investigator to search out out what was occurring.
The personal eye informed 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 an entire litany of issues.
Doug vehemently denied harming his daughter and authorities agreed there was no proof. Doug then wrote an e mail in March 2020 to the sheriff’s workplace accusing Ashley of getting a “cut up character.”
However just a few months later, Doug did one thing that appeared unthinkable. In a head-spinning transfer, he introduced that he and Ashley had been going to strive once more to be a household and had been relocating to Maryland.
Jim Axelrod: Tommie … I do know we preserve 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 carried out”?
Tommie Benefield: …he’s nonetheless believing he can rescue and save and have a wedding, a loving marriage …
Jim Axelrod: After anyone 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.
Associates 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 discuss Doug out of reconciling with Ashley.
Journey Cormeny: … there’s nothing I can say that would probably 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 night time 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 referred to as 911.
911 CALL: I heard some – anyone 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 to visit. Her estranged husband attacked her, and he or she says she shot him].
Ashley will 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 night time as detectives started investigating her declare of self-defense. However they’d need to do it with out her.
Stephanie Murphy: … she did not converse to detectives in any respect.
However Ashley’s mom Alicia informed the detective that she and her daughter had been victims of home abuse and had been residing in concern 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 informed the detective that Ashley was creating an escape plan to get away from Doug as soon as and for all.
Brown informed the detective: “Ashley was in peril, has a psychologist, two attorneys and a ‘burner telephone.’ Ashley additionally had a secure 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 informed a detective, “she was very involved Doug was ‘getting wind’ of the plan.”
However, as detectives investigated, Ashley’s declare of self-defense grew to become 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 taking pictures, 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 holding the kid away from Doug earlier than the taking pictures. She pleaded not responsible.
And maybe most troubling of all, the forensics decided that: “It doesn’t seem that he was going through Ashley when she started taking pictures.” Ashley’s new lawyer says he’ll problem these forensics at trial.
Ashley Benefield was arrested on November 4, 2020, and charged with second-degree homicide. She posted bond just a few weeks later and is awaiting trial. She pleaded not responsible.
Manatee County Sheriff’s Workplace
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 consider that my dad was man however then there was additionally part of her that was fearful of him and I believe that that half took over.
Jim Axelrod: Why was she fearful of him?
Eva Benefield: I believe all of the allegations she made, simply — she began to consider them…a bit of 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 steadily.
Jim Axelrod: Do you ever take into consideration her, Ashley?
Eva Benefield: On a regular basis.
Jim Axelrod: What do you assume?
Eva Benefield: I simply wanna … know … why would she take away my father, my greatest buddy, realizing that I haven’t got one other dad or mum?
Doug and Eva on a visit to Phoenix
EVA BENEFIELD [on TikTok]: I knew one thing was improper at some point when he did not ship me morning textual content. Um, after which a pair hours later I acquired 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 steadily below the identify “evathefreakindiva” the place she jokes that her model is “the woman with the useless dad and mom.”
Eva Benefield: I take advantage of darkish humor. I — I simply, I do not know, I suppose it is the best way my mind’s wired. However I might slightly not sit and sulk. I might slightly simply make mild of a scenario.
Today Eva cherishes her time with Sully, the canine who as soon as belonged to her father.
And she or he 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 assume I will 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 massive home and he enters the room by the — a door. And he says, “I have been in hiding and I would like 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 taking pictures dying 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 manager story editor. Judy Tygard is the manager producer.
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Jim Axelrod