Ex-college football star Blaise Taylor arrested for first-degree murder

Former Arkansas State football player Blaise Taylor is facing murder charges

Blaise Taylor, a former college football player at Arkansas State who has also served as a collegiate analyst and NFL scout, has been arrested in Utah in connection with the poisoning deaths of his girlfriend and her unborn child in Nashville.

Police said the U.S. Marshall in Cache, Co. (Utah) arrested Taylor, 27, after a Nashville grand jury indictment charged him with two counts of first-degree murder.

Taylor's girlfriend, Jade Benning, died at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville on March 6 of last year, her 25th birthday, according to investigators. 

She was taken to the hospital in an ambulance on the night of Feb. 25, 2023 after Taylor reportedly called 911 and claimed that Benning was suffering from an apparent allergic reaction.

Benning's medical condition worsened dramatically and her 5-month-old fetus, whom Taylor is believed to have fathered, died on Feb. 27, 2023.

Detectives were unable to interview Benning before she died.

Investigators later determined that Taylor poisoned Benning without her knowledge while he visited her at her apartment on the night of Feb. 25, 2023.

Taylor, who previously held a scouting role with the Titans NFL franchise, reportedly moved to Utah after Benning and her unborn child died. He worked as a senior defensive football analyst for Utah State.

The school acknowledged it was aware of the allegations against Taylor, saying that he left the university on March 1 of this year to "begin a new role at another institution."

Utah State added: "Taylor had worked as an analyst with the USU football program since July 1, 2023. The University is not involved in this law enforcement matter and all questions should be directed to the Metro Nashville Police Department."

Taylor started four seasons at defensive back for Arkansas State, serving as a team captain and earning first-team All-Sun Belt honors at DB and as a punt return specialist.

He holds school records with 1,151 punt return yards, 36 pass defenses, and 30 pass breakups.

This story is developing

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