This is the Day 4 of 8 trial report of the murder trial of Blaise Taylor, accused of poisoning his pregnant love interest killing her and her unborn child which he pled not guilty. A jury of his peers convicted him of all counts!
Case Report
Factual background:
Taylor visited Benning at her Nashville apartment. Late that night, he placed a 911 call reporting that Benning was unresponsive and appeared to be suffering from a severe “allergic reaction.” First responders found Benning face-down and critical, showing signs of severe lack of oxygen and pink, frothy vomit, but no hives or swelling consistent with allergies. On February 27, 2023, While Benning was hospitalized and intubated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, her unborn fetus died. After lingering in a vegetative state for days, Benning died on March 6 2023, her 25th birthday. Following a year-long investigation into cell phone data and toxicology reports, Taylor was arrested in Utah and extradited back to Tennessee to face double murder charges.
Criminal complaint:
CHARGES:
1. 1st Degree Premeditated Murder for the unborn child Ivy – Guilty – decided on 1st July 2026
2. 2nd degree murder as a lesser included offense for Jade Benning – Guilty – decided on 1st July 2026
3. Felony murder – two counts – Guilty – decided on 1st July 2026
Victim(s): Jade Benning, Ivy Benning
Courthouse: Davidson County Birch Building, Nashville Tennessee.
Officers of the court
Judge:
Attorneys
Prosecution:
ADA Roger Moore
ADA Jan Norman
ADA Kendall Ponchilia
Defence:
Joshua Brand
Letitia Quinones-Hollins
Edward Jointer
Legend:
ADA = Assistant District Attorney
TN v. Blaise Taylor – Day 4 Trial Summary
On Day 4 of proceedings (June 26, 2026), the prosecution presented medical, forensic, toxicological, and law enforcement evidence establishing cause of death and chain of custody in TN v. Blaise Taylor. Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Erin Carney testified that Jade Benning died from acute cocaine toxicity caused by oral ingestion within 30 minutes of going pulseless, noting an extraordinarily high blood cocaine concentration of 78 ng/mL. Forensic toxicologists Alex Krotulski and Kari Midthun detailed toxicology findings across blood (69–78 ng/mL), urine (4,000 ng/mL of cocaine and metabolites), and comforter fabric stains, confirming the presence of cocaine and metabolites on the bedspread while ruling out non-medical fentanyl. Homicide Detective Adam Reese and Crime Lab Specialist Amanda Sweet established the formal collection and chain of custody for Benning’s urine and blood specimens transferred to NMS Labs, while toxicological analysis of the comforter stain strongly reinforced the State’s theory of oral ingestion.
Witness-by-Witness Summaries
Dr. Erin Carney – Chief Medical Examiner
Key summaries (Click arrow for more)
Connection to the case
Chief Medical Examiner who performed the autopsy on Jade Tristan Benning on March 7, 2023.
Summary Of Testimony
Dr. Carney testified that Benning died from acute cocaine toxicity resulting from oral ingestion within 30 minutes of being found pulseless, stating that the 78 ng/mL blood concentration was uniquely high in her professional experience. She confirmed that the only fentanyl in Benning’s system was administered during emergency hospital treatment and noted that performing an emergency C-section would not have saved the 24-week-old fetus due to undeveloped lungs.
Key evidence introduced!
- Nothing Of Note.
Full report below!
Sources:
LIVE: Pregnant Girlfriend Poisoned Trial — TN v. Blaise Taylor — Day 4, Law & Crime Trials Youtube Channel, Available Online: https://www.youtube.com/live/6onXkgPJRIw?si=DrcVSCLw2kMDcqZK
