This is the Day 7 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 7 Trial Summary
On Day 7 of proceedings (June 30, 2026), the defense concluded its case-in-chief before the prosecution presented rebuttal testimony in TN v. Blaise Taylor. The defense presented expert testimony from toxicologist Jansy Chun Lindsay, who challenged the reliability of NMS laboratory testing due to unpreserved blood tubes, detailed how cocaethylene forms from simultaneous alcohol and cocaine ingestion, and explained the compounding toxic effects of low-level fentanyl combined with cocaine. Emergency room physician Dr. Kelly Larkin followed, establishing that Taylor described Benning’s symptoms as potential seizure or respiratory distress rather than an overdose during the 911 call, while confirming Benning received hospital fentanyl infusions starting February 26, 2023. After the defense rested, the State recalled Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Erin Carney for rebuttal, who reaffirmed that Benning arrived pulseless on life support, maintained there was no physical evidence Benning was a chronic cocaine user despite urine cocaethylene findings, and explained how full investigative context guided her rulings on the cause and manner of death.
Witness-by-Witness Summaries
Kelly Larkin – Emergency Room Physician
Key summaries (Click arrow for more)
Connection to the case
Defense expert witness and emergency room physician reviewing emergency response logs, 911 recordings, and hospital treatment records.
Summary Of Testimony
Dr. Larkin testified that during the 911 call, the defendant reported Benning was shaking, spitting, and sounding as though she were snoring, noting that Taylor reported she was 4 months pregnant and never described the event as an overdose. She confirmed hospital records show Benning received an initial infusion of fentanyl on February 26, 2023. On cross-examination, Dr. Larkin stated she believed the administered fentanyl exacerbated or extenuated Benning’s respiratory arrest.
Key evidence introduced!
- Nothing Of Note.
Full report below!
Sources:
LIVE: Pregnant Girlfriend Poisoned Trial — TN v. Blaise Taylor — Day 7, Law & Crime Trials Youtube Channel, Available Online: https://www.youtube.com/live/vhbLvwNKiWA?si=JixI31WmSNYDAu-V
