Former NFL Scout Convicted of Murder

A Nashville jury found former Tennessee Titans scout and Arkansas State defensive back Blaise Taylor guilty of murder on Wednesday in the deaths of his pregnant girlfriend and her unborn child. Taylor, 30, faces a mandatory life sentence following the conviction on four counts, including first-degree felony murder and second-degree murder.

The prosecution established that Taylor poisoned the victim, Jade Benning, by lacing her drink with cocaine in February 2023. Benning, 25, died on March 6, 2023, shortly after the death of her five-month-old fetus on February 27. Taylor had initially contacted emergency services claiming the victim was suffering from an allergic reaction.

At the time of his 2024 arrest, Taylor was employed as a defensive analyst for the University of Utah. His professional background included a four-year tenure in the Tennessee Titans scouting department and a collegiate career as a team captain at Arkansas State. A formal sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 9.