Did Ashley Benefield, a former ballerina accused of homicide, shoot her husband Doug Benefield in self-defense? by means of NewsFlicks

This tale prior to now aired on June 4, 2022. It used to be up to date on Sept. 7, 2024.

On an evening in September 2020, Ashley Benefield walked to her neighbor’s space and mentioned she shot her husband Doug Benefield in self-defense. However used to be it?

The previous ballerina and bikini fashion used to be, some say, very similar to the devious personality within the theatrical movie “Black Swan.” Ashley and Doug Benefield knew each and every different for simply 13 days earlier than they were given married. She used to be 24; he used to be 54 and a widower. 4 years later it ended with one in all them lifeless and the opposite charged with second-degree homicide.

“To Doug … Ashley’s this blameless, natural White Swan,” says Stephanie Murphy, Doug Benefield’s circle of relatives lawyer. “However beneath the ones white feathers… she’s an evil girl. …She’s the Black Swan.”

“Since ‘Black Swan’ got here out, I feel that is a large number of folks’s handiest window into ballet, which sucks,” says dancer Athena Nikolakopulos.” However this indubitably does parlay into that narrative.”

Over the time the Benefields have been married, there have been strained relationships, allegations of abuse, a failed ballet corporate for unconventional dancers, and the tales of members of the family left at the back of looking to make sense of all of it within the wake of fatal gunshots.

A WHIRLWIND ROMANCE

Jim Axelrod: Do you bear in mind your ultimate dialog together with your dad?

Eva Benefield: … He attempted to name me … however I did not pick out up as a result of I used to be at paintings … I mentioned I’m going to name you later … I by no means referred to as him. ‘Motive I believed the whole thing could be all proper. I would get a Bible verse subsequent morning and I’m going to name him, and the whole thing could be OK.

Eva Benefield were given a Bible verse by means of textual content each and every morning from her father Doug. It used to be their day-to-day ritual however on September 28, 2020, that Bible verse by no means got here — an indication that the whole thing used to be no longer 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 “twist of fate with Florida guy.” Later that day, Eva referred to as an uncle who had texted her.

Eva Benefield: And I mentioned, “What is fallacious with my dad?” And he mentioned, “There is been an twist of fate.” And I mentioned, “She killed him, did not she?” And he mentioned, “Yeah, she shot him two times.”

Jim Axelrod: Dangle on, the ones have been the primary phrases outta your mouth? The place used to be that coming from?

Eva Benefield: I simply had a intestine feeling.

Eva Benefield: I drove a pair blocks down the street to my pal’s space and so they noticed that I used to be crying … They usually mentioned, “What is fallacious?” And I mentioned, “Ashley killed my dad.”

It used to be a sad finish to a courting that started at a dinner in Florida again in August of 2016.  Doug met Ashley and felt like he’d been struck by means of a thunderbolt.

Alice Robb: …he simply — in an instant concept Ashley used to be probably the most stunning, probably the most superb user on this planet.

Creator Alice Robb wrote a work in regards to the Benefields for Self-importance Truthful. Doug used to be from Charleston, South Carolina – a specialist who labored with era 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 user, in her handbag, in her bra.

Stephanie Murphy, Doug’s circle of relatives lawyer, says that once Ashley first met Doug, she used to be operating within the Sarasota marketing campaign place of business of Donald Trump. Her process used to be to lend a hand provoke the Evangelical vote and paintings the rallies.

Stephanie Murphy: …you’ll see video of her on the web the place she’s … throwing issues into the group, getting folks actually excited …

Apart from her paintings in politics, Ashley had additionally been a fledgling go well with fashion and a dancer with the Maryland Adolescence Ballet, the place she used to be every so often a featured performer.

Alice Robb: I have observed … movies of her dancing; she used to be no doubt — a excellent, well-trained dancer.

Days once they met, Doug left the rustic on a brief trade commute and, by the point his aircraft used to be touchdown again in america, the guts emojis have been flying speedy and livid. 

Alice Robb: … they have been announcing “I really like you” to one another inside, I feel, every week or so.

Doug used to be deeply spiritual, and his pals consider he sought after to marry Ashley earlier than he used to be intimate together with her. 

Jim Axelrod: What did he say to you?

Go back and forth Cormeny: “Will you marry us?”

Go back and forth Cormeny used to be one in all Doug’s closest pals and came about to be an ordained Episcopal pastor on the time. Simply 13 days had handed for the reason that couple had met. Go back and forth wasn’t delighted however agreed to accomplish the rite.

Go back and forth Cormeny: I used to be being unswerving to my pal.

Doug invited nearly no person to the marriage, no longer even his teenage daughter. 

Jim Axelrod: He loves this woman, his 15-year-old daughter … he is going and will get married and does not even inform her.

Tommie Benefield: Yeah.

Tommie Benefield is Doug’s cousin.

Tommie Benefield: It is bewildering … I’d’ve talked him out of it. Eva indubitably would’ve talked him out of it.

Eva used to be shocked – nonetheless coping with an unspeakable trauma.  9 months previous, Eva’s mom – and Doug’s spouse… 56-year-old Renee Benefield had died. Eva had came upon her mom’s frame.  

Eva Benefield: I could not get in in the course of the entrance door. And he or she wasn’t answering the doorbell or the knock. So, I crawled via those trees … The blinds have been open … the lighting were not on or the rest. After which I may just kinda see her silhouette, so I went to the door and to my neighbor.

The neighbor kicked within the door.  There Renee used to be – lifeless from an undiagnosed middle ailment.  Within the aftermath… Doug used to be proper there for his daughter.  

Eva Benefield: … after my mother died, he actually took, roughly, a motherly function in conjunction with a fatherly function.

Jim Axelrod: Wow.

Eva Benefield: He made certain … I may just pass to him with boy issues, with college drama, with the rest. And he would handle it …

However 9 months later, Eva came upon Doug had a brand new girl in his lifestyles.

Eva Benefield: I used to be upstairs, and he mentioned, “Eva, we — you want to come back down and communicate to me and Ashley.” … and I mentioned, “… the one factor that you would have to inform me about y’all’s courting is that if y’all — when you proposed.” And once the ones phrases got here outta my mouth he mentioned, “We are married.”

Jim Axelrod: That is so much.

Eva Benefield: This is a lot.

Doug inspired Ashley to check out and mom a reluctant Eva who used to be handiest 9 years more youthful.

Eva Benefield: He mainly advised her that I wished any person … I wished a motherly function in my lifestyles. And I did not suppose that I wished that.

The location was much more difficult when Doug and Ashley allowed Eva’s pal Sydney to transport into the home. Two teenage ladies and a brand new younger spouse have been a flamable aggregate and all over one heated argument with Ashley, Doug cracked. 

Stephanie Murphy: And in a horrible m — second … he discharged the gun into the ceiling of his space.

His best possible pal Go back and forth Cormeny says that Doug used to be stuffed with be apologetic about.

Go back and forth Cormeny: In his phrases he mentioned, “I did the dumbest factor I have ever completed in my lifestyles.”

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 whole with visitors this time.

 The newlyweds additionally cast forward with Ashley’s grand plan to create an inclusive ballet corporate. 

Stephanie Murphy: The speculation of it used to be actually nice.

However enforcing it used to be one thing else solely.

CHAOS AND CONFUSION

Eva Benefield: As soon as Ashley began inflicting hassle and pressure, that is when he began to understand how I used to be feeling. … He promised me that issues — issues have been going to be OK in the end.  

Despite the fact that there used to be a rising stress at house between Ashley and Eva, Doug went forward with serving to Ashley practice her dream: organising a ballet corporate in Charleston with a novel project.

Michael Smart: Being extra inclusive, having dancers of each and every colour, colour, frame kind. Issues — the ones are all issues that I am a large believer in.

Ashley and Doug employed Ballet Grasp Michael Smart to coach the dancers.  They talked a large sport about large cash he says: $10 million they promised they would secured from backers and boldly named their new corporate the American Nationwide Ballet, or ANB.

Jim Axelrod: While you first met Doug, what sort of man did he strike you as?

Michael Smart:  Sort, an excessively critical businessman, and had an excessively methodical method to a large number of what he did.

Jim Axelrod: Did he know the rest about ballet?

Michael Smart: No. … And he used to be very open about that … I used to be intended to be operating with Ashley to get her to know how an organization will have to be run.

Jim Axelrod: What used to be your first influence of Ashley?

Michael Smart: Younger. … Formidable … we have been all hoping that she would upward thrust to the instance.

In the summertime of 2017, Ashley and Doug have been there as ANB held auditions.

Emmana Hemsley: I no doubt concept that it used to be one thing that I sought after to be part of.

Dancer Emmana Hemsley was hoping ANB could be her likelihood to end up herself.  

Emmana Hemsley: Being a Black feminine dancer … it is so difficult to audition for different corporations the place you do not are compatible the mould precisely … So, I believed this may be a super are compatible for me.

Athena Nikolakopulos: In case you are within the ballet neighborhood, you realize there is a large number of crap that should exchange.

Athena Nikolakopulos interviewed with Ashley and beloved what she heard about her imaginative and prescient.

Athena Nikolakopulos: It appeared like she used to be in fact excited to get this new corporate going and that they have been going to check out and do issues slightly bit another way. 

Michael Smart: Nearly all of her dancers have been people that have been very just like her, had the power, had the need, however hadn’t essentially been given a chance.

Dancer after dancer proudly posted to social media they would joined the ANB circle of relatives. However that wasn’t the one circle of relatives Ashley had in thoughts.

Stephanie Murphy: On most sensible of beginning a ballet corporate, Ashley additionally sought after to get pregnant.

And in the course of striking in combination the ballet corporate, that is precisely what came about.

Jim Axelrod: How did that sit down with you?

Eva Benefield: It did not sit down nicely in any respect … so this kinda felt like every other stab within the again … there used to be a lotta pressure. … ‘Motive now they mainly have two teenage daughters and slightly woman at the means.

On the finish of the summer time in 2017, some 40 dancers from everywhere the arena started arriving in Charleston to paintings with Ashley.  From the primary assembly they learned what they would been promised at ANB… wasn’t what they would be getting.

Athena Nikolakopulos: We get there and we are like, ‘the place is she?’ And Doug pronounces that she is bedridden with a actually tough being pregnant and he or she wasn’t going to be there for the primary on the other hand many months.

Michael Smart: It used to be defined to me that they have been going to be creating this cutting-edge facility in downtown Charleston. … day one, once we’re able to begin up, they have been like, “Are we able to use your facility?”

Athena Nikolakopulos: … every day … one thing would occur — that simply made us really feel much more unsettled. 

On most sensible of all this chaos and confusion, the dancers have been having hassle getting paid. Their exams have been incessantly overdue in the event that they arrived in any respect. Doug used to be scrambling to fulfill the corporate’s tasks.

Emmana Hemsley: We might ask him, “Hiya, the place’s the cash for our sneakers? Or our paychecks?” And he would pass 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 type of factor that is going to encourage self assurance

Athena Nikolakopulos: No. No. Self assurance had long past a very long time at this level, that used to be very lengthy long past … we actually concept … we are like nicely, when Ashley comes again, like, that may well be what fixes all of this.

However Ashley wasn’t coming again. On the finish of August, bringing up her tough being pregnant, Ashley went again to Florida to reside together with her mom, whilst Doug attempted to make the ballet paintings in Charleston.

The rumblings about hassle within the Benefield’s marriage grew louder.

Emmana Hemsley: It appeared find it irresistible used to be one thing that used to be going to crash and burn very in a while.

Very in a while. In September, whilst Doug used to be at an tournament for the ballet, Ashley and her mom drove from Florida to the home in Charleston and dropped a bombshell: the wedding used to be over

Stephanie Murphy: She got here to Charleston … and packed up her issues after which left Doug this scathing be aware about all of the the explanation why she did not wanna be with him anymore.

Within the be aware, 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 habits had left her “frightened for her lifestyles and the security of her unborn kid.” 

Eva Benefield: I may just see the glance in his face when he learn it. … I may just simply inform his middle used to be damaged.

However Ashley’s be aware used to be just the start.

Stephanie Murphy: He had this circle of relatives that he concept used to be going to be very best and satisfied and trustworthy, and it fell aside in probably the most impressive means.

It wasn’t lengthy earlier than the connection would develop into actually poisonous.

Stephanie Murphy: She concept Doug could have poisoned her.

POISONING ALLEGATIONS

Alice Robb: It is a lovely lengthy letter. … She says on the finish, “don’t harass or attempt to practice me or I will be able to name the police.” … She does no longer appear to be any individual who is open to getting again in combination.

Ashley’s scathing be aware to Doug left no doubt about her emotions.

Stephanie Murphy: I actually suppose that Ashley concept that that used to be gonna be it. … simply close up her stuff, go away a be aware, and it used to be gonna be over …

However Doug wasn’t able to surrender. He despatched Ashley textual content after textual content, begging her to rethink.  Considered one of them learn: “I’m on my knees and face earlier than God asking you to forgive me.”

However Ashley used to be no longer in a forgiving in temper. She made up our minds to name the government on Doug.

Eva Benefield: Law enforcement officials confirmed up at my space after she left my dad and he wasn’t house. I had to reply to the door. … she were given Kid Protecting Products and services concerned from Florida. I hadn’t even observed her in months.

Ashley advised police that Doug had anger problems and all in regards to the day he fired his gun within the home. Investigators interviewed Eva.

Eva Benefield: I used to be continuously having folks come as much as my door and wondering if my dad used to be a excellent dad. And it simply made me so indignant as a result of he used to be. And I simply stored having to copy myself. “My dad is a great dad. He is by no means completed the rest to harm any individual. He would not harm any individual.”

Doug used to be subjected to a CPS investigation and used to be in the end cleared.

Go back and forth Cormeny: He’d been evaluated by means of a … psychologist … a complete psych analysis, who mentioned, “There is nothin’ fallacious with this man. … He is not bad.”

Doug used to be suffering on every other entrance, beaten by means of dealing with the ballet corporate.

Michael Smart: By way of mid-October … we have been notified that Ashley used to be stepping down.

Jim Axelrod: Did she bounce or used to be she driven?

Michael Smart: Driven.

Jim Axelrod: Why?

Michael Smart: As a result of there had to be management and Ashley used to be no longer being a pacesetter.

Smart used to be within the room when Doug were given a choice from Ashley, who used to be greater than slightly disenchanted. 

Michael Smart: The telephone rang. He selections it up. And also you listen Ashley screaming, “You took my ballet corporate clear of me.” 

With Ashley long past, Doug introduced in new leaders, who made drastic adjustments.  On October 23, 2017, a gaggle of dancers have been referred to as into a gathering, advised to signal non-disclosure agreements… and fired. Emmana Hemsley used to be one in all them.

Jim Axelrod: And Doug used to be of no lend a hand right here? 

Emmana Hemsley: No. … Doug used to be…yeah, nowhere to be discovered that day.   

Identical to that, half of of the corporate’s dancers have been long past. Two days later, Ashley posted at the ballet’s social media pages: “I’m totally devastated by means of what has been completed.”  And “The brand new management has destroyed all that we labored so exhausting to construct.” 

Athena Nikolakopulos: What came about harm. It helped to understand that … any individual used to be on our aspect there and that, you realize, this used to be by no means the aim.

It gave the look of a gorgeous thought had long past up in smoke. Inside of months, the American Nationwide Ballet used to be completed.  Doug used to be out greater than $100,000.  His ballet nightmare used to be over, however his pals say a brand new one used to be 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 advised her that Renee had a 75% artery blockage.

ASHLEY: “I believed I’ve heard you assert one thing about medicines or one thing…? Like dangerous medication …?”

Tommie Benefield: I have learn the post-mortem record. It is transparent. Died of a middle assault, necessarily.

It quickly was transparent why Ashley used to be so eager about how Renee died. She advised Doug’s cousin Tommie she concept Doug had poisoned Renee although Doug used to be out of the town.

Jim Axelrod: What used to be your response? You should’ve been, like, “What?”

Tommie Benefield: It — it is out of left box. I am — I am actually puzzled by means of that. 

The native police say they closed the case in 2016 once they were given the coroner’s record. However Ashley talked to creator Alice Robb, shared her idea about Renee, and made every other stunning allegation.

Alice Robb: She mentioned that, you realize, as a dancer she’d all the time recognized her frame nicely, and that … she actually felt like she — used to be much more nauseous than she would’ve anticipated as a pregnant girl. … And he or she mentioned that … she were — poisoned.

Stephanie Murphy: Ashley believed that Doug has been poisoning her whilst she used to be pregnant with their daughter. They have been each large tea fanatics … and he or she hearkened again to the days that Doug used to be bringing her tea in mattress. As a result of she did not wish to get away from bed. 

Doug, nonetheless hoping for a reconciliation and it seems that having no thought about Ashley’s suspicions, despatched her a birthday reward on the finish of November 2017. 

Stephanie Murphy: He had bought a fantastic teapot and teacups and saucers and this strong point tea … that used to be intended to be for pregnant girls.

The reward fed Ashley’s rising considerations about Doug. 

Tommie Benefield: She … takes it to the police division … as hazardous fabrics 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 fabrics that day. They take a look at it and end up out … it isn’t any toxic fabrics.

Ashley additionally despatched her hair to an unbiased lab for checking out to resolve if she’d been poisoned. The record mentioned her hair confirmed upper than customary ranges of aluminum, zinc, and different metals. However Doug’s attorney disputes the ones findings.

Stephanie Murphy: She had gotten numerous lab paintings completed as a result of she used to be pregnant. … Her scientific data in South Carolina … her labs all got here again customary.

3 weeks earlier than her due date, with out Doug figuring out, Ashley checked herself into the sanatorium.

Alice Robb: I do not believe she used to be poisoned, however that does not imply she does not suppose she used to be poisoned.

Stephanie Murphy: She used to be at Tampa Normal Health center … claiming … the kid were uncovered to heavy metals in utero as a result of her husband had poisoned her.

Ashley additionally claimed, with none evidence, that Doug used to be bodily abusive and had held her prisoner again in Charleston. And he or she mentioned he were stalking her in Florida. 

Without a technique to know if what Ashley advised them used to be true the sanatorium took precautions for her protection and assigned her a brand new identify: Christina. 3 days later the docs carried out a C-section. The child woman used to be wholesome, however Ashley endured to fret her child were poisoned.    

Robert Cederoth: Each Ashley and her daughter have been right here each and every unmarried day, receiving remedies.

NEW ACCUSATIONS

The scoop that Ashley had given start to a toddler woman in March 2018 took greater than a month to achieve Doug, says his attorney Stephanie Murphy.

Stephanie Murphy: The child used to be born about 3 weeks early. Doug had no thought.

Child Emerson didn’t have Doug’s ultimate identify and Doug used to be no longer indexed as the daddy at the authentic start certificates. No person used to be.

Stephanie Murphy: Ashley sought after to boost her daughter together with her mom, by myself … she did not wish to co-parent.

And he or she 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 to your mom’s demise?

Eva Benefield: Proper.

Jim Axelrod: What precisely did they are saying to you?

Eva Benefield: They mentioned … “We are interested in your protection … Your dad’s a nasty man. He does dangerous issues …” …I simply advised them to break out from me.

However mom and daughter didn’t pass 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 mentioned, “No, he did not. I used to be there … I discovered my mother and that led to a large number of emotional trauma … My dad would not do this. He beloved my mother.

Jim Axelrod: I wanna be transparent about one thing … Was once Doug ever charged with any crime?

Tommie Benefield: No, sir … not one of the allegations have been true.

However she seemed satisfied that she and her 3-month-old child were poisoned. In her seek for lend a hand, Ashley signed them up for 26 consecutive days of remedy in a hyperbaric chamber.

Robert Cederoth: It might detox the frame of heavy metals and different toxins …

Protection Director Robert Cederoth says Ashley and her daughter spent 40 hours within the 12-person chamber that appears extra nautical than scientific.

Robert Cederoth: We name them dives as a result of it is — we are nearly simulating diving, like when the divers pass down …

Ashley’s daughter used to be the youngest affected person ever handled right here. Adults put on a plastic hood whilst within the chamber, however with a toddler, issues were given just a little difficult.

Robert Cederoth: [demonstrates] Ashley’s daughter used to be actually small, you realize, at the moment … So, we ended up taking this — ring and we put it round her waist. It used to be like — she used to be like slightly ballerina … and so half of of her frame used to be in truth within the hood.

In the summertime of 2018, the poisoning allegations got here to a head when the Benefields squared off in a Bradenton, Florida, court. Doug sought after to look his daughter and Ashley used to be inquiring for an injunction to stay him a ways away.  An audio recording used to be fabricated from the continuing.

Right here, Stephanie Murphy questions Ashley in regards to the state of her being pregnant:

COURT AUDIO |SEPTEMBER 17, 2018

STEPHANIE MURPHY: You additionally advised Lakewood Ranch OBGYN that, um, the being pregnant were simple, proper?

ASHLEY BENEFIELD: Is there a web page you want me to reference?

STEPHANIE MURPHY: I am simply asking you. Is that what you advised them?

ASHLEY BENEFIELD: I would not say it used to be simple.  My complete lifestyles has been difficult for approximately two years.

STEPHANIE MURPHY:  OK … the OB, wrote proper in her record ‘the being pregnant has been simple.’ Was once that incorrect?

ASHLEY BENEFIELD: I am not accountable for what the physician or the nurse writes.

STEPHANIE MURPHY: OK.

STEPHANIE MURPHY: …you could have accused your husband of poisoning you

ASHLEY BENEFIELD:  Sure … it’s heartbreaking that any person you may believe would do one thing to you. 

However the pass judgement on used to be no longer persuaded by means of two days of testimony and the lab take a look at effects Ashley had submitted:

JUDGE DIANA MORELAND [Court audio]: There isn’t a unmarried scintilla of credible proof that Ms. Benefield has ever been poisoned or suffered from any sickness of any poison. 

That ruling cleared the way in which for Doug to after all see his daughter. Days later, he and Ashley met out of doors the sheriff’s place of business to switch the infant. To Stephanie’s marvel, Ashley used to be all of sudden very accommodating.

Stephanie Murphy: She then in an instant went proper as much as Doug, passed the infant over, great as she might be, very cordial.

She even instructed that that the 3 of them — Doug, Ashley and the infant — spend time in combination.

Stephanie Murphy: … and Doug mentioned, “OK, certain” as a result of Doug sought after to make the transition as simple for his daughter as imaginable as a result of to her, he used to be a stranger. … And I talked to Doug. I mentioned, “OK. That is superb, in fact. Please watch out.”

For the easier a part of the following 12 months, Doug, Ashley and their daughter appeared satisfied, no less than in step with Doug. Doug even moved to a close-by condo in Florida. 

Stephanie Murphy: Doug concept they have been again in combination, that they have been doing what they have been intended to do to start with, which used to be to slowly get to understand each and every different — be a circle of relatives … I believed the whole thing used to be gonna be OK.

However, in August 2019, when he met Ashley to select up his daughter, Doug used to be shocked to look what he concept used to be an engagement ring on Ashley’s finger.

Stephanie Murphy: Doug employed a non-public investigator to determine what used to be happening.

The personal eye advised Doug that Ashley used to be seeing every other guy and in November 2019, Doug filed for divorce. Quickly after, Ashley started accommodation proceedings in opposition to Doug.

Stephanie Murphy: Ashley accused Doug of sexually abusing his daughter … she accused him of an entire litany of items.

Doug vehemently denied harming his daughter and government agreed there used to be no proof. Doug then wrote an e-mail in March 2020 to the sheriff’s place of business accusing Ashley of getting a “cut up persona.”

However a couple of months later, Doug did one thing that appeared unthinkable. In a head-spinning transfer, he introduced that he and Ashley have been going to check out once more to be a circle of relatives and have been relocating to Maryland.    

Jim Axelrod: Tommie … I do know we stay circling again to the similar query, and I am sorry it is simply any viewer of this hour goes to even be asking. What did Doug wish to see earlier than he would say, “Day out. We are completed”?

Tommie Benefield: …he’s nonetheless believing he can rescue and save and feature a wedding, a loving marriage …

Jim Axelrod: After any person says you are sexually abusing your daughter, do not you chop and run? Do not you assert I attempted?

Go back and forth Cormeny: Proper.

Jim Axelrod:  I am out.

Go back and forth Cormeny: Proper … Sure, the general public do. However no longer Doug …

Tommie Benefield: …she’s nonetheless presenting to him and to others that they are gonna put all this again in combination once more.

Buddies held their breath however was hoping, for Doug’s sake, {that a} miracle reunion used to be about to occur.  Go back and forth says he knew higher than to even attempt to communicate Doug out of reconciling with Ashley.

Go back and forth Cormeny: … there is not anything I will say that may be able to flip him round in this. He is gonna do that if it kills him.

SELF-DEFENSE OR MURDER?

Eva Benefield: He mentioned that their courting used to be going actually nicely, and he used to be simply excited for a contemporary get started. 

On September 27, 2020, Doug Benefield used to be making ready to start his new lifestyles. He used to be 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 space … And Doug — is filling up the U-Haul … Alicia makes a decision to take the infant for a stroll all the way down to the community park.

Ashley stayed at the back of with Doug. Quickly after, a neighbor heard screams and referred to as 911.  

911 CALL: I heard some – any person screaming out of doors.

Then Ashley walked to another neighbor’s space, wearing 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 around. Her estranged husband attacked her, and he or she says she shot him].

Ashley may also be heard sobbing within the background.

Stephanie Murphy: When the ambulance arrives, Doug used to be nonetheless respiring.

Police and EMT’s assisted Doug who were shot two times in his proper leg and arm. Police famous that the bullet from his arm traveled into his chest hollow space. Doug lived for an hour however died at within reach Docs Health center.   

Ashley used to be no longer arrested that night time as detectives started investigating her declare of self-defense. However they would must do it with out her.

Stephanie Murphy: … she did not talk to detectives in any respect.

However Ashley’s mom Alicia advised the detective that she and her daughter have been sufferers of home abuse and were residing in worry of Doug for three-and-a-half years. She claimed that that they had “attempted to get lend a hand however no frame [sic] would lend a hand them.”

And Ashley’s attorney Religion Brown advised the detective that Ashley used to be growing an get away plan to break out from Doug as soon as and for all.

Brown advised the detective: “Ashley used to be in peril, has a psychologist, two lawyers and a ‘burner telephone.’ Ashley additionally had a secure location and a apartment automotive arrange.”

“Ashley used to be anticipated to enforce the plan” the very subsequent day as a result of, as Ashley’s attorney advised a detective, “she used to be very involved Doug used to be ‘getting wind’ of the plan.”

However, as detectives investigated, Ashley’s declare of self-defense was problematic. A detective famous that Doug had no weapons or guns “on his user or close to him.”

Stephanie Murphy: She shot an unarmed guy.

Within the days and weeks after the taking pictures, Ashley didn’t divulge what came about in that second. In November of 2020, Ashley Benefield used to be charged with second-degree homicide. The arrest warrant famous, it seems that that Ashley had exhausted all felony manner of conserving the kid clear of Doug earlier than the taking pictures. She pleaded no longer to blame.

And in all probability maximum troubling of all, the forensics decided that: “It does no longer seem that he used to be going through Ashley when she started taking pictures.” Ashley’s new attorney says he’ll problem the ones forensics at trial.

Alice Robb: I do not know what Ashley believed … 

Creator Alice Robb says it is tough to understand if Ashley used to be a sufferer or a grasp manipulator. 

Alice Robb: Was once she in fact afraid, and … simply making an attempt to give protection to her child and save herself? Or used to be she looking to … get Doug out of her lifestyles … simply out of spite simply ‘reason she hated him?

Eva Benefield: I think like she — a part of her sought after to consider that my dad used to be a excellent man however then there used to be additionally part of her that used to be fearful of him and I feel that that section took over.

Jim Axelrod: Why used to be she fearful of him?

Eva Benefield: I feel all of the allegations she made, simply — she began to consider them…slightly an excessive amount of.

Ashley’s mom Alicia Byers has custody of her grandchild. Whilst looking ahead to trial, Ashley used to be out on bond and reportedly noticed her daughter continuously.

Jim Axelrod: Do you ever consider her, Ashley?

Eva Benefield: At all times.

Jim Axelrod: What do you suppose?

Eva Benefield: I simply wanna … know … why would she remove my father, my best possible pal, figuring out that I shouldn’t have every other mother or father?

EVA BENEFIELD [on TikTok]: I knew one thing used to be fallacious sooner or later when he did not ship me a excellent morning textual content. Um, after which a pair hours later I were given a choice that she — that she had shot and killed him …

Eva has been exploring her emotions on TikTok, the use of her distinctive humorousness to assuage her ache.

She posts continuously underneath the identify “evathefreakindiva” the place she jokes that her emblem is “the woman with the lifeless oldsters.”

Eva Benefield: I exploit darkish humor. I — I simply, I do not know, I assume it is the means my mind’s stressed out. However I would moderately no longer sit down and sulk. I would moderately simply make mild of a scenario.

At the moment Eva cherishes her time with Sully, the canine who as soon as belonged to her father.

And he or she and Tommie nonetheless pass to the seaside at Sullivan’s Island the place her father’s ashes have been scattered.

Jim Axelrod [at the beach with Eva]: After we stand out right here now … a lot of these months later, any peace? 

Eva Benefield:  I do not believe I’ll get peace till after the trial’s over.

Jim Axelrod: Do you ever dream about your dad?   

Eva Benefield: A couple of occasions

Jim Axelrod: What occurs within the dream

Eva Benefield: We are on this large space and he enters the room in the course of the — a door. And he says, “I have been in hiding and I would like you to lend a hand me.” After which I run with him and there is a tunnel. After which I get up.

On July 30, 2024,  Ashley Benefield used to be discovered to blame of manslaughter with a firearm within the taking pictures demise of her husband Doug Benefield. Click on right here to examine her trial – and what she mentioned when she took the stand in her personal protection.

Produced by means of Paul LaRosa and Dena Goldstein. Tamara Weitzman is the advance manufacturer. Michael Loftus is the affiliate manufacturer. Richard Barber is the producer-editor. Grayce Arlotta-Berner and Gary Iciness are the editors. Patti Aronofsky is the senior manufacturer. Nancy Kramer is the chief tale editor. Judy Tygard is the chief manufacturer.