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A horrific story emerged out of the Texas A&M football program on Friday.
Blaise Taylor, who was reportedly recently hired as a staffer at A&M, was arrested Thursday night in Utah on a grand jury indictment with two charges of first-degree murder.
Taylor, 27, allegedly poisoned his girlfriend, Jade Benning, and her unborn child. Nashville Police state Benning and her unborn child died as a result of the poisoning.
The son of longtime FBS running backs coach Trooper Taylor, Blaise Taylor played college football as a defensive back at Arkansas State from 2014-17. He then spent the 2018-19 season as a graduate assistant at Duke before joining the Tennessee Titans’ scouting department in 2019.
He then served as an analyst for Utah State in 2023.
Trooper Taylor is listed as an associate head coach and running backs coach for Mike Elko at Texas A&M.
Nashville Police Release Details Of Murder Investigation Into Blaise Taylor
Details of the investigation from the Nashville Police Department might be difficult for some to read.
“Jade Benning died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on March 6, 2023, her 25th birthday. She was rushed to the hospital by ambulance on the night of February 25, 2023, after Taylor telephoned 911 at 9:38 p.m., said Benning appeared to be having an allergic reaction, and asked for paramedics. Benning’s medical condition immediately became critical. Her unborn fetus died on February 27, 2023. Benning was not able to be interviewed by police before she died.
Months of investigation, led by Homicide Unit Detective Adam Reese and involving scientists from crime laboratories and doctors from the Medical Examiner’s Office, led to Wednesday’s return of the murder indictment against Taylor. He is alleged to have poisoned Benning without her knowledge while visiting her Lebanon Pike apartment on the night of February 25.
Taylor moved to Utah after the deaths. The MNPD will be working with Utah authorities to arrange for Taylor’s return to Nashville.”
We will update this story with any details as they become available.