The Black Swan manslaughter case[a] occurred in Lakewood Ranch, Manatee County, Florida, on September 27, 2020. Ashley Benefield (née Byers),[4] a former ballerina was accused of the shooting mariticide[5] of her estranged husband 58-year-old Douglas "Doug" Benefield.[6] The murder trial is known by this name due to the defendant's former profession and in reference of 2010 film Black Swan.[1] The murder and subsequent trial received national media attention.[1][2][7][8]
| Black Swan manslaughter case | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lakewood Ranch, Manatee County, Florida, U.S. |
| Date | September 27, 2020 c. 7:00 p.m. |
Attack type | Mariticide by gunshot with a firearm |
| Deaths | 1 |
| Victim | Douglas Benefield |
| Perpetrator | Ashley Benefield |
| Motive | Disputed:
|
| Verdict | Guilty |
| Charges |
|
| Sentence | Unknown |
On September 27, 2020, Doug was found shot twice in Ashley's mother's house,[1][9] he died in a hospital approximately an hour later.[1] Ashley and her defense attorney during the trial claimed that she did it in self-defense during a domestic dispute.[3] Prosecutors argued that Ashley fabricated the abuse allegations to gain sole custody of their child.[6][10]On November 4, 2020,[11] Ashley was charged with second-degree murder.[12][8]
In July 2024, a jury found Ashley murder of manslaughter with a firearm, instead of second-degree murder.[8][13][14] A sentencing date has not yet been set.[15]
Background
editDouglas Benefield
editDouglas Benefield | |
|---|---|
 Douglas "Doug" Benefield | |
| Born | October 2, 1961 Palo Alto, California, U.S. |
| Died | September 27, 2020 (aged 58) |
| Education | Huntsville High School |
| Alma mater | Texas A&M University (B.S., 1984) |
| Occupation(s) | Former Naval Flight Officer (formerly), Retired U.S. Navy intelligence officer |
| Website | www |
Douglas "Doug" Glass Benefield was born on October 2, 1961, in Palo Alto, California.[16] Doug grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, where he attented Huntsville High School.[17] He graduated in 1984 of Texas A&M University, in College Station, Texas, with a degree in Biology.[17][16] Doug was charter member of Aggie Cowboys (now Beta Theta Pi) fraternity.[17] After college,[17] Doug joined the Navy and was a Naval Flight Officer.[10][7] Doug was a flight officer for 3 years in San Diego, California.[17]
When he met Ashley, Doug had a daughter and was a widower.[7][10][14] He lived in Charleston, South Carolina.
Ashley Benefield
editAshley Benefield (née Byers) is a graduate of the Maryland Youth Ballet,[5] she was a swimsuit model[7] and ballerina.[5]
In August 2016, Doug and Ashley met in Palm Beach, Florida, during the presidential campaign.[14][4] Ashley was 24-years-old and Doug was 54-years-old at the time, Ashley was working in a campaign office in support of Donald Trump.[7][14] Doug and Ashley married 13 days later.[5] The couple moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where they founded the American National Ballet (ANB), a ballet company which closed months after.[11][4] In July 2017, Ashley became pregnant[14] and gave birth in March 2018.[18]
Abuse accusations
editAccording to some witnesses and reports, the couple had tensions and fights. On one occasion, Doug fired a gun at the roof of their house.[14] One of Doug's close friends said that he told him: “I did the dumbest thing I’ve ever done in my life", referring to that event.[19] Due to marital and pregnancy complications, Ashley moved with her mother to Florida until she gave birth.[18] When Ashley gave birth, she asked for full custody of her baby and she did not allow Doug to visit or have contact with their child.[1][6] On March 15, 2018, Doug said in an emailed letter that he wanted to be a part of the child's birth and life.[6]
Ashley filed domestic violence claims in court, alleging that Doug was a "manipulative", "controlling" and "abusive" man.[20] She also accused him of attempting to poison her[4][18] and of poisoning Doug's late wife.[14] However, the judge considered that Ashley's story didn't possess a "scintilla of truth".[11][18] In March 2020, Doug then wrote an email to the sheriff's office accusing Ashley of having a "split personality".[7] On May 6, 2020, Ashley filed a restraining order against Doug.[9] Shortly after, Ashley planned to move with her mother to Maryland.[9] Around that time, Doug filed for divorce, although he was still in love with her and wanted to live with Ashley in Maryland.[21]
Murder
editOn September 27, 2020, in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, Ashley with the help of Doug was packing a U-Haul truck for the move. Ashley's mother, Alicia, took her granddaughter to a park, leaving Doug and Ashley alone in her house.[1] Around 7 p.m,[11] the couple started an argument. Ashley claims Doug struck her in the head and he tried to keep her in a room.[9] Ashley claims she feared for her life, shot Doug multiple times in self-defense, and then arrived at a neighbor's house.[20][9] The neighbor called 911.[11]
When the police and paramedics arrived at the residence, they found Doug shot twice, once in the leg and once in the arm.[1][9] That second bullet traveled into his chest cavity.[1][9] Doug died one hour later at a hospital.[1][9]
Criminal proceedings
editPre-trial
edit| The State of Florida vs. Ashley Benefield | |
|---|---|
 Case Number 2020CF003014AX | |
| Court | Manatee County Judicial Center |
| Full case name | State of Florida v. Ashley Benefield |
| Decided | July 30, 2024 |
| Verdict | Guilty on one count of manslaughter |
| Court membership | |
| Judge sitting | Matt Whyte[5] |
| Case opinions | |
| Decision by | Jury verdict |
On November 4, 2020, Ashley was charged with second-degree murder and without the right to bail.[11] In July 2023, a judge refused to dismiss the charges following a two-day Stand Your Ground hearing.[13]
Trial
editOn July 23, 2024, the trial began in Manatee County Judicial Center.[15] The prosecution was represented by Assistant State's Attorney Suzanne O'Donnell and Ashley was represented by defense attorney Neil Taylor.[3]
The prosecution explained that this was a case where "the mother already knew she wanted to be a single mother and had no intention of giving the father visitation rights".[3] The prosecution argued that Ashley fabricated the abuse allegations to gain sole custody.[10]
Ashley and her defense attorney Neil Taylor argued that she did it in self-defense.[22] Attorney Taylor also mentioned that the authorities did not give her help when she reported her husband's "abuse".[3][22] Ashley testified that she did it in self-defense and that she feared for her life.[9][20][22] Ashley's defense attorney argued that she suffers from “battered woman syndrome”.[13]
Conviction
editAfter six days of trial, on July 30, 2024,[13] a jury found Ashley guilty of the lesser offense of manslaughter with a firearm.[12][8] A sentencing date has not yet been set;[15] she faces up to 30 years in prison.[15]
Reactions
editThe murder and Ashley's imprisonment attracted national media.[7][8] When the murder trial was presented, received a major media coverage, becoming a high-profile trial in Florida.[9][3]
The case is known by the media as the "Black Swan murder", in honor of the 2010 film Black Swan, a story of a tortured artist whose quest for perfection leads to mental instability,[9] and since Ashley was a ballet dancer and former owner of a dance academy, that inspired the nickname.
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Breen, Kerry (July 30, 2024). "In "Black Swan murder" trial, former ballerina Ashley Benefield found guilty of manslaughter in husband's shooting death". CBS News. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ^ a b "Black Swan Murder Trial: Former ballerina Ashley Benefield verdict announced in husband's murder". The Express Tribune. July 31, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f Pelisek, Christine (July 28, 2024). "Did Ballerina Kill Husband Because She 'Wanted to Be a Single Mother' — or Was It Self-Defense?". People. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Robb, Alice (September 2, 2021). "When Doug and Ashley Benefield Started a Ballet Company, It Wasn't Supposed to End in Death". Vanity Fair.
- ^ a b c d e Szymanowska, Gabriela; Robledo, Anthony (July 30, 2024). "'Black Swan murder trial': Former ballerina on trial in estranged husband's Florida killing". USA Today.
- ^ a b c d Stelloh, Tim (July 29, 2024). "Former ballerina Ashley Benefield is accused of murdering her husband. Here's what we know about the trial". NBC News. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Did a former ballerina accused of murder shoot her husband in self-defense?". CBS News. July 30, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Bellware, Kim; Rosenzweig-Ziff, Dan; Bisset, Victoria (July 31, 2024). "Ex-ballerina convicted of killing husband in 'Black Swan' trial". The Washington Post.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Lash, Jolie; Louallen, Doc; Chevalier, Zoe; Pedersen, Claire (July 30, 2024). "'Black Swan' murder trial: Ashley Benefield convicted of manslaughter". ABC News.
- ^ a b c d Mannie, Kathryn. "'Black Swan' trial: Ex-ballerina found guilty of shooting husband to death". Global News.
- ^ a b c d e f Chung, Gabrielle (November 9, 2020). "Former Ballet Dancer Charged with Fatally Shooting Estranged Husband". People.
- ^ a b Kveglis, Jennifer (July 30, 2024). "Ashley Benefield convicted of manslaughter in 'Black Swan' murder trial". Fox 13 Tampa Bay (WTVT).
- ^ a b c d Silver, Lauren; Brown, Ivy (July 30, 2024). "FL v. Ashley Benefield: Black Swan Murder Trial". Court TV.
- ^ a b c d e f g LaRosa, Paul (July 31, 2024). "Is Ashley Benefield the real-life "Black Swan"?". CBS News.
- ^ a b c d Szymanowska, Gabriela; Robledo, Anthony; Gomez, Julia (July 31, 2024). "'Black Swan murder trial' verdict: Ashley Benefield found guilty of manslaughter". USA Today.
- ^ a b "Roll Call Tribute - Douglas Benefield '84". The Association of Former Students of Texas A&M. February 17, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e "Doug Benefield - Obituary". Douglas Glass Benefield Tribute.
- ^ a b c d Bein, Vanessa (July 5, 2023). "Bombshells, a ballerina & her husband shot in the bedroom: What we know about the Benefield murder case". Law & Crime.
- ^ Sederstrom, Jill (November 12, 2021). "'He Was Her Mark': Victim's Cousin Says Former Ballerina Allegedly Seduced, Then Killed Her Wealthy Husband". Yahoo! News.
- ^ a b c Lash, Jolie; Louallen, Doc; Chevalier, Zoe; Pedersen, Claire (July 31, 2024). "Ashley Benefield was found guilty in 'Black Swan' murder trial in death of husband".
- ^ Kuizon, Kimberly (July 26, 2024). "Ashley Benefield gives emotional testimony in her defense at murder trial: 'I thought he was going to kill me'". Fox 13 (WTVT).
- ^ a b c Stelloh, Tim (July 30, 2024). "Ashley Benefield, ex-ballerina who claimed self-defense in estranged husband's killing, found guilty of manslaughter". NBC News.