NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WZTV) — On the fourth day of the trial for a former Tennessee Titans scout accused of poisoning and killing his pregnant girlfriend, Davidson County medical examiner Dr. Erin Carney takes the stand.

Taylor, 30, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Jade Benning and her unborn daughter. Prosecutors allege Taylor poisoned Benning by spiking her pink lemonade with a lethal mixture of cocaine dissolved in alcohol because he did not want her to have the child, believed to be his. Benning died March 6, 2023, on her 25th birthday, while the unborn girl, whom family members planned to name Ivy, died Feb. 27.

During testimony Friday, the medical examiner in the case recounted what she found when she handled Benning’s death.

Dr. Carney testified Jade Benning, who was pregnant when prosecutors say Blaise Taylor poisoned her, had high levels of cocaine in her system and had no history of cocaine use.

It has been more than three years since Benning and her unborn child died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center after Metro Police say her boyfriend, former Titans scout Blaise Taylor, called 911 and claimed she was having an allergic reaction. Sources told FOX 17 News the baby was Taylor’s.

Nashville Assistant District Attorney Jan Norman pushed the accusation that Taylor spiked Benning’s pink lemonade and questioned Dr. Carney on what she found.

“Is it possible to liquefy cocaine?” the prosecutor asked.

“Sure,” Carney answered.

Carney later testified, “I don’t know how it was ingested. I just know it was ingested.”

Prosecutors also focused on Benning’s unborn child, tying the medical examiner’s testimony to the second murder charge Taylor is facing.

“If Benning had lived, would you have expected her to have a healthy pregnancy based on your autopsy of the unborn baby?” asked Norman.

“Yes, ma’am,” Carney answered.

“Is there anything wrong with her baby?” asked Norman.

“No,” Carney said.

Carney also said Benning had an extremely high level of cocaine in her system, but did not have a history of using cocaine.

“The investigation does not show Ms. Benning as someone who used drugs historically or even recently close to her time of death,” Carney testified.
Defense Attorney tried to poke holes in her assessment.

“Did you ever make a statement that you were told through the police investigation that there was no history of drug use, period?” asked the defense.

“No history with illicit drugs other than marijuana used to make edibles,” Carney replied. “So no other illicit drug use, specifically cocaine.”

The defense also questioned why Carney did not send hair or fingernail clippings for drug testing.

“Did you send their hair sample out to be tested?” the defense asked.

“No,” Carney answered.

“What about to test the fingernail clippings? Did you have any of that tested?” the defense asked.

No,” Carney said.

The defense suggested those clippings were important because people do cocaine with their fingers.

The attorney also raised questions about fentanyl found in testing.

“Were you aware that she tested positive for fentanyl prior to being administered fentanyl in the hospital?” the defense asked.
“Objection, Your Honor. Counsel is misstating that evidence,” the prosecutor responded.

Carney testified the fentanyl came from hospital treatment.

Up until this point in the trial, investigators and police explained the crime scene and revealed Benning’s cell phone data, including text messages between her and Taylor. During testimony Wednesday, prosecutors questioned Benning’s best friend, Nijaiha Jackson, about a phone call she received from Benning shortly after Benning had dinner with Taylor.

Jackson testified that Benning said she suddenly became severely ill, vomiting and losing her ability to walk. Jackson said while she was talking to Benning, Benning began addressing Taylor, accusing him of spiking her drink.

The attorney for Benning’s family said it took 20 minutes before EMTs found her face down across her bed, pulseless. She was rushed to the hospital by ambulance after Taylor called 911, saying she appeared to be having an allergic reaction. Defense attorneys told the jury Benning had a history of taking drugs, adding Taylor cooperated with law enforcement at the hospital and was the only one to call 911.

The bond for Taylor was set at $2,500,000. He bonded out of jail in April 2024 and is required to wear a GPS monitor.

The district attorney’s office is pursuing life in prison without parole for Taylor under accused circumstances that the defendant knew the victim was pregnant, committed the murder knowingly and committed the murder against a person less than 12 years old.

Source: https://fox17.com/news/local/trial-for-ex-titans-scout-blaise-taylor-accused-of-killing-pregnant-girlfriend-jade-benning-nashville-tennessee-utah-arrest-medical-examiner-court-davidson-county