This image, from the 2023 Utah State University Football Program’s media guide, shows former defensive analyst Blaise A. Taylor, who was arrested March 14. 2024, on suspicion of poisoning his Nashville, Tennessee girlfriend and her 5-month-old fetus. (Photo: Utah State Football Media Guide – 2023)
LOGAN — A former member of the Utah State University football staff was arrested Thursday, March 14, in connection to the poisoning deaths of a mother and her unborn child. Blaise A. Taylor was booked into the Cache County Jail on suspicion of being a fugitive from justice.
Taylor was arrested on an indictment from a Nashville grand jury, charging him with two counts of first-degree murder. The accusation alleges that he poisoned his girlfriend, Jade Benning, 25, while visiting her Nashville apartment on Feb. 25, 2023. Taylor called 911 at 9:38 p.m. that day reporting that Benning appeared to be having an allergic reaction and requesting paramedics.
Benning died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center nine days later on March 6, 2023, her 25th birthday. Her unborn fetus died on February 27, 2023. Benning was not able to be interviewed by police before she died.
Taylor was allegedly the father of the unborn child.
Deputy United States Marshals, at the request of the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, made the arrest of Taylor in Utah.
The 27-year-old was a defensive analyst was with the Utah State University football team for a brief time in 2023, but left before he was arrested. His information has already been removed from the USU coaching roster. A spokesperson for the team said Taylor had left earlier this month for a new role and another school.
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. He remains in jail as of Friday night, as police in Tennessee work on extraditing his return to Nashville.
Taylor was a standout defensive back for Arkansas State University. Stats show he ran back four punts and one kickoff for touchdowns during his college career. He also succeeded academically and there are several videos publicizing his accomplishments on and off the field published by the Red Wolves football team.