A Florida Ballerina on Trial for Murder
A Florida ballerina is currently on trial for the murder of her wealthy GOP donor husband. Prosecutors allege that Ashley Benefield, 32, brutally executed her 59-year-old husband, Douglas Benefield, because she wanted to be a single mother to their young daughter.
Ashley admits to killing Douglas in September 2020 during a contentious custody battle but claims it was in self-defense after years of abuse. Her attorney, Neil Taylor, stated during opening statements that she feared for her life when she was forced to shoot him.
Prosecutors argue that Ashley shot Douglas while he was facing away from her, indicating a cold-blooded killing. Assistant State Attorney Suzanne O’Donnell claimed that Ashley was determined to become a single mother and would stop at nothing to achieve that goal.
Police Respond to a Tragic Scene
Both sides agree that the marriage between Doug and Ashley was irreparably broken when police responded to a 911 call at Ashley’s mother’s home in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, on September 27, 2020. First responders found Doug shot three times on a bedroom floor, with Ashley claiming he had tried to attack her.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office did not believe Ashley’s self-defense claim, stating in an affidavit that there was no evidence to support it. The entry wounds on Douglas indicated that he was not facing Ashley or in a defensive stance when she shot him.
A Tragic End to a Once-Promising Romance
The couple met at a Republican Party fundraiser in 2016 and married just two weeks later. Ashley, a trained dancer, had dreams of starting her own ballet company, funded by Doug. They later had a daughter, but their marriage deteriorated as financial issues and allegations of infidelity and abuse arose.
Abuse Allegations and Custody Battle
Throughout their marriage, Ashley made multiple abuse allegations against Doug, including claims of violence towards their dog and poisoning attempts. However, prosecutors argue that these allegations were part of a calculated strategy to gain sole custody of their child, as a judge previously found no evidence of abuse by Doug.
The trial is expected to last more than two weeks.
