A former college football player who once drew attention for his excellence in the classroom and on the field was arrested in Utah and charged with killing his pregnant girlfriend in Tennessee, officials announced Thursday. did.
U.S. Marshals took Blaise A. Taylor, 27, into custody after a Nashville grand jury indicted him on two counts of murder, according to a statement from the Nashville Police Department.
Taylor is the son of Texas A&M associate head coach Trooper Taylor and had recently joined the College Station staff.
Jade Benning died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center on March 6, 2023, her 25th birthday, police said. Benning had been hospitalized since Feb. 25, when Taylor called 911 to report Benning was having an allergic reaction, police said.
Homicide detectives concluded that Taylor “unknowingly poisoned Benning during a visit to his Lebanon Pike apartment on February 25,” police said in a statement.
Police said Benning died and so did her 5-month-old fetus, which Taylor “allegedly fathered.”
Taylor moved to Utah after Benning's death.
Taylor played defensive back and kicking running back for four seasons at Arkansas State University. He punted four times and ran back kickoffs for a touchdown during his college career, which was notable for his academic excellence.
Taylor was the 2017 recipient of the National Soccer Foundation National Scholar-Athlete Award. I earned both my bachelor's and master's degrees in less than four years.
He served as Utah State's defensive analyst from July 1 of last year to March 1 of this year, before transferring to Texas A&M, a Utah State spokesperson said.
“We can confirm that Mr. Taylor has been suspended pending an investigation,” a Texas A&M spokesperson said.
As of Friday, it was not immediately clear whether Taylor had hired an attorney or was appointed to represent him.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this heartbreaking situation, including the families and friends of the victims,” Texas A&M football head coach Mike Elko said in a statement Friday night. . He added: “It is essential that the courts are allowed to deal with this situation with the required diligence and impartiality.”
“We would also like to send our prayers and support to Coach Trooper Taylor, Dr. Evelyn Taylor, and their families as they navigate this very difficult time,” Elko said.
