A former Arkansas State University football player has been arrested on two counts of first-degree murder in the poisoning deaths of his pregnant girlfriend and her unborn child, according to police in Nashville, Tennessee.
Blaze Taylor, 27, is accused of poisoning Jade Benning, 25, in Nashville last year, resulting in the death of her 5-month-old fetus on February 27, 2023. He died on March 6, 2023, Metro newspaper reported. The Nashville Police Department made the announcement in a news release.
Benning was rushed to Vanderbilt Hospital at 9:38 p.m. on Feb. 25, 2023, after calling 911 to say Taylor appeared to be having an allergic reaction, according to the release.
Her condition quickly became critical, according to the release.
According to the police department, Benning was not available for questioning by police before his death.
After a months-long investigation, Taylor was arrested Thursday night in Utah by U.S. Marshals deputies at the request of Nashville police, according to the release.
At the time of his death, Taylor, a cornerback at Arkansas State University, was working in the Tennessee Titans' pro scouting department. After Benning's death, he moved to Utah and worked as a senior defensive analyst for Utah State University.
Nashville police said they are working with Utah authorities to transport Taylor to Tennessee.
