Current:Home > reviewsBlack Swan Trial: TikToker Eva Benefield Reacts After Stepmom Is Found Guilty of Killing Her Dad -Wealth Evolution Experts
Black Swan Trial: TikToker Eva Benefield Reacts After Stepmom Is Found Guilty of Killing Her Dad
PredictIQ Quantitative Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-10 22:38:00
Ashley Benefield's murder trial is approaching its finale.
The former ballerina, accused of killing her estranged husband Doug Benefield in 2020, was found guilty of manslaughter in a Florida courtroom July 30.
While the 33-year-old—who claimed she shot Doug, 58, in self-defense—had previously been charged with second-degree murder, a jury convicted her of the "lesser crime," according to NBC News.
A sentencing date for Ashley—whose case has been called the "Black Swan murder trial" after Natalie Portman's 2010 ballerina thriller Black Swan—has yet to be announced.
After the verdict, Doug's family, including daughter Eva Benefield who's been documenting the case for her nearly 500,000 TikTok followers, shared their reactions.
"She was convicted of manslaughter after four years of waiting," Eva, who testified during the trial, said in a July 30 video. "My dad got the justice that he deserves."
"I will be talking more about the trial once I have my thoughts collected," she continued. "I have a lot of things that I want to say."
As Eva, 23, stated in her testimony, she first learned about Ashley's relationship with her father in August 2016, about nine months after the death of her mom Renee.
Eva, a teenager at the time, soon discovered that they were already married. (Ashley and Doug tied the knot 13 days after meeting at a political event.)
While on the stand, Eva described her relationship with Ashley as "friendly at first."
"Over time, she tried to reprimand me a little bit more and kind of step into a motherly role," she explained. "And I did not like that because it was so short after my mother passed away."
Eva testified that Ashley would go to her dad and tell him that she wasn't obeying.
"Usually, they were overreactions over small things," Eva said of Ashley's behavior toward her. And when it came to Ashley's behavior towards Doug, Eva testified she heard her stepmom "strongly voice her opinions over and over and over again."
"It was on a regular basis," Eva added, stating that her dad would "sit quietly and listen" to Ashley and she never saw them verbally or physically fight.
However, Ashley alleged Doug was abusive during their marriage, testifying that she was fearful for her safety at the time of the September 2020 shooting.
Though prosecutors swiftly denied Ashley's claims, citing the estranged couple's custody battle over their daughter Emerson, 6, as a motive for the fatal shooting.
"This case is about a woman who, very early on in her pregnancy, decided she wanted to be a single mother," prosecutor Suzanne O'Donnell said in court, per ABC News. "Her husband and everything she did from that point on was to attain that goal and she would stop at nothing to attain that goal. When there was no other option, she shoots him and kills him and claims self-defense."
(E! and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
veryGood! (9792)
Related
- Shilo Sanders' bankruptcy case reaches 'impasse' over NIL information for CU star
- A growing and aging population is forcing Texas counties to seek state EMS funding
- Bo the police K-9, who located child taken at knifepoint, wins Hero Dog Awards 2024
- California voters reject proposed ban on forced prison labor in any form
- The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
- Round 2 in the Trump-vs-Mexico matchup looks ominous for Mexico
- 32 things we learned in NFL Week 10: Who will challenge for NFC throne?
- Ashton Jeanty stats: How many rushing yards did Boise State Heisman hopeful have vs Nevada
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- Fire crews on both US coasts battle wildfires, 1 dead; Veterans Day ceremony postponed
Ranking
- Taylor Swift makes surprise visit to Kansas City children’s hospital
- Sports are a must-have for many girls who grow up to be leaders
- World War II veteran reflects on life as he turns 100
- One person is dead after a shooting at Tuskegee University
- What polling shows about Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ new running mate
- Tennessee fugitive accused of killing a man and lying about a bear chase is caught in South Carolina
- Steelers shoot for the moon ball, but will offense hold up or wilt in brutal final stretch?
- Chiefs block last-second field goal to save unbeaten record, beat Broncos
Recommendation
Behind on your annual reading goal? Books under 200 pages to read before 2024 ends
Don't Miss This Sweet Moment Between Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Dads at the Kansas City Chiefs Game
Unexpected pairing: New documentary tells a heartwarming story between Vietnam enemies
IAT Community Introduce
How breaking emerged from battles in the burning Bronx to the Paris Olympics stage
Stocks soared on news of Trump's election. Bonds sank. Here's why.
Chet Holmgren injury update: Oklahoma City Thunder star suffers hip fracture
Kirk Herbstreit berates LSU fans throwing trash vs Alabama: 'Enough is enough, clowns'