Current:Home > reviewsBlack Swan Trial: TikToker Eva Benefield Reacts After Stepmom Is Found Guilty of Killing Her Dad -Trailblazer Capital Learning
Black Swan Trial: TikToker Eva Benefield Reacts After Stepmom Is Found Guilty of Killing Her Dad
View
Date:2025-04-18 03:42:17
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! (669)
Related
- Former Danish minister for Greenland discusses Trump's push to acquire island
- NYC bans unusual practice of forcing tenants to pay real estate brokers hired by landlords
- Avril Lavigne’s Ex Mod Sun Is Dating Love Is Blind Star Brittany Wisniewski, Debuts Romance With a Kiss
- Federal judge orders Oakland airport to stop using ‘San Francisco’ in name amid lawsuit
- New Mexico governor seeks funding to recycle fracking water, expand preschool, treat mental health
- Lunchables get early dismissal: Kraft Heinz pulls the iconic snack from school lunches
- Insurance magnate pleads guilty as government describes $2B scheme
- Special counsel Smith asks court to pause appeal seeking to revive Trump’s classified documents case
- Could your smelly farts help science?
- Justine Bateman feels like she can breathe again in 'new era' after Trump win
Ranking
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- GreenBox Systems will spend $144 million to build an automated warehouse in Georgia
- DWTS’ Sasha Farber and Jenn Tran Prove They're Closer Than Ever Amid Romance Rumors
- Congress heard more testimony about UFOs: Here are the biggest revelations
- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow owns a $3 million Batmobile Tumbler
- Lunchables get early dismissal: Kraft Heinz pulls the iconic snack from school lunches
- Old Navy's Early Black Friday Deals Start at $1.97 -- Get Holiday-Ready Sweaters, Skirts, Puffers & More
- Investigation into Chinese hacking reveals ‘broad and significant’ spying effort, FBI says
Recommendation
Meta releases AI model to enhance Metaverse experience
Exclusive Yankee Candle Sale: 50% Off Holiday Candles for a Limited Time
Caitlin Clark's gold Nike golf shoes turn heads at The Annika LPGA pro-am
Crews battle 'rapid spread' conditions against Jennings Creek fire in Northeast
Megan Fox's ex Brian Austin Green tells Machine Gun Kelly to 'grow up'
Love Actually Secrets That Will Be Perfect to You
Nevada trial set for ‘Dances with Wolves’ actor in newly-revived sex abuse case
Zendaya Shares When She Feels Extra Safe With Boyfriend Tom Holland