Current:Home > InvestBlack Swan Trial: TikToker Eva Benefield Reacts After Stepmom Is Found Guilty of Killing Her Dad -OceanicInvest
Black Swan Trial: TikToker Eva Benefield Reacts After Stepmom Is Found Guilty of Killing Her Dad
View
Date:2025-04-13 23:13:51
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! (1517)
Related
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- Hip-hop turns 50: Here's a part of its history that doesn't always make headlines
- Think the COVID threat is over? It's not for these people
- Legendary Singer Tina Turner Dead at 83
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- This telehealth program is a lifeline for New Mexico's pregnant moms. Will it end?
- With Giant Oil Tanks on Its Waterfront, This City Wants to Know: What Happens When Sea Level Rises?
- Cops say they're being poisoned by fentanyl. Experts say the risk is 'extremely low'
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- In some states, hundreds of thousands dropped from Medicaid
Ranking
- Finally, good retirement news! Southwest pilots' plan is a bright spot, experts say
- Kelsea Ballerini Takes Chase Stokes to Her Hometown for Latest Relationship Milestone
- Beyond the 'abortion pill': Real-life experiences of individuals taking mifepristone
- iCarly Cast Recalls Emily Ratajkowski's Hilarious Cameo
- As Trump Enters Office, a Ripe Oil and Gas Target Appears: An Alabama National Forest
- FDA changes rules for donating blood. Some say they're still discriminatory
- Stephen tWitch Boss' Autopsy Confirms He Had No Drugs or Alcohol in His System at Time of Death
- Could Exxon’s Climate Risk Disclosure Plan Derail Its Fight to Block State Probes?
Recommendation
Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
Robert Ballard found the Titanic wreckage in 1985. Here's how he discovered it and what has happened to its artifacts since.
‘Super-Pollutant’ Emitted by 11 Chinese Chemical Plants Could Equal a Climate Catastrophe
In some states, hundreds of thousands dropped from Medicaid
Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
Keep Up With Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson's Cutest Moments With True and Tatum
Alex Murdaugh Indicted on 22 Federal Charges Including Fraud and Money Laundering
Employers are upping their incentives to bring workers back to the office