Current:Home > NewsBlack Swan Trial: TikToker Eva Benefield Reacts After Stepmom Is Found Guilty of Killing Her Dad -消息
Black Swan Trial: TikToker Eva Benefield Reacts After Stepmom Is Found Guilty of Killing Her Dad
View
Date:2025-04-14 05:36:49
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! (56937)
Related
- 'Kraven the Hunter' spoilers! Let's dig into that twisty ending, supervillain reveal
- Will Travis Kelce attend the VMAs to support Taylor Swift? Here's what to know
- Kyle Larson expected to return to Indianapolis 500 for another shot at ‘The Double’ in 2025
- Kyle Larson expected to return to Indianapolis 500 for another shot at ‘The Double’ in 2025
- Apple iOS 18.2: What to know about top features, including Genmoji, AI updates
- Rachel Zoe and Husband Rodger Berman Break Up, Divorcing After 26 Years of Marriage
- The iPhone 16, new AirPods and other highlights from Apple’s product showcase
- Commanders release kicker Cade York after two misses in season opener
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- Rebecca Cheptegei Case: Ex Accused of Setting Olympian on Fire Dies From Injuries Sustained in Attack
Ranking
- Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
- Maryland Supreme Court hears arguments on child sex abuse lawsuits
- Sarah Hyland Loves Products That Make Her Life Easier -- Check Out Her Must-Haves & Couch Rot Essentials
- Tyreek Hill knee injury: What we know (and don't) about surgery mentioned in police footage
- 'Most Whopper
- 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice' has a refreshingly healthy take on grief and death
- Jury selection enters day 2 in the trial of 3 Memphis officers charged in Tyre Nichols’ death
- Ryan Seacrest debuts as 'Wheel of Fortune' host with Vanna White by his side
Recommendation
'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
Five charged with kidnapping migrants in US to demand families pay ransom
Black Eyed Peas to debut AI member inspired by 'empress' Taylor Swift at Vegas residency
Kentucky shooting suspect faces 5 counts of attempted murder; search intensifies
A Mississippi company is sentenced for mislabeling cheap seafood as premium local fish
Amber Alert issued in North Carolina for 3-year-old Khloe Marlow: Have you seen her?
Who is David Muir? What to know about the ABC anchor and moderator of Harris-Trump debate
Death of 3-year-old girl left in vehicle for hours in triple-digit Arizona heat under investigation