Current:Home > StocksBlack Swan Trial: TikToker Eva Benefield Reacts After Stepmom Is Found Guilty of Killing Her Dad -SecureWealth Vault
Black Swan Trial: TikToker Eva Benefield Reacts After Stepmom Is Found Guilty of Killing Her Dad
View
Date:2025-04-27 17:53:38
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! (39)
Related
- Federal appeals court upholds $14.25 million fine against Exxon for pollution in Texas
- Why Kristin Cavallari Thinks Celebs Like Kanye West and Britney Spears Have Been Cloned
- Horoscopes Today, October 15, 2024
- When do new episodes of 'The Lincoln Lawyer' come out? Season 3 release date, cast, how to watch
- Paige Bueckers vs. Hannah Hidalgo highlights women's basketball games to watch
- Bath & Body Works candle removed from stores for resemblance to KKK hood being sold on eBay
- Navajo leader calls for tribal vice president’s resignation amid political upheaval
- Texas set to execute Robert Roberson despite strong evidence of innocence. What to know.
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Navy parachutist crash lands on mother and daughter during San Francisco Fleet Week
Ranking
- Trump suggestion that Egypt, Jordan absorb Palestinians from Gaza draws rejections, confusion
- Coca-Cola recalls canned drink mislabeled as zero-sugar: Over 13,000 12-packs recalled
- Texas man facing execution in shaken baby syndrome case awaits clemency ruling
- Former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Jake E. Lee shot multiple times in Las Vegas
- Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
- Davante Adams trade grades, winners, losers: Who won between Jets, Raiders?
- 'In da clurb, we all fam' social media trend: What is it and where did it come from?
- JD Vance quips that Donald Trump will 'stop' rumored Skyline Chili ice cream flavor
Recommendation
2 killed, 3 injured in shooting at makeshift club in Houston
Federal judge is skeptical about taking away South Carolina governor’s clemency power
When does 'Fabulous Lives vs. Bollywood Wives' come out? Season 3 release date, cast
Hayley Erbert Returns to DWTS Alongside Husband Derek Hough After Near-Fatal Medical Emergency
Gen. Mark Milley's security detail and security clearance revoked, Pentagon says
Liam Payne's Family Honors His Brave Soul in Moving Tribute After Singer's Death
Horoscopes Today, October 15, 2024
Feds: Cyber masterminds targeted FBI, CNN, Hulu, Netflix, Microsoft, X in global plot