“Jade Benning’s Final Call”: 48 Hours Reports October 31 2026
CBS’s 48 Hours investigates the murders of Nashville chef Jade Benning and her unborn daughter, Ivy, in “Jade Benning’s Final Call,” airing Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Correspondent Natalie Morales examines how a planned date night between Benning and her boyfriend, former Tennessee Titans scout Blaise Taylor, ended in a medical emergency that claimed two lives and led to a double-murder prosecution.
The all-new episode centres on a six-minute telephone conversation between Benning and her childhood friend Nijaiha Jackson on February 25, 2023. During the call, Benning accused Taylor of putting something in her drink, complained that she could not feel her legs and expressed fear that he had attempted to harm her unborn daughter. Within minutes, Taylor called 911 and reported that his girlfriend was suffering an allergic reaction.
Benning, a 24-year-old professional chef who was approximately five months pregnant, was rushed to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Her unborn daughter died on February 27, and Benning died on March 6, 2023, her 25th birthday. Medical evidence established that Benning suffered acute cocaine toxicity, while prosecutors alleged that Taylor had placed a lethal quantity of the drug in her pink lemonade because he did not want the child.
Following a trial in Nashville, a jury convicted Taylor on July 1, 2026, of four murder-related counts involving Benning and Ivy. He was sentenced on September 9 to two consecutive life terms, with an additional 22-year sentence merged into one of the murder convictions. Taylor maintained his innocence, and his attorneys announced plans to appeal.
- Who Was Jade Benning & What Happened to Her? 2026 Update & Profile
- Who Is Blaise Taylor & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile
Who Was Jade Benning?
Jade Benning was a professionally trained chef who had moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to build her career and establish an independent life. At 24, she had developed a close circle of friends and was preparing for the birth of her first child.
Friends and relatives described Benning as an outgoing woman with a passion for cooking, creativity and the people in her life. Her career as a chef was an important part of her identity, and she had ambitions for her future in the food industry.
Benning maintained friendships dating back to childhood. Among her closest friends was Nijaiha Jackson, whom she had known since the age of six. Their relationship became central to the criminal investigation because Jackson was the person Benning contacted during the final minutes before she lost consciousness.
Her family included her mother, Bridget Benning Burks, father Dennis Browning and stepfather Lyn Burks. They would spend the days following the medical emergency at the hospital as doctors attempted to save Benning and her unborn daughter.
By early 2023, Benning was expecting a baby girl whom she planned to name Ivy. She had begun preparing a nursery and purchasing items for the child’s arrival.
Her pregnancy represented an important new chapter in her life. According to testimony and accounts from people close to her, Benning intended to raise her daughter and had begun making plans for their future.
How Jade Benning Met Blaise Taylor
Benning met Blaise Taylor through the dating application Hinge in August 2022. Taylor had played college football at Arkansas State University and established a career in professional football scouting.
The son of football coach Trooper Taylor, Blaise had been a standout defensive back and team captain at Arkansas State. He later worked for the Tennessee Titans’ scouting department for approximately four years.
Their relationship began during a period when Taylor was building his career in the National Football League and Benning was establishing herself in Nashville.
According to evidence presented during the murder trial, the relationship became strained when Benning learned she was pregnant.
Prosecutors alleged that Taylor did not want to become a father and had encouraged Benning to terminate the pregnancy. Benning maintained that she intended to have the baby, regardless of whether Taylor remained involved.
The couple experienced a period of limited contact before resuming communication in early 2023. By February, they were spending time together and discussing preparations for their daughter’s arrival.
Prosecutors would argue that Taylor’s opposition to the pregnancy provided a motive for the poisoning. His defence disputed the prosecution’s account and maintained that he had not murdered Benning or the child.
Jade Benning’s Pregnancy and Plans for Baby Ivy
At the time of her death, Benning was approximately five months pregnant with a daughter she had named Ivy.
She had shared her pregnancy with friends and family and was making preparations for the baby’s arrival. Photographs showed her holding ultrasound images and celebrating the pregnancy.
Benning had also begun decorating a nursery, choosing artwork and other items intended for her daughter’s room.
Her childhood friend Nijaiha Jackson visited her apartment on February 25, 2023, and later testified that Benning appeared happy and excited about the baby.
The visit included conversations about the nursery and the plans Benning had made for her daughter.
The contrast between those preparations and the events that followed became an important part of the prosecution’s case. Prosecutors argued that Benning was committed to continuing the pregnancy and had no reason to consume a dangerous quantity of cocaine.
The defence challenged the prosecution’s conclusions about the circumstances of the poisoning, arguing that the evidence did not prove Taylor had administered the drug.
The Date Night on February 25, 2023
On Saturday, February 25, 2023, Benning and Taylor planned an evening together at her Nashville apartment.
The couple prepared dinner and took part in a painting activity intended to produce artwork for their daughter’s nursery.
Earlier that evening, Nijaiha Jackson and another friend visited Benning. The women spoke about the pregnancy and the nursery before leaving the couple alone.
Benning and Taylor continued their date night, creating paintings and taking photographs of their work.
Benning’s painting featured bright colours and words associated with positive emotions, including love, hope and peace.
Taylor produced a darker painting using black and grey tones. According to testimony and reporting from the trial, he described the artwork as a black hole, explaining that its appearance suggested increasing depth.
Photographs taken during the evening showed the couple with their artwork. The images later became part of the evidence examined by investigators.
The prosecution focused on what happened after the painting activity, when Benning began experiencing symptoms that led her to suspect something had been placed in her drink.
The Six-Minute Phone Call That Became Critical Evidence
At approximately 9:29 p.m., Nijaiha Jackson received a telephone call from Benning.
Jackson testified that her friend sounded frightened and was confronting Taylor about something she believed had been placed in her beverage.
According to Jackson, Benning asked Taylor what he had put in her drink and complained that it tasted unusual.
Jackson recalled hearing Benning accuse Taylor of attempting to harm her because he did not want the baby.
Benning also reported losing feeling in her legs and having difficulty moving.
As the conversation continued, Jackson said her friend’s speech became slurred and her ability to communicate deteriorated.
The call lasted approximately six minutes. Jackson’s testimony became one of the most important elements of the prosecution’s case because it described Benning’s condition and accusations during the period preceding her collapse.
The conversation was not presented as a conventional recording of Benning’s final words. The jury heard Jackson’s recollection of what she had heard during the call.
Prosecutors argued that the statements demonstrated Benning’s awareness that something was wrong and supported the allegation that she had been poisoned without her consent.
Blaise Taylor’s 911 Call and the Medical Emergency
At approximately 9:38 p.m., Taylor called 911 to request emergency assistance for Benning.
He told the dispatcher that his girlfriend appeared to be experiencing an allergic reaction.
Emergency responders arrived at the apartment and found Benning unresponsive. According to testimony and reporting from the case, she was lying face down across a bed and had no detectable pulse.
Paramedics began resuscitation efforts and transported her to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Doctors discovered that Benning had suffered a catastrophic medical event resulting in severe brain damage.
Her condition prevented her from speaking with investigators or providing an account of what had happened after the telephone conversation with Jackson.
Medical testing identified a high concentration of cocaine in her system.
The findings raised questions about how the drug had entered her body and whether she had consumed it voluntarily.
Investigators examined Taylor’s account of the emergency, the timing of his call and the physical evidence recovered from the apartment.
The difference between Taylor’s description of an allergic reaction and the medical findings became part of the prosecution’s case.
The Death of Baby Ivy on February 27
Benning’s unborn daughter, Ivy, was also affected by the medical emergency.
Doctors attempted to manage the complications of Benning’s condition while monitoring the pregnancy.
On February 27, 2023, two days after Benning was admitted to hospital, Ivy died.
The death devastated Benning’s family, who had been preparing to welcome the child.
The pregnancy was an important part of the prosecution’s case because Tennessee law allowed prosecutors to bring homicide charges in connection with the death of the unborn child.
Investigators examined whether the cocaine toxicity that caused Benning’s medical collapse had also caused Ivy’s death.
The prosecution alleged that Taylor’s actions were responsible for both deaths and that his opposition to the pregnancy provided a motive.
The jury would later convict Taylor of first-degree premeditated murder and first-degree felony murder in connection with Ivy’s death.
Jade Benning’s Death on Her 25th Birthday
Benning remained hospitalised after the death of her daughter.
Her family continued receiving medical updates as doctors assessed the extent of the brain damage caused by the poisoning.
She did not recover consciousness sufficiently to communicate with investigators.
On March 6, 2023, Benning died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
The date was her 25th birthday.
Her death came nine days after the medical emergency at her apartment and seven days after Ivy’s death.
For Benning’s parents, the loss involved both their daughter and a granddaughter they had expected to meet within months.
The circumstances of her death led investigators to examine whether the medical emergency was the result of an intentional poisoning.
The subsequent autopsy and toxicology findings became central to the criminal case against Taylor.
What the Autopsy Revealed About Jade Benning’s Death
Medical evidence established that Benning died from acute cocaine toxicity.
Toxicology testing revealed a high concentration of cocaine in her system, and medical testimony addressed the severity of the poisoning.
Prosecutors argued that the amount of cocaine was inconsistent with ordinary recreational use and supported the conclusion that Benning had consumed a substantial dose dissolved in a beverage.
The medical examiner’s findings became important because investigators were attempting to determine how the cocaine had entered her body.
The prosecution alleged that Taylor placed the drug in Benning’s pink lemonade during their date night.
According to that theory, Benning consumed the drink without knowing it contained cocaine and began experiencing symptoms as the drug took effect.
The defence disputed the allegation of deliberate poisoning and argued that Benning had consumed drugs voluntarily.
Jurors were required to consider the medical findings alongside the witness testimony and other circumstantial evidence.
The prosecution’s case did not depend on a witness seeing Taylor place cocaine in the drink. Instead, prosecutors assembled a case from Benning’s statements, medical findings, relationship evidence and the circumstances of the emergency.
The Missing Drink and Evidence From the Apartment
Investigators examined photographs taken during the couple’s date night to reconstruct the events preceding Benning’s collapse.
A beverage container visible in photographs became an area of interest because prosecutors alleged that Benning had consumed cocaine dissolved in pink lemonade.
According to reporting on the trial, a cup associated with the evening was not recovered when investigators searched the apartment.
The absence of the container limited the ability of forensic specialists to test the drink itself for cocaine.
Investigators also examined the condition of the apartment and evidence suggesting that cleaning had taken place.
Prosecutors argued that the physical circumstances supported their theory of deliberate poisoning and efforts to conceal evidence.
The defence challenged the conclusions drawn from the missing container and the apartment’s condition.
Because investigators did not recover the alleged poisoned drink for direct testing, the prosecution relied on other evidence to establish that Taylor had administered the cocaine.
That distinction became important during the trial, with the defence arguing that the evidence did not prove how Benning had consumed the drug.
Why Prosecutors Believed Blaise Taylor Poisoned Jade Benning
Prosecutors alleged that Taylor intentionally placed cocaine in Benning’s pink lemonade because he did not want her to continue the pregnancy.
They presented evidence concerning the couple’s relationship, Taylor’s response to the pregnancy and Benning’s determination to have the baby.
According to the prosecution, Taylor had encouraged Benning to terminate the pregnancy and had expressed reluctance about becoming a father.
The state argued that his return to Benning’s life in early 2023 did not mean he had accepted the pregnancy.
Prosecutors also relied on Jackson’s account of Benning’s telephone call, during which Benning accused Taylor of putting something in her drink and attempting to harm the baby.
The medical evidence established cocaine toxicity, while the prosecution argued that the timing and severity of Benning’s symptoms were consistent with a substantial dose administered during the date night.
The state presented the case as an intentional poisoning rather than an accidental overdose.
Taylor’s attorneys denied that he had poisoned Benning and maintained that the evidence did not establish his responsibility for the deaths.
The Testimony About an Alleged Abortion Pill Discussion
The prosecution also presented testimony from a former girlfriend of Taylor concerning statements he had made about another woman’s pregnancy.
According to reporting from the trial, the witness testified that Taylor had discussed the possibility of placing an abortion pill in a woman’s drink.
The testimony was offered as part of the prosecution’s attempt to establish Taylor’s attitudes toward pregnancy and the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Benning and Ivy.
The allegation concerned a separate conversation and did not establish that Taylor had administered an abortion pill to anyone.
The defence challenged the relevance and significance of the testimony, arguing that it did not prove the alleged poisoning of Benning.
Jurors were required to evaluate the witness’s account alongside the evidence concerning the February 2023 incident.
The prosecution maintained that the testimony supported its theory of motive, while the defence argued that the case remained dependent on circumstantial evidence.
Blaise Taylor’s Football Career Before His Arrest
Before the murder prosecution, Taylor had established a career in American football.
He played defensive back at Arkansas State University, where he became a team captain and earned recognition for his academic and athletic achievements.
His father, Trooper Taylor, worked as a college football coach, including a period as an assistant coach at Auburn University.
After his playing career, Blaise Taylor joined the Tennessee Titans’ scouting department.
He spent approximately four years working for the NFL franchise, developing experience in player evaluation and football operations.
Following his departure from the Titans, Taylor relocated to Utah and worked as a defensive analyst for the University of Utah football programme.
He was employed in that role when investigators arrested him in March 2024.
His professional background attracted national attention because the murder charges involved a former NFL scout who had worked in professional and college football.
Blaise Taylor’s March 2024 Arrest
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department investigated the deaths of Benning and Ivy over the months following the February 2023 emergency.
Detectives reviewed medical records, toxicology findings, witness statements and information about the couple’s relationship.
Investigators also examined the accounts provided by Taylor and Benning’s friends concerning the events of February 25.
In March 2024, a Davidson County grand jury returned an indictment charging Taylor in connection with both deaths.
Taylor was arrested in Utah on March 14, 2024, while working in college football.
Authorities arranged for his return to Tennessee to face prosecution.
He denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty.
The case proceeded through pretrial hearings and preparations before reaching a jury in June 2026.
The June 2026 Murder Trial in Nashville
Taylor’s trial began in Nashville in June 2026 and continued into July.
The prosecution presented evidence over approximately 10 trial days, including testimony from medical specialists, investigators and people who knew Benning.
One of the central witnesses was Nijaiha Jackson, who described the telephone call she received shortly before Benning lost consciousness.
Jurors heard Jackson’s account of Benning accusing Taylor of putting something in her drink, complaining about its taste and expressing concern for her baby.
Medical witnesses explained the toxicology findings and the effects of cocaine poisoning.
The prosecution also examined Taylor’s account of the emergency and the evidence concerning his relationship with Benning.
The trial received national coverage, including live courtroom broadcasts by Court TV.
Prosecutors Jan Norman, Roger Moore and Kendall Ponchillia represented the Davidson County District Attorney’s Office.
Taylor’s defence team challenged the prosecution’s interpretation of the evidence and maintained that he had not committed murder.
How Blaise Taylor’s Defence Challenged the Prosecution
Taylor’s attorneys argued that the evidence did not prove he had administered cocaine to Benning.
The defence maintained that Benning could have consumed drugs voluntarily and that her death resulted from an overdose rather than deliberate poisoning.
They questioned the prosecution’s reliance on circumstantial evidence, including the missing drink container and the testimony concerning Benning’s final telephone call.
The defence also challenged the conclusions drawn from Taylor’s response to the pregnancy and the couple’s relationship history.
Attorneys argued that the prosecution had not produced direct evidence showing Taylor placing cocaine in a beverage.
They maintained that the state had failed to eliminate reasonable alternative explanations for how the drug entered Benning’s system.
The prosecution countered that the combination of medical evidence, Benning’s statements and the circumstances of the evening established Taylor’s responsibility.
Jurors were asked to determine whether the evidence proved the charged offences beyond a reasonable doubt.
The July 1, 2026 Guilty Verdict
On July 1, 2026, a Davidson County jury found Blaise Taylor guilty on all four murder-related counts.
The jury returned its verdict in less than two hours, including a lunch break, according to the Davidson County District Attorney’s Office.
Taylor was convicted of second-degree murder in Benning’s death and first-degree premeditated murder in Ivy’s death.
He was also convicted of first-degree felony murder in connection with each death.
The verdict established his criminal responsibility for both deaths under Tennessee law.
The first-degree premeditated murder conviction concerned the unborn child, while the second-degree murder conviction concerned Benning.
The felony-murder convictions provided additional legal grounds for the jury’s findings.
The Davidson County District Attorney’s Office described the case as one of Nashville’s most prominent murder prosecutions in recent years.
Benning’s family expressed relief following the verdict and thanked prosecutors for pursuing the case.
Taylor maintained his innocence, and his attorneys indicated that they would challenge the convictions.
Blaise Taylor’s September 2026 Sentencing
Taylor returned to court on September 9, 2026, for sentencing before Judge Steve Dozier.
The hearing included victim impact statements from Benning’s family, who described the consequences of losing both Jade and Ivy.
Benning’s mother, Bridget Benning Burks, spoke about the fear her daughter experienced before losing consciousness and the pain of knowing that Jade had believed she was safe with someone she trusted.
She also described the loss of her granddaughter, whom the family had expected to welcome into their lives.
Taylor’s defence presented character evidence, including 87 letters from former teammates, coaches, friends and other supporters.
The prosecution argued that those statements did not diminish the seriousness of the crimes established by the jury’s verdict.
Judge Dozier imposed two consecutive life sentences.
The court also imposed a 22-year sentence for the second-degree murder conviction, which was merged with another count for sentencing purposes.
The life sentences represented the principal punishment imposed for the deaths of Benning and Ivy.
Taylor’s attorneys criticised the outcome and announced plans to appeal.
Where Is Blaise Taylor Now?
As of October 2026, Blaise Taylor is in Tennessee custody following his convictions for murdering Jade Benning and their unborn daughter.
He received two consecutive life sentences in September 2026 and faces a lengthy period of imprisonment.
The precise correctional facility where Taylor is being held has not been established in the material available for this article.
His defence attorney, Letitia Quinones-Hollins, stated after sentencing that the legal team intended to appeal.
The convictions and sentences remain in effect unless changed through subsequent court proceedings.
Taylor has maintained his innocence despite the jury’s verdict.
The prosecution’s case concluded with convictions on all four murder-related counts, bringing the criminal trial to an end more than three years after the deaths.
How Jade Benning’s Family Responded to the Verdict
Benning’s family attended the trial and sentencing proceedings, hearing testimony about the final hours of her life and the medical circumstances of her death.
Her mother, Bridget Benning Burks, delivered a victim impact statement describing the emotional consequences of losing her daughter and granddaughter.
She spoke about Benning’s awareness that something was wrong during the final minutes before she lost consciousness.
The family also described the pain of knowing that Ivy would never be born and that Benning would not have the opportunity to raise her daughter.
Benning’s father, Dennis Browning, and stepfather, Lyn Burks, were among the relatives who participated in the family’s efforts to seek justice.
Following the guilty verdict, relatives expressed appreciation for the investigators and prosecutors who had pursued the case.
The sentencing provided a legal outcome but could not restore the lives lost in February and March 2023.
Benning’s family has continued remembering her as a daughter, friend and chef whose career and plans for motherhood ended before her 25th birthday.
The Evidence That Made Jade Benning’s Final Call So Important
The telephone conversation between Benning and Nijaiha Jackson became one of the defining pieces of evidence in the prosecution.
Jackson’s testimony described Benning’s condition during the period immediately preceding her collapse.
The call provided jurors with an account of Benning accusing Taylor of putting something in her drink and expressing concern that he intended to harm her unborn child.
Her complaints about the beverage’s taste, difficulty moving and loss of feeling in her legs were considered alongside the medical evidence of cocaine toxicity.
Prosecutors argued that the statements demonstrated Benning’s lack of knowledge about the drug and her belief that Taylor had caused her condition.
The defence challenged whether the statements established that Taylor had administered cocaine.
Because Benning never recovered sufficiently to speak with investigators, Jackson’s recollection became the principal account of what Benning said during the final minutes before the medical emergency.
The jury ultimately accepted the prosecution’s case and convicted Taylor of the murders.
What 48 Hours: Jade Benning’s Final Call Will Examine
CBS’s 48 Hours revisits the investigation in “Jade Benning’s Final Call,” airing Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
Correspondent Natalie Morales examines the relationship between Benning and Taylor, the events of February 25, 2023, and the telephone conversation that became central to the prosecution.
The episode includes interviews with Benning’s mother Bridget Benning Burks, father Dennis Browning, stepfather Lyn Burks and childhood friend Nijaiha Jackson.
Taylor’s mother, Evi Taylor, and sister, Starr Taylor, also participate, providing perspectives from his family.
Morales interviews Davidson County prosecutors Jan Norman, Roger Moore and Kendall Ponchillia, along with defence attorneys Letitia Quinones-Hollins and Jim Sanders.
The programme examines the medical evidence, witness testimony and competing explanations presented during Taylor’s trial.
The case concluded with convictions for the deaths of both Benning and Ivy and the imposition of two consecutive life sentences.
For Benning’s family, the outcome followed more than three years of investigation and court proceedings after a planned date night ended in the deaths of a young chef and her unborn daughter.
“Jade Benning’s Final Call” airs Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CBS and streams on Paramount+.
More “Jade Benning’s Final Call”
- “Jade Benning’s Final Call”: 48 Hours Reports October 31 2026
- Who Was Jade Benning & What Happened to Her? 2026 Update & Profile
- Who Is Blaise Taylor & Where Is He Now? 2026 Update & Profile
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