Latest / 10 Minute Murder | Bingeable True Crime Stories
Black Swan Murder: The Trial of Ashley Benefield
Black Swan Murder: The Trial of Ashley Benefield
In Lakewood Ranch, Florida, on September 27, 2020, retired U.S. Navy intelligence officer Douglas Benefield was fatally shot by his wife, Ashley Benefield, a former professional ballerina and Trump campaign staffer. The Manatee County homicide investigation led to a July 2024 murder trial in which Ashley mounted a battered spouse syndrome defense, resulting in a manslaughter conviction and a 20-year prison sentence handed down December 3, 2024.
Doug and Ashley Benefield met at a Palm Beach political dinner in August 2016, and thirteen days…
The skinny
The skinny isn't ready yet — notes appear once the transcript is processed.