Who Is Ashley Benefield? Ballerina Accused Of Murder

Ashley Benefield is a 28 year old former ballerina from Charleston, South Carolina. She has been accused of murdering her husband Doug Benefield, 58 years old.

Ashley Benefield was the founder of the American National Ballet

The case of Ashley Benefield and Doug Benefield was featured on CBS’ 48 Hours as “The Black Swan Murder?”

Ashley Benefield Murder Accusation

Ashley Benefield Charged With Murder In November 2020. “A 28-year-old woman in Lakewood Ranch is facing a second degree murder charge in her husband’s death. Following a five week investigation, detectives developed probable cause to issue a warrant for Ashley Benefield’s arrest. ” [WFLA]

Couple Married 13 Days After Meeting, Had 30 Year Age Difference. “Doug was 54 and worked as a consultant for technology companies and government contractors. The couple married 13 days later in his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, in front of very few guests” [CBS]

Ashley Accused Doug Of Murdering His First Wife. “Ashley unleashed a number of accusations against Doug. She claimed he was poisoning her with tea and accused him of poisoning his wife Renee, who had died of a heart ailment. Her claims were investigated but nothing was found to substantiate the charges.” [CBS]

Ashley Claimed She Shot Husband After Abuse, Police Said They Found No Evidence. “In the course of the investigation detectives determined Ashley shot Doug, during what she had described was as a domestic argument. However detectives found no evidence that she was acting in self-defense when she fired multiple shots at her husband. She claimed he was attacking her, but detectives found no signs that she had been physically abused.” [Manatee Sheriff]

Police Fond Doug Still Alive On Scene. “Deputies arrived at the scene to find Doug still alive in Ashley’s bedroom, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, according to an affidavit obtained by Oxygen.com. The 58-year-old had been shot once in the leg. Another bullet struck him the right bicep and entered into his chest.” [Oxygen]

Couple Was In The Middle Of Custody Battle. “The couple had been separated and were in the midst of a custody battle involving their daughter. Ashley was staying at her mother’s home in the Central Park neighborhood, while Doug resided at another address. Doug came over to see Ashley that day and were the only ones at the Central Park home when the shooting occurred.” [Manatee Sheriff]

Judge Had Ruled That Doug Had Rights To See Child Before Shooting. “The police affidavit alleges that Ashley previously filed an injunction against her husband in an attempt to keep the child away from him, but the judge overseeing the case “openly advised that she did not find Ashley’s story to possess a ‘scintilla of truth,’ ” and ordered that Douglas have visitation rights.” [People]