MANATEE COUNTY, FL – Ashley Benefield, a 32-year-old former ballerina from Florida, is currently facing trial for the murder of her husband, Douglas Benefield, a 59-year-old wealthy GOP donor. Prosecutors allege that Ashley killed her husband in a calculated act, motivated by her desire to raise their young daughter as a single mother. Ashley, however, maintains that she acted in self-defense, claiming that she feared for her life after enduring years of abuse.
The case began in September 2020, during a heated custody battle between the couple. Ashley’s attorney, Neil Taylor, stated in his opening remarks to the jury that Ashley was forced to shoot Douglas out of fear for her own life. However, prosecutors argue that Douglas was shot while his back was turned to Ashley, suggesting a premeditated act rather than self-defense.
Assistant State Attorney Suzanne O’Donnell argued that Ashley had decided early in her pregnancy that she wanted to be a single mother and would stop at nothing to achieve that goal. The couple’s marriage was acknowledged by both sides to be irreparable by September 27, 2020, when police responded to a 911 call at Ashley’s mother’s home in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. Upon arrival, first responders found Douglas on a bedroom floor, having been shot three times.
Ashley claimed that her husband had attempted to attack her, but the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office disputed her account. According to an affidavit obtained by The Post, detectives found no evidence to support Ashley’s claim of self-defense. The affidavit also stated that Douglas did not appear to be facing Ashley when she began shooting and that he had no weapons on or near him.
The couple’s relationship began as a whirlwind romance. They met at a 2016 Republican Party fundraiser at Ben Carson’s Palm Beach mansion. Ashley, a trained dancer, and Douglas, a Navy veteran and successful technology consultant, married just two weeks after their initial meeting. Douglas financially supported Ashley’s dream of starting her own ballet company. However, their relationship soon soured, with allegations of infidelity and abuse, and their ballet company collapsed due to financial strain.
Throughout their four-year marriage, Ashley filed multiple abuse allegations against Douglas, including claims of physical violence towards their dog, shooting a gun to intimidate her, and even attempted poisoning. Prosecutors, however, argue that these allegations were part of a calculated strategy to gain sole custody of their child. A judge previously found no evidence of abuse by Douglas. The trial is expected to continue for more than two weeks.