Black Swan Murder Trial: Ashley Benefield (Pt 1 of 4)

The Black Swan Murder Trial (Part 1): The Start of The Fairytale



Retired Navy pilot Doug Benefield lost his wife from heart complications in December of 2015, when their daughter Eva was only 14 years old. 

Nine months later, Doug meets Ashley Byers at a political fundraiser. After only 13 days, the 54 year old businessman marries the 24 year old former ballerina, during a secret ceremony in Charleston, South Carolina. 



Together they founded American National Ballet company, but after less than a year of marriage, Ashley walked out on Doug, and the company, on the day it was set to launch. 



Less than one year together resulted in three years of court and custody battles. There were allegations of domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, and even poisoning. In September of 2020, Doug was at Ashley's mom's house, helping load a U-Haul to move across country, when Ashley shot and killed him. She claimed self-defense, though she had no injuries and said Doug had never hit her before. Was this self-defense in a toxic relationship, or a murder over custody battle?