Ashley Benefield, who was arrest in 2020 on suspected of murder in connections with the death of her spouse. She was known the "Black Swan" of the media for the last few year. Benefield acknowledges that she murder her husband by shooting him, but she disputes the prosecutions accusation that she kill him, arguing that she was compell to defend herself because of his alleged abuse.

Ashley portrayal of her relationship with Doug Benefield is not supported by his family, who maintain that he was never abusive to her. The terrible irony in a story involving ambitions, love, and violences is that the dramatic case has left two childrens. Her own daughter and the daughter of her late, estrange husband without their parent.

In an exclusives interview Benefield said, "I simply know that there are women all over the country, all over the world, who have gone over or are going through difficult time behind closed door." "I want to do my part to share my story with other womens who may or may not experiences something similar in the futures."

Doug Benefields cousin Tommie Benefield says to ABC News, "Doug never physically touch her. He never verbally abuse her." "He would be furious, but he never express his anger inappropriately." From an early age, Ashley Benefield shown remarkable skill in ballet. She had a brief professional career before having to give up dancing due to an injury sustained in her early 20s. 

In that capacity, Benefield went to a fundraiser at the house of retire neurologist Dr. Ben Carson, where she met thirty years her senior, businessman Doug Benefield. Doug was a former Navy flight lieutenant. Their similar interest in politics, gun and religion help the two get along.

Benefield accept an offer to work as a staff member on Donald Trump's 2016 candidacy when her dancing career came to an end. Eva Benefield, the fourteen year old daughter of Doug Benefield, was taken aback by the sudden marriages, as her mother Renee Benefield, the former husband of Doug, has died nine month prior.

Because I had a lot of faith in my dad and saw how joyful and excited he seemed, I decide to have an open mind and accept the fact that he was grieving in a different way than I was. According to Eva Benefield, "if that mean he wanted someone in his life to keep him company rather than necessarily fill the role of my mom, then I was happy," Benefield said to ABC News. Thirteen days later of their first meet, they both married.

Doug Benefield and Ashley Ashley found the American National Ballet Company. After only a year, the group disbanded, leaving approximately fifty international dancer with unfulfilled expectation. The Benefields marriage fail along with the dance company. As the dance companys financial strain increase, strained relationships between Ashley and Eva contribute to what Ashley Benefield described as a collapsing home atmosphere. Doug "would yell and scream and cuss," according to Ashley.

"After taking the gun out, he begans to wave it around." He threw me the guns. He threatened to take his own life if I left. I asked him to refrain. The bullet enter the ceiling when he press the trigger, according to Ashley. Ashley compare it to the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, saying that one minute everything would be joyful and fine, and the next he will be out of control. Ashley claim that Doug become more violent. she remember an instance in which they argue.

Ashley become pregnant with the couple child during this period. Ashley move to Florida to live with her mother, Alicia, since she was having a really tough pregnancy, according to Ashley. Ashley request a restraining order against Doug while she was there. Ashley gave birth to their son Emerson in the beginning of 2018, but she didn't tell Doug. He didn't see the birth and didn't get to meet his child until she was six months old. The relationship between Ashley and Doug resulted in legal disputes, accusations of abuse, and poisoning.

Ashley claimed that Doug had poison her, and the pair called opposing toxicology expert to testify at a subsequent court hearing. In the end, the judge side with Doug and his experts, who contest Ashleys sides test results. Judge Diana Moreland declare at the hearing, "There was not a single scintilla of credible evidence that Ms. Benefield has ever been poisoned."

Eventually, Ashley pack up her things and left the couples house to live in Florida with her mother. Additionally, she contact a domestic abuse organization and made contact with Barbara Russell, a therapist who became into a reliable friends and supporters. According to Russell, ABC News, "the majority of domestic violences case are subtle, involving tactic like financial control, isolation, and verbal abuse threat that the victim may not always see." However, the victims is not often awares that these are sign of abuse.

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Prosecutors counter that Ashley had never experienced this kind of maltreatment. "In my opinion, Ashley was misusing a system intended to support victim. Prosecutor Suzanne O Donnell stated, "It set everyone back and make it so much harder for those people that really are victim." Ashley claim that their back and forth communication was perplexing. She say that even though Doug was erratic and violent at time, she made an effort to keep thing together. "I didn't want to experience a disintegrating marriage," stated Ashley Benefield. "I really put it on myself that I could figure it out, that I could support him, and that thing would change if I love him enough in the right way."

According to Dougs relative, he also state that he want to mend his connection with Ashley. According to Tommie Benefield, "his strong belief was that he is supposed to be a wonderful husband, he is supposed to save this woman, that she is redeemable." "DOUG would always tell everyone he knew, I think I can pull this off."

Recalling the moments, Ashley Benefield said, "I thoughts he was going to kill me." Ashley pull her revolver out, but she says Doug came at her, so she fire four shot, striking him twice. After hearing the gunshots, Ashleys neighbors claimed to have seen her frantically leaving the site. Doug Benefield was discover by emergency personnel with lethal gunshot wound, and the hospital declare him as a dead.

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In an interview Ashley Benefield stated, "I don't know how to convinces peoples." "I am aware that it was the very last thing I desire. I was frightened. Everything happen in a flash. Ashley tells Doug Benefields family what happened that night, but they don't believes her. Why people have not wanted to believes me is beyond me. He seemed to have told me that no one would ever trusts me from the very beginnings. It seems like I cry when I shouldn't and at the wrong moments. I've received so much criticism from so many source.

Doug Benefields cousin Tommie Benefield stated, "No one in any way believe the story of Doug attacking Ashley and her shooting him out of fears." Despite everything Ashley had done to him, Doug still love Ashley. Despite all of the allegation. Law enforcement had doubts regarding Ashleys account of events after looking into the murder scenes and the medical examiners report describing Dougs injurie. Prosecutor Suzanne O Donnell and Rebecca Freel, who spoke with media, questioned why there was two gun in the mostly empty house and expressed doubt about the self defense argument given the available physical evidences.

According to O Donnell, ABC News, "We found it suspicious that someones would have two gun readily accessible in an empty room when everything else is in a U Haul truck." Investigators believe Ashleys account of self defense to be false because the fatal gunshot entered Doug Benefields chest on the right side, according to the Medical Examiners report. According to O Donnell, "the entrance wound to the fatal shots would not be in the side if someone were coming at you or attack you."

In order to bolster their claims that Doug was not lunging toward Ashley when she pulled the trigger, the prosecution also cited forensic evidence found at the scenes. Dougs shirt did not have any stippling on it. That informed us that the guns barrel was at least three to seven feet away. Therefore, they were not locked together in a battle scenario where it was life or deaths, according to O Donnell.

Ashley was accuse with murder in the second degree. She made a not guilty plea. Prosecutors claim that the case has brought attentions to the ongoing family court battle over the couple daughters custody and that a psychological assessment that was finish shortly before their intended move and related to the ongoing conflict may have reveal Ashleys true motivation. The prosecution contend that the assessment would have demonstrated Ashleys lack of desires to makes amends with Doug, even if she had told him differently. They said that Ashley was using the upcoming move to Maryland as a means of exerting controls over their childs destiny.

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After that, Ashley Benefield went to trials. A jury found Ashley Benefield guilty of manslaughter, the lesser penalty, following a six day trial. She was taken into jail right away, leaving her 6 year old daughter Emerson behind. Ashleys allie bemoaned what they perceived as an injustice. Alicia Byers, Ashleys mother, claimed that Ashley act desperately in response to a life threatening circumstance. "I have no doubts whatsoever that my daughter would not be alive today if she hadn't had her gun that evening." Byers affirmed, "I'm positive about it.

Ashley Benefield will be sentenced on October 22 and could spend up to 30 years behind bars.

Ashleys legal team has made multiple motion alleging wrongdoing by the jury and prosecutions as well as a request for a fresh trials. September 16 has been set aside for a hearing on these matter. The claims are refuted by the prosecution.