Ashley Benefield, a 32-year-old ballerina from Florida, took the stand in what has come to be known as the “Black Swan Murder Trial,” where she faced accusations of murdering her husband, Douglas “Doug” Benefield. The incident occurred in their Lakewood Ranch home back in September 2020.
During her testimony on Friday, Ashley admitted to shooting the 58-year-old Navy veteran but claimed it was in self-defense. Prosecutors, however, argued she wanted to eliminate Doug from her and their daughter’s lives, willing to go to any lengths to achieve that.
Often becoming emotional during her statements, Ashley displayed visible signs of distress, shaking and even sobbing at various moments.
The Day of the Shooting
Leading up to the tragic event, Ashley said that Doug had been helping her pack a U-Haul truck for her upcoming move to Maryland, during which time they were separated. Tensions flared when she noticed Doug hadn’t arranged the items in the truck as per her instructions.
“Everything was mixed up,” she explained, leading to an argument during which Doug became “upset” and “aggressive.” She recalled him confronting her, demanding that she “act like a wife.” Ashley stated he cornered her, body checking her not once but twice that day and even jabbing her hip with a box.
The confrontation escalated quickly. “He started screaming at me and hurling insults,” she narrated. Doug reportedly told her, “I can see what you’re doing. You’re trying to get me to leave.” When Ashley attempted to exit the house, he physically restrained her by pulling her back and blocking the door.
After Doug allegedly hit her head, Ashley, startled since he had never struck her before, dashed to her bedroom to grab her gun. “He stood in the doorway, his face red and veins bulging in his neck. It was like he wasn’t even Doug anymore,” she recounted. Terrified, she aimed the weapon at him, stating, “I thought he was going to kill me.” As he advanced, she pulled the trigger, describing the ensuing chaos as she struggled to remember how many times she fired before seeing him on the ground.
Her testimony was so overwhelming that the court had to take a short break for her to regain her composure.
A Glimpse into Their Past
Ashley and Doug met in 2016 and quickly developed a close bond. “He was so confident, passionate about his work, and a captivating conversationalist,” Ashley said, reflecting on their early connection, despite their age gap of 30 years. Things moved fast; within four days, Doug professed his love, and the couple tied the knot just 13 days later. She described him as “loving and attentive,” emphasizing how much time they spent together, sharing laughter and affection.
However, when asked if Doug was the man she thought he was, Ashley’s response was a definitive “No, not at all.”
Signs of Abuse Emerge
Throughout her testimony, Ashley painted a troubling picture of Doug’s behavior, alleging a cycle of violence, verbal attacks, and even animal cruelty. “At times, he would just yell at me, hurling insults, or he’d break things around the house,” she explained. Doug had once claimed he was “lucky” to punch walls instead of her.
The prosecution presented text messages from Doug that included disturbingly violent language, like expressing a desire to “exterminate” others and feeling murderous due to nearby arguments. Ashley also recounted a frightening episode where Doug shot a hole in the ceiling and then threw the gun at her.
Reflecting on their marriage, she admitted, “I felt I made a huge mistake marrying him. It felt like a continuous nightmare where I never knew what to expect.” She characterized his behavior as “possessive, controlling, manipulative, aggressive, and unpredictable.” After becoming pregnant, Ashley moved back to Florida to live with her mother and attempted to file a domestic violence injunction. Despite reporting several incidents to the police, Doug never faced charges.
Moving On with Another Relationship
During cross-examination, prosecutor Suzanne O’Donnell inquired about another relationship Ashley had, which began after she told Doug she didn’t want him living with her mother. When asked if Doug filed for divorce upon discovering her new relationship, Ashley expressed uncertainty.
She clarified that she did not inform Doug of her new dating life, though he seemed to have found out regardless. “I think he was stalking me,” she stated. O’Donnell also asked Ashley about an “engagement ring” incident during a visit, to which she responded that she often wore rings and was unsure of what Doug might have seen on her finger.
Reenacting the Confrontation
In a dramatic moment, prosecutor O’Donnell instructed Ashley to demonstrate the confrontation prior to the shooting. Ashley stepped down from the witness stand to act out the events, illustrating how Doug blocked her path in the doorway as she pointed the gun at him. She also attempted to mimic how he adopted a “fighting pose,” despite admitting, “I’m not a fighter. It was just terrifying.”
The trial then resumed with additional witness testimonies starting on Monday.