The Ashley Benefield Trial

Court Junkie

PodcastOne

True Crime, News, Talk Radio, Government

4.8 • 8.6K Ratings

🗓️ 18 March 2025

⏱️ 87 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The prosecution and the defense in this case both agreed on one thing - Ashley Benefield shot and killed her estranged husband, 54-year-old Doug Benefield. But would the jury believe she was justified? Jon Keur of Wayfare Recording Co. provides post-production for the show. Gabrielle Russon researched and wrote this episode. Please subscribe to our other podcast, CIVIL, which covers civil cases and trials. Listen to the trailer here - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/civil/id1634071998 Sponsors in this episode: Fast Growing Trees - Go to fastgrowingtrees.com/courtjunkie and get 15% off your first purchase. Lume - New customers get 15% off ALL Lume products - go to LumeDeodorant.com and use code COURT. Quince - Go to Quince.com/Court for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Jon Keur of Wayfare Recording Co. provides post-production for the show Gabrielle Russon researched and wrote this episode. Please support Court Junkie with as little as $3 a month via Patreon.com/CourtJunkie to receive ad-free episodes. Help support Court Junkie with $6 a month and get access to bonus monthly episodes. Follow me on Twitter @CourtJunkiePod or Instagram at CourtJunkie

Transcript

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0:00.0	The former ballerina caught the older man's attention at the Donald Trump rally on August 25, 2016.
0:09.5	Ashley Byers had quit high school to dance, but a torn hamstring had destroyed her dreams.
0:16.0	Now, in 2016, she was working for the Trump campaign.
0:24.8	Doug Benefield was smitten with her, and within four days of meeting her at the rally, he professed his love to her. And Ashley was charmed by him,
0:31.8	too. Doug, who was recently widowed, was a Christian just like she was.
0:38.8	He was very confident in who he was, passionate about what he was doing for work.
0:48.4	He was fascinating to talk to you.
0:51.4	What was it, if you recall, in particular that attracted you to him, Ashley?
0:57.5	He was funny, very smart, charming. We just instantly clicked. Doug flew Ashley to South Carolina.
1:09.8	They had only known each other for 13 days when they eloped and got married.
1:14.4	Ashley was 24.
1:16.3	Doug was 54.
1:18.7	They eventually had a daughter.
1:21.4	At that point in your relationship, Ashley, describe for us the man you thought you'd married.
1:32.1	He was very loving and attentive.
1:46.8	He was always with me. We did everything together. We laughed a lot. And he made me feel very special and loved.
1:50.7	Did he turn out to be who you thought he was?
1:52.8	No, not at all.
1:58.0	On today's episode, I'm covering a tragic case out of Manatee County, Florida.
2:04.5	Doug Benefield was dead, and Ashley Benefield went on trial for his murder.
2:11.1	Both sides agreed that Ashley had killed him in their home in September 2020.
2:19.2	This case is about a woman who very early on in her pregnancy decided she wanted to be a single mother.
	...

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