GUILTY FL - Doug Benefield, 58, shot and killed by estranged wife, Manatee County, 27 Sept 2020

[turaj]

She won’t have a problem finding a man. Perhaps not a wealthy one though. She’s clearly not that savvy at picking wealthy men. But perhaps she was just young and naive. Although I doubt that wealthy, well-connected men are looking among the 40yo felon pool for wives. Lol. She had her chance and she blew it for sure. I don’t know why she would’ve been so desperate to have a child with Doug. When she could’ve divorced him and found someone wealthy easily, I think. JMO

ETA: Her motivations from start to finish are baffling to me. She’s not a borderline like Jodi Arias because she would’ve never left Doug if she were. She seems to be delusional certainly.

her motivations in the very beginning are understandable. They bonded with similar choice in political party and Trump in particular and he opened some new doors to her...then the promise of the ballet school...on and on..then it goes sort of sinister with his agreeing to reverse the vasectomy and they have this child. She seemed to then want nothing to do with him and did not even put his name on the birth certificate. Still at that point she could have gotten another man.. probably would have been glad to raise the child with her. She is a striking woman if you look at some of her photos from before all of this. But she loved her guns and DB did display some real abusive behaviors in my opinion....and she got more and more into a plot to get rid of him...I am now starting to even think it was planned the more than comes out. I did not think that during the trial. Justice was done.

 

[turaj]

I also need to correct something I said before. It seems Doug didn’t abandon Eva at 15 to run off to be with AB. By the time Doug was planning his move to Maryland via Florida Eva was 18 and heading to college. So it makes sense that he was desperate to work things out with AB. He likely didn’t want to be alone and wanted a family again. It’s all very sad!

JMO

In a way from the description of his behavior and being obsessed with AB so quickly after his wife had died..I feel he did sort of abandon Eva and then getting married without her knowledge or even being there. Add to that such a young woman....that girl has been thru a lot. He did not put that daughter first which is what a parent does after the dead of a spouse and young children involved. To top if off he picked an absolute kook to marry and bring into the house.

 

[Weki]

her motivations in the very beginning are understandable. They bonded with similar choice in political party and Trump in particular and he opened some new doors to her...then the promise of the ballet school...on and on..then it goes sort of sinister with his agreeing to reverse the vasectomy and they have this child. She seemed to then want nothing to do with him and did not even put his name on the birth certificate. Still at that point she could have gotten another man.. probably would have been glad to raise the child with her. She is a striking woman if you look at some of her photos from before all of this. But she loved her guns and DB did display some real abusive behaviors in my opinion....and she got more and more into a plot to get rid of him...I am now starting to even think it was planned the more than comes out. I did not think that during the trial. Justice was done.

It seems like the pregnancy was unexpected. Even though they planned it by getting the vasectomy reversal, Eva confirmed that they didn’t think she would get pregnant so quickly. So the only thing I can surmise is that by the time she got pregnant she was already thinking of leaving him. Why? I don’t know. He wasn’t exactly without resources. Had she found someone else wealthier already? It’s hard to determine because we don’t know their financial status. None of that came out at trial.

So she gets pregnant. An abortion was outta the question I’m guessing due to their supposed religious beliefs. So the desperation sets in as now she’s tied to this man for the next 18 years! Smh

JMO

 

[sunspun]

her life is over regardless of how long she serves. She will not be able to land a decent man after this.

So your life is over if you can't "land a decent man"?

 

[sunspun]

I agree completely...she will have no problem finding a man when out if not before.

I think in her life as a convicted felon, she'll face bigger challenges than just finding a man.

 

[Wishbone]

I think in her life as a convicted felon, she'll face bigger challenges than just finding a man.

I hope she does face many challenges..

 

[turaj]

A random thought...I went back and watched the mother's short testimony again...she is devoid of any emotion just like her daughter. Seemed to get a bit excited about the conceal and carry classes . The park was a few minutes down the street and all this happened while she was gone? Timing just perfect. Already in squad car when mother returned. No real testimony about the lead up that day...her general interactions with DB...what if any indications of trouble she saw? Just so much missing in this case.

 

[Weki]

So your life is over if you can't "land a decent man"?

For AB, yes, I believe so.

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

IMO while the seeming ‘quick’ pregnancy might have been a surprise so quickly at that time, it does not seem to have been unexpected. And IMO whoever testified it was not expected or the like IIRC was maybe not quite telling the truth? She wanted a child it seems…… maybe in time not necessarily his child, but a child.

About any possible plan to terminate a pregnancy, that seems unlikely. From all indications she wanted a child. AB will have to answer the reasons why in light of many other things to which she testified about her husband. IIRC even with difficulty early in the pregnancy, she quickly moved to her mother’s house to help be cared for while carrying the child. One could only imagine IMO the conversations or plans that might have then happened.

Yes justice was done in many respects, but IMO murder 2 or even murder 1 should have still been on the table a bit more IIRC the charges. The number of shots, shooting angles, trajectories, and confines of that space and wound entrance angles seem clear it was maybe more than just manslaughter. But very appreciative of the prosecution, judge, and jury’s work in this case. MOO

 

[turaj]

IMO while the seeming ‘quick’ pregnancy might have been a surprise, it does not seem to have been unexpected. And IMO whoever testified it was not expected or the like IIRC was maybe not quite telling the truth? She wanted a child it seems…… maybe in time not necessarily his child, but a child.

About any possible plan to terminate a pregnancy, that seems unlikely. From all indications she wanted a child. AB will have to answer the reasons why in light of many other things to which she testified about her husband. IIRC even with difficulty early in the pregnancy, she quickly moved to her mother’s house to help be cared for while carrying the child. One could only imagine IMO the conversations or plans that might have then happened. Yes justice was done in many respects, but IMO murder 2 or even murder 1 should have still been on the table a bit more IIRC the charges. MOO

not sure how a pregnancy that results from a man reversing a vasectomy can be deemed a surprise. Seems like it was pretty planned.

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

not sure how a pregnancy that results from a man reversing a vasectomy can be deemed a surprise. Seems like it was pretty planned.

Thanks turaj! Yes, you are quite correct…… I think I slightly mispoke. And I’ve refined my post to more accurately state that perhaps the seeming quick pregnancy was maybe a surprise to have happened so quickly or readily at that time. MOO

 

[turaj]

Thanks turaj! Yes, you are quite correct…… I think I slightly mispoke. And I’ve refined my post to more accurately state that perhaps the seeming quick pregnancy was maybe a surprise to have happened so quickly or readily at that time. MOO

given the parties involved here who really knows what they expected..frankly I don't know what the expectation is when you do the reversal. Thanks for responding.

 

[Weki]

Thanks turaj! Yes, you are quite correct…… I think I slightly mispoke. And I’ve refined my post to more accurately state that perhaps the seeming quick pregnancy was maybe a surprise to have happened so quickly or readily at that time. MOO

This is what AB testified to - that the doc said it would take a while for conception post-reversal. And Eva said it too on her TikTok but I don’t know if she was just repeating what AB said on the stand or if she has knowledge from that period.

I can totally see a scenario where these two impulsively do the reversal and expect that they have a lot of time before getting pregnant and in the meantime ish hits the fan between them and she’s done with him.

JMO

 

[ar3593]

So your life is over if you can't "land a decent man"?

No, many posters are talking about landing a man hence why I made that comment,

 

[ar3593]

For AB, yes, I believe so.

This is why I made the comment about her not being able to land a decent man. This is a priority to her

 

[arielilane]

The jury got it right. ME implied that DB was not facing the defendant when she shot and killed him.

Justice for Doug Benefield's loved ones.


Russell Vega, the medical examiner who conducted the autopsy, told the jury the shot that killed him entered his body from the side. “Doug Benefield was not coming at her at the time the fatal shot was fired,” O’Donnell said.

The ‘Black Swan murder trial’

Ashley Benefield shot her husband dead. If it was really self-defence, the jury was asked, why was the fatal wound in his side?

www.thetimes.com

August 01 2024

 

[arielilane]

AB booked into jail as she awaits sentencing. No date set yet? moo




@defense_diaries

#AshleyBenefieldTrial UpdateJury has returned a verdict of Guilty of Manslaughter with a Firearm against #AshleyBenefield.The maximum sentence is 30 years with a mandatory minimum of 11.5 unless the are downward departure factors.


11:03 PM · Jul 30, 2024

 

[nodamselindistress]

A random thought...I went back and watched the mother's short testimony again...she is devoid of any emotion just like her daughter. Seemed to get a bit excited about the conceal and carry classes . The park was a few minutes down the street and all this happened while she was gone? Timing just perfect. Already in squad car when mother returned. No real testimony about the lead up that day...her general interactions with DB...what if any indications of trouble she saw? Just so much missing in this case.

I am convinced the mother was in on the plan at the very least. At the most, I believe the mother was advising AB all along. Funny how she moves home with morning sickness and suddenly wants nothing more to do with Doug. Drives up to Charleston to get her belongings while he is absent, leaves him a note, then tries to file for protection. IMO mama was behind all of that.

Mama's absence in the courtroom at closings/sentencing also raises the hairs on my neck.

 

[turaj]

I am convinced the mother was in on the plan at the very least. At the most, I believe the mother was advising AB all along. Funny how she moves home with morning sickness and suddenly wants nothing more to do with Doug. Drives up to Charleston to get her belongings while he is absent, leaves him a note, then tries to file for protection. IMO mama was behind all of that.

Mama's absence in the courtroom at closings/sentencing also raises the hairs on my neck.

I too found it really surreal that the mother was not in the courtroom for the verdict.

 

[Tortoise]

I think they should have charged her with first-degree murder. Second degree doesn't show confidence in their theory that she chose not to leave the house (negating the allegations), and basically set him up, to put an end to the custody battles.

I can't believe she just sat on the neighbor's porch when he didn't immediately open the door. She didn't want to call 911, she wanted a witness to her acting and a witness to tell her story to the dispatcher. IMO

If the jury didn't believe self-defense, they should've thrown out her entire case, and victim mindset, because it shows a depraved mind and a liar with no morals. All that business about poisoning is just crazy. She is a first class schemer. IMO

I hope the judge goes heavy on sentencing, but I fear he won't, with the verdict as it is.