Ex-Arkansas St. football star charged with murder
-
Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior Writer
Blaise Taylor, a former college football star at Arkansas State who has worked as an analyst on college football staffs and as an NFL scout, has been arrested on suspicion in the poisoning deaths of his girlfriend and her unborn child in Nashville, Tennessee.
U.S. marshals arrested Taylor, 27, on Thursday night in Utah, serving an indictment from Nashville police on two counts of first-degree murder. Taylor is accused of poisoning Jade Benning in February 2023. Benning died March 6, 2023, on her 25th birthday, and her 5-month-old fetus, which Taylor is believed to have fathered, died on Feb. 27, 2023.
Benning was rushed to the hospital on Feb. 25 last year after Taylor called 911, saying Benning was having an allergic reaction. Her condition quickly became critical, and she was unable to speak with police before she died.
Taylor had been working in Nashville for the Tennessee Titans, where he rose in the pro scouting department. He joined Utah State as a senior defensive analyst for the 2023 season and is listed as an employee in the Texas A&M directory. Taylor’s father, Trooper Taylor, a longtime college coach, recently joined Texas A&M’s coaching staff as running backs coach and associate head coach under new head coach Mike Elko.
“Our thoughts are with all those affected by this heartbreaking situation, including the family and friends of the victim,” Elko said in a statement. “It’s essential to allow the courts to handle this situation with the diligence and fairness it demands. We also would like to extend our prayers and support to Coach Trooper Taylor, Dr. Evelyn Taylor and their family as they navigate this extremely difficult time.”
The school also said Blaise Taylor has been suspended pending the outcome of the criminal investigation.
Blaise Taylor is accused of poisoning Benning without her knowledge while visiting her apartment. Nashville police say they are working with authorities in Utah to transport Taylor back to the city.
Blaise Taylor was a four-year starter at Arkansas State, where Trooper coached defensive backs at the time. Blaise Taylor served as a captain and earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors as a defensive back and as a punt returner. He holds Arkansas State career records for punt return yards (1,151) and pass breakups (30) and left as the Sun Belt’s leader in passes defended (36).
The San Diego Padres placed right-hander Michael King on the 15-day injured list Thursday because of left knee inflammation.
King (4-2, 2.81 ERA) had just come off the IL on Saturday, allowing two runs in as many innings of a no-decision against the Boston Red Sox.
It was his first start since May 18 as he dealt with shoulder inflammation.
Now, he’s back on the IL with a knee issue in a move retroactive to Monday.
It’s a setback for a red-hot Padres team, who will carry a five-game winning streak into a weekend showdown against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. First-place San Diego is one game ahead of L.A. in the NL West.
King had been scheduled to start the series opener Friday.
In the corresponding roster move, the Padres recalled right-hander Randy Vásquez from Triple-A El Paso.
While the Milwaukee Brewers keep on rolling, another Wisconsin business is stocking up on beef and buns.
For the third time in its history, George Webb Restaurants will make good on its promise of giving away free hamburgers as part of a longstanding promotion to celebrate the Brewers winning 12 consecutive games.
The free burger giveaway will be held Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. CT at all 23 of the restaurant’s locations throughout Wisconsin. Vouchers for a burger at a later date will be available at all locations starting Friday.
“Hungry fans are welcome to stop by any location for a free, juicy burger and some camaraderie with fellow baseball fans,” the restaurant said on its website.
Starting way back in the 1940s, when Milwaukee was home to the minor league Brewers of the old American Association, George Webb promised free burgers if the local baseball team won 17 consecutive games.
The promotion dropped to 13 games by the time the Braves made Milwaukee a big league city in 1953, but that franchise couldn’t make it happen before departing for Atlanta in 1966.
George Webb changed the promotion to 12 games when the Brewers moved from Seattle in 1970. In 1987, the Brewers opened the season with 13 wins in a row, and more than 170,000 burgers were given away to mark the occasion.
The Brewers accomplished the feat a second time in 2018, closing the regular season with eight victories followed by four playoff wins. That streak led to 90,000 free burgers being given away in addition to 100,000 redeemable vouchers.
Prior to reaching the magic mark on Wednesday, the Brewers had come close on a few occasions, including an 11-game winning streak earlier this season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike