Texas A&M Analyst and Son of Associate Head Coach Arrested in Connection to Tragic Deaths of Girlfriend and Unborn Child

Blaise Taylor, an analyst at Texas A&M and son of the school’s associate head coach, was arrested in Utah on Thursday after being indicted in the 2023 deaths of his girlfriend and her unborn child, according to Nashville police.

Taylor, a former college football star at Arkansas State, was indicted Wednesday by a Nashville grand jury and charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the poisoning deaths of his girlfriend and her five-month-old fetus, “which Taylor is alleged to have fathered,” a release from the Nashville Police Department said.

Taylor was held at the Cache County Jail in Logan, Utah on Friday night, according to jail records. The records did not list an attorney for Taylor.

Police stated that Taylor is accused of poisoning Benning without her knowledge while visiting her apartment on Lebanon Pike on the night of February 25.

That night, Taylor called 911 because Benning seemed to be having an allergic reaction. She was taken to the hospital in a hurry.

Unfortunately, two days later, her unborn baby passed away. Benning also lost her life on March 6, 2023. The authorities mentioned that they were unable to speak with her before she passed away.

Police did not provide any information about the suspected poisoning. The release mentioned that Detective Adam Reese from the Homicide Unit, along with scientists from crime labs and doctors from the Medical Examiner's Office, conducted a thorough investigation that resulted in the murder indictment against Taylor on Wednesday.

After the deaths, Taylor relocated to Utah, as confirmed by the police. Authorities in Nashville are collaborating with Utah officials to coordinate his return.

Taylor had just been appointed as an analyst at Texas A&M, yet the school disclosed on Friday evening that he had been "suspended pending an investigation." He had previously played as a defensive back at Arkansas State from 2014 to 2017, where his father Trooper Taylor served as a defensive backs coach during those years.

Trooper Taylor, currently serving as an associate head coach on offense and running backs coach at Texas A&M, boasts over 30 years of coaching experience. Throughout his career, he has worked at various universities such as Baylor, New Mexico, Tulane, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, and Auburn where he contributed to their 2010 BCS National Championship victory.

In response to a recent unfortunate event, Texas A&M head football coach Mike Elko expressed his sympathy for all those impacted. He emphasized the importance of allowing the legal system to handle the situation with the necessary care and fairness. Coach Elko also extended his thoughts and prayers to Coach Trooper Taylor, Dr. Evelyn Taylor, and their family as they navigate through this challenging time.

CNN’s Homero De La Fuente contributed to this report.

Editor's P/S:

The arrest of Blaise Taylor, a former college football player and son of a Texas A&M associate head coach, on charges of murdering his