911 Call, Contaminated Scene, and Jade Benning’s Final Phone Call

Day 2 in the murder trial of former Tennessee Titans scout Blaise Taylor focused on the 911 call, Jade Benning’s condition at Vanderbilt, the handling of her apartment, and testimony from the friend who says she heard Benning accuse Taylor before she became unresponsive.

Taylor is accused of poisoning Benning, his pregnant girlfriend, with cocaine in February 2023. Benning was five months pregnant at the time. Taylor has pleaded not guilty to charges connected to the deaths of Benning and her unborn daughter.

James Smith Testifies About Responding to the Scene

The first witness of the day was James Smith from the police department’s domestic violence division.

Smith testified that he responded to the incident and questioned Taylor at the scene. His testimony helped continue the early timeline from the night of February 25, 2023, after Taylor called 911 and reported that Benning appeared to be having a possible allergic reaction.

The questioning of Taylor at the scene is part of the broader issue jurors are being asked to consider: what Taylor said and did in the moments after Benning became critically ill.

Dr. Michael Olushoga Describes Benning’s Condition at Vanderbilt

Jurors then heard from Dr. Michael Olushoga, who treated Benning after she was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Dr. Olushoga testified that Benning arrived with severe brain damage. He also told jurors that Benning’s unborn baby had a low heart rate when Benning was admitted.

That testimony gave jurors a medical picture of how serious Benning’s condition was by the time she reached the hospital. It also connected the emergency inside the apartment to what doctors were seeing after Benning arrived at Vanderbilt.

Jurors Hear Taylor’s 911 Call

The State then called Jennifer Barrett, the 911 operator who handled Taylor’s call.

Jurors heard the recording of Taylor calling for help and telling the dispatcher he believed Benning was having a possible allergic reaction. In the call, Taylor said, “I don’t know. I think she’s having an allergic reaction. We were making cookies and painting, and she says she wasn’t feeling good. Now I’m going back to the room to check on her.”

Taylor described Benning as weak, vomiting, and shaking while Barrett stayed on the line and provided instructions until first responders arrived.

The 911 call is important to both sides. Prosecutors are focused on Taylor’s explanation for what was happening before emergency crews arrived. The defense has emphasized that Taylor was the person who called 911 and asked for help.

Lauren Weber Testifies About Benning

Lauren Weber, one of Benning’s friends, also testified on Day 2.

Weber described Benning personally and said she never knew Benning to use cocaine. That testimony connects directly to one of the central disputes in the trial: whether Benning voluntarily used cocaine or whether, as prosecutors allege, cocaine was put into her drink without her knowledge.

Witnesses who knew Benning personally also described her as loyal, dependable, and someone who “never knew a stranger.” One witness described her as a “bright light.”

Stephanie Franklin Testifies About Knowing Benning Since Childhood

Stephanie Franklin, a longtime family friend, gave emotional testimony about her relationship with Benning and Benning’s family.

Franklin said she met Benning when Benning was 4 years old, when Franklin’s daughter was in the same dance class. She described knowing Benning for years, including Benning’s life in Little Rock before she moved to Nashville.

After learning about Benning’s sudden medical emergency, Franklin testified that she rushed to Nashville with family. She described finding Benning in the ICU on life support while still visibly pregnant.

Franklin also told jurors she had no connection to Taylor.

Franklin Explains Why She Went to Benning’s Apartment

Franklin also became part of one of Day 2’s biggest evidence-handling issues.

She testified that she later went to Benning’s apartment after being asked to help “figure out what happened.” Franklin said she documented the scene by taking photos and videos on her phone.

Jurors were shown photos and video taken inside the apartment. Images showed Benning’s best friend and another individual wearing gloves while inside.

Franklin said she followed guidance from her son, who is a police officer, to wear gloves and avoid disturbing potential evidence. She also acknowledged removing one item from the apartment to give to Benning’s parents.

Franklin told jurors her actions came from concern and frustration because Benning was on life support and the family did not have answers.

“We were angry. Didn’t seem like anybody was doing anything. It didn’t seem like things were moving. No answers. Why do you have a child on life support with no answers?” Franklin told jurors.

When asked if she was trying to interfere with the investigation, Franklin said, “No, I would never.”

Detective Says the Apartment Became a Contaminated Scene

The apartment became one of the clearest points of dispute on Day 2.

A detective testified that Benning’s apartment became a “contaminated scene” after friends entered before investigators could fully process it. According to testimony, some items were moved or removed, including a comforter that appeared to have vomit on it.

That testimony supports a key defense theme: that the handling of the apartment may affect how jurors view the reliability of the early investigation.

For prosecutors, Franklin’s testimony showed why family and friends went to the apartment, including concern for Benning and frustration over the lack of answers. For the defense, the fact that people entered the apartment, wore gloves, took photos and videos, and removed at least one item gives them a concrete issue to raise about the condition of the scene.

Nijaiha Jackson Testifies About Benning’s Final Phone Call

The final witness was Nijaiha Jackson, Benning’s best friend.

Jackson testified that she received a frantic phone call while she was at a gas station. She said Benning sounded scared and unlike herself.

According to Jackson, Benning repeatedly accused Taylor of putting something in her drink. Jackson told jurors she heard Benning ask Taylor, “What did you do? What did you put in my drink?”

Jackson said Taylor did not respond to that question.

Jackson also testified that Benning said she could no longer feel her legs or walk properly. According to Jackson, Benning said, “you did this so something could happen to the baby,” before the call became increasingly unclear and Benning appeared to lose consciousness or the ability to communicate.

This testimony was one of the most significant moments of Day 2 because it put Jackson directly before the jury, describing the call prosecutors have repeatedly pointed to as evidence of what Benning believed was happening to her in real time.

Defense Questions Jackson About Drug and Alcohol Use

During cross-examination, defense attorneys questioned Jackson about drug and alcohol use among friends.

The defense asked whether Jackson and Benning had used drugs or consumed alcohol together. That questioning fits with the defense’s broader effort to challenge the State’s theory and raise questions about Benning’s possible drug or alcohol use before the medical emergency.

Jackson’s testimony also remains central to the dispute over Benning’s alleged statements during the phone call. Prosecutors say those words point to Taylor. The defense has questioned how clear those statements were and whether the evidence proves Taylor poisoned Benning.

Where Day 2 Leaves the Trial

Day 2 gave jurors several major pieces of the timeline.

They heard from James Smith about responding to the scene and questioning Taylor. They heard from Dr. Michael Olushoga, who testified that Benning arrived at Vanderbilt with severe brain damage and that her unborn baby had a low heart rate. They heard Taylor’s 911 call through dispatcher Jennifer Barrett, including Taylor’s explanation that Benning may have been having an allergic reaction.

They also heard from Lauren Weber and Stephanie Franklin, two people who knew Benning personally. Weber said she never knew Benning to use cocaine. Franklin described Benning from childhood, her medical emergency, and the family’s search for answers.

The day also gave the defense a major evidence-handling issue, with testimony that the apartment became a contaminated scene after friends entered before investigators fully processed it.

But the most direct testimony about Benning’s own words came from Nijaiha Jackson, who told jurors that Benning sounded scared, accused Taylor of putting something in her drink, said she could not feel her legs, and said, “you did this so something could happen to the baby.”

The trial is expected to continue with additional testimony from investigators, medical experts, and witnesses connected to Benning and Taylor.