True Crime Vault: The Pointe of No Return

Welcome to the True Crime Vault, home to. 2020's most chilling stories. [music]. >> I was living a nightmare. And. um. it was terrifying. It was like two different people. And I never knew which Doug I was going. to get. >> [music]. >> You're 24, he's 54. Were you worried. about her connecting with this guy who's. so much older? >> Things didn't start off well. It was.

like, "Oh yeah, Eva, >> [music]. >> this is my new wife.". >> I felt like Ashley was taking my dad. away from me. [music] It was all a. masquerade. And I can I straight up say that. Doug was not who he portrayed himself to. be. >> That was sort of like, "What's going. on?". >> So you're thinking that your husband, the man who loved you and seemed to. adore you, would poison you? >> I read the allegations and I thought,

>> This is crazy. Doug [music] never. poisoned Ashley. >> Is it possible that maybe you just. imagined this? >> Maybe it was all in my head. >> But you know now that this sounds pretty. dysfunctional. >> Doug, what are you doing? >> Did you try to ruin your life? >> I don't think he could have ever guessed. what was going to happen to him. >> I've never been so scared of my life. >> [music].

>> Growing up, Ashley Benefield wanted. nothing more than to become a. world-class ballerina. >> [music]. >> She never dreamed that one day she'd be. wearing a court-ordered ankle bracelet. along with her pointe shoes. >> Midland County 911, what is your. emergency? >> Okay, there is right next door to me. She's came in, she was quite hysterical. and said that he attacked her and she.

shot him. >> Where is the gun? >> I have it right here, ma'am. It's. sitting on the floor. >> Where in the house is he sleeping? >> Deputies are moving as fast as they can. >> A normally quiet Lakewood Ranch. neighborhood turned into a bloody crime. scene. Was it murder or self-defense? >> It's a story with a lot [music] of. twists and turns. >> The 32-year-old former ballerina. alleging he attacked her in her home and. that she fired back multiple times. [music] in self-defense. >> Ms. Benefield was in great fear of. immediate and severe [music] bodily.

harm. >> A woman out on bond still awaiting her. fate. >> So many law enforcement officials. [music]. said, "No, this isn't adding up.". >> Former ballerina at the center of the. so-called Black Swan murder trial. Only. two people know [music] exactly what. happened. One of them is a suspect for. second-degree murder. The other is dead.

>> Until now, Ashley has remained silent. about the night of the shooting, about. what happened in that house in this. Florida community. But tonight, in her first interview, [music]. Ashley Benefield tells her story. >> It's your world. >> [music]. >> Hey there. Your first time doing this, so here we. go. Let's go back to your [music] life in. the beginning. You wanted to be a ballet.

dancer? >> Yeah, actually I started when I was. eight. A family member was dancing on Broadway. and [music] I was very inspired by her. and what she was doing. >> And what was it about ballet that. captivated [music] you? >> It's complex. It's something that. is beautiful and powerful, but at the. same time [music]. there's a lot of control, and you have. to be reserved. I think it's just the. kind of dynamic of all of the things. combined.

>> Ashley grew up in Maryland as an only. child. Her mom, Alicia Boyer, says they. had a special bond. Your [music]. marriage dissolved, you split up with. her father, and you raised her as a. single mom. >> Mhm. >> What was that like for the two of you? >> [music]. >> At first it was an adjustment, but you. know, we did well. We're very We're very. close. She was blessed with a lot of. talents, and so it was a real joy. raising her. >> And at some point she becomes smitten. with ballet. >> Very. Very, yes. She got to the point.

where she did it 7 days a week. >> I was training during the day, all day. It was a [music] an everyday all day. thing. >> She soon learns that it takes more than. ability alone to make it as a. professional dancer. Ashley's 5'9" and. considered by most ballet companies to. be too tall, something no amount of. training can overcome. >> There are height [music] ranges in. companies. A lot of that is because of. partnering and complications [music]. that can arise if you're not well.

matched height-wise. >> The ballet world [music] tends to be. kind of cookie-cutter. It was hard finding a good fit for a. company. >> With her height and then a hamstring. injury holding her back, Ashley decides. to hang up her pointe shoes in her early. 20s. You begin to shift your focus a little. bit. In 2016, you became captivated by. politics. What led you to the Trump. campaign? >> Well, I'd actually always been. interested in [music] politics. I wasn't.

looking for it, the opportunity came up, [music] and I was just finishing up with. one chapter of my life, and it seemed. like the right thing to do, so I jumped. in. >> Ashley's job for the Trump campaign was. to go to rallies, >> [music]. >> and she would rile up the crowd, pray. with the crowd. You could actually see videos of her. online. She thought she was going to be. part of the [music] Trump team. >> In her diary entries from this time, Ashley says she felt a special bond with.

candidate Trump. She writes, "We got to. the plane early and waited for Mr. Trump. to arrive.". >> [music]. >> Ashley writes about her hopes for her. future. She writes kind of a plea to. God, "I want to be a wife and mother. Please bring me to that special man. you've chosen for me.". >> Ashley wanted children. She wanted a family. She prayed that God. would bring her a man to be with her.

She made it clear in the diary what her. plan was. >> [music]. >> In August of 2016, in the thick of the. campaign, her prayers seemed to be. answered. While attending a fundraiser. at Dr. Ben Carson's home in Palm Beach, Florida. At some point you meet a man named Doug. Benefield. >> Yes. [music]. >> What did you think of him? >> He was charming. >> [music]. >> Very. funny. Really smart. Confident, but quiet. We were there for. political reasons, [music] but then also.

he was a man of faith, shared similar. interests. >> Those common interests included. politics, God, and guns. >> First night that Doug and Ashley met, Ashley had a gun in her bra. Doug, who. has a military background, he thought, "Well, look at this girl. Like she's. strong and she's powerful and she's, you. know, not afraid of weapons and she's. Everything about her was just great.". >> He nicknamed you Ashley Oakley. >> Yeah, we both had very strong.

opinions about the Second Amendment. Uh. that was something we bonded over. I had. a concealed carry permit. You want to be. a responsible gun owner. We talked [music] the whole night. When the evening was over and everyone. was leaving, we were. >> [music]. >> texting and up till 3:00 in the morning. It just seemed like I had met my. soulmate. We were like the perfect. match. He kind of. >> [music]. >> swept me off my feet. It was like a whirlwind. I think it was.

about 4 days in when he first told me he. loved me. >> 4 days? [music] That's pretty quick. >> Yeah, it was it was quick. >> [music]. >> Something else Ashley says didn't bother. her was the couple's significant age. difference. You're 24. He's 54. >> Yeah. >> You're a young woman. Suddenly, you're. being romanced by this 54-year-old man. Did anybody in your life say slow down,

Ashley? >> No, it just kind of. happened. >> But the bliss wouldn't last. Ashley learns that the man she's fallen. for has been married before. >> Nothing was adding up. The more I tried. to figure things [music] out, the more. the story changed. >> And she says she begins uncovering. secrets leading her to wonder just who. Doug Benefield really is.

In the summer of 2016, 24-year-old. Ashley Benefield is on the road stumping. for Donald Trump when she finds romance. at a Palm Beach fundraiser. Did sparks begin to fly between you two? >> Uh it was like an instant connection. [music] Yeah. We both had that evangelical. background, so we spent a lot of time. talking about that. >> [music].

>> Doug Benefield grew up in a Baptist. family, the middle of three sons, with a. stay-at-home mom and a father who worked. as a scientist at NASA. >> Doug uh. graduated from high school in. Huntsville, Alabama. He was a top. wrestler in the [music] state. He. decided to follow his father and our. family to Texas A&M. >> After graduating from college, Doug. joins the US Navy in Pensacola. He rises. through the ranks quickly, and the Navy.

assigns Doug to a position in. Charleston, South Carolina. >> While he's working for the Defense. Intelligence [music] Agency, he gets. involved in renovations of old historic. buildings with people that he [music]. meets in Charleston. >> Doug started up some businesses here, a. restaurant, some other things. And he. had a group of friends and colleagues. >> He loved it there. And one of those. locations [music] that he most loved was. out on Solomon's Island. Doug found a small, hole-in-the-wall.

Irish pub called Dunleavy's [music] Pub. That same Irish pub is where he meets. his wife, Renee. >> If someone were to ask me to sum up. Renee in [music] a few sentences, it'd. be very difficult. She's stunningly beautiful, but doesn't. know it. And loves make people laugh. >> Doug has [music] a pretty quick. courtship with a woman named Renee. Kouser. They marry, and in 2001, their. daughter Eva is born.

>> My mom was the sweetest, happiest. [music] woman you would ever meet. She. was an angel walking on Earth. She was. never, ever, ever in a bad mood. She. loved everybody. >> Doug's marriage [music] to Renee, by all. accounts, was a happy marriage. And. of course, ups and downs, but generally. a happy marriage. >> Doug and Renee and Eva together are just. this triad. [music]. They're just three together all the. time. You never saw them apart. Happy,

beautiful family. [music]. >> But when Eva is just 14, the happy. family suffers a devastating loss. >> I was. waiting in the the pickup line outside. [music] of my school and she wasn't. there. and I went home and nobody was answering. the doorbell and I didn't have in my key. and my mom wasn't answering her texts. >> Eva [music] called and said, >> I can't get a hold of my mom.

>> And dad's in Dallas and so [music] I get. on the phone with Doug. >> Doug asks Melody for help. Her husband. goes next door and breaks into the house. to find Renee unresponsive, face down on. her bed. >> I just remember going back out on the. porch and seeing my neighbor's face and. he shook his head. >> [music]. >> and I knew that she just wasn't there. anymore. She passed of an underlying heart. condition. It was shocking. >> An autopsy reveals that Renee died of.

natural causes. >> He tried to stay really strong for me. and I never really saw him. break down from it. He It was different. It was quiet in the. house. It was just different. >> Then just nine short months after her. mother's passing, Eva meets a new woman. in her father's life, Ashley Benefield. >> I heard about her on a Friday. I met her the following Saturday and.

then [music]. Sunday. I was up in my room and my dad came. upstairs and he said, "Eva, we need to. have a conversation all three of us.". And I said, "No, I I think the only. thing that I would be interested in. hearing is if you told me that you. proposed to her." And as soon as those. words came out of my mouth, he said, "We're married.". Yeah, it was a lot. >> Eva's not the only one blindsided by the. quick marriage, which happened at a.

secret ceremony just 13 days after Doug. and Ashley met. >> First time I hear anything about Ashley, is they're married and she's already. moved in to Doug's home in Mount. Pleasant. >> How did he propose? Was this [music] a. formal. get on his knee and propose to you? How. did that happen? >> Uh it was more of like, "Hey, you know, we should just do this. >> [laughter]. >> Like let's let's get married.".

And I was like, "Oh, yeah. Okay.". >> They move very quickly and before you. know it, they're engaged and married. >> Yeah. It was like, "Whoa.". >> What was your wedding like? >> Uh. it was small. It was just me and Doug. and two of his friends. [music]. >> So suddenly you're Mrs. Benefield. >> Yep. >> Were you happy? >> I was thrilled. Yeah, [music] I felt like I. had finally met my soulmate.

Uh I think a lot of it had to do with. Eva. He. really sold me on the fact that she. needed a mommy person to be there and. I guess I felt needed [music] and. wanted. >> But Eva, still grieving the loss of her. mom, says she neither wanted nor needed. a stepmom, especially one so close to. her in age. >> The age difference between me and Ashley.

is 8 [music] years. Anytime I hung out with her and we were. shopping downtown, we would get mistaken. as sisters. >> [music]. >> How did you get along with Eva? >> I think things didn't start off well. because she. didn't really find out until after we. were [music] married. It was like, "Oh. yeah, Eva, This is my new wife." And it. didn't go over well. I will just say [music] this, he messed. up.

He messed up by. jumping in. to a relationship. and not inviting his daughter into it. I thought it's I think a huge mistake. >> My dad seemed very excited and happy, and I also understood that he was. grieving differently than me. >> Ashley and Doug are moving full steam. ahead. They don't just want a romantic. partnership, they want to be business. partners.

>> It seemed like we found something once. again that we were both equally. passionate [music] about, so we just hit. the ground running. >> But what Ashley and Doug don't realize. is that both the romance and the. business will soon self-destruct. [music]. >> You can't make promises and not live up. to them. >> Like, what's going on? >> People were mad. >> I [music] found out that it was all a. masquerade. >> [music].

[music]. >> My name is Sarah Maraski. When I was a. young girl, I I saw a performance of The. Nutcracker. >> [music]. >> And I fell in love with it right away. I. knew right in that moment that's what I. wanted to do with my life. >> After years of sacrifice and dedication, Sarah finally gets her big break. She's.

cast in the Pennsylvania Ballet's. production of The Nutcracker in the lead. role, the Sugar Plum Fairy. >> It was like it was a fairy tale in a way. in that moment of my life. It was. everything I could have dreamed up. >> But Sarah says one night backstage her. dream is unexpectedly shattered. She's. told that the company is going in. another direction. >> The director [music] took me aside and. said, "You're too tall." For me to even. think that it was done was unimaginable.

after. >> [music]. >> sacrificing my whole life for this. moment, for this career. It was a few. months after that that I received a. message [music] online from Ashley. Benefield. >> Ashley says she and Doug were talking. one night when they had the idea to. start a ballet company that would. include all kinds of dancers. >> I was a tall dancer. I'm just a tall. person, I guess. I just been talking. about how. there were things in the ballet world. [music] that I didn't think were right. And that, well, you know, if it was up.

to me, I would do it differently. And he. was like, "Well, why don't we do it?". >> Ashley [music]. called me. We spoke. I remember her saying things. [music] like, "I want to make a change. for ballet. I want ballet to be able to. show its beauty in the best way with all. different kinds [music] of dancers.". >> The concept was diversity. I trained. with beautiful dancers of all shapes, sizes, colors, backgrounds, you name it. And I watched them have [music] hard. time getting a job.

I was. frustrated by that. >> You came up with the name for it, American National Ballet. >> Yep. >> So, he was going to handle the business. part, and you would be more creative. >> Yep. Doug had done a lot of like fundraising. [music] for different companies, for a. lot of these kind of up-and-coming tech. companies. >> [music]. >> And I remember him being like, "Oh, you. know, tech companies and ballet, like, I'm sure we can, you know, fundraise for. both.". >> [music]. >> Doug sat down with me and directly asked. me, "I want you to work with Ashley. You.

know what you're [music] doing to help. get the basics of the company started.". >> He said they were doing a ballet. company, and I'd come home from school, and Ashley was in the dining room with. headshots laid [music] out, sticky notes. everywhere. >> When I was originally brought in, Ashley. had already hired There were 50 [music]. dancers in the company, which surprised me, because when you're first starting out, that's an awful lot of money that's. going [music] out, and you don't have. any money coming in yet. >> That was sort of like, what's going on?

It just seemed like a lot for a company. that was [music] starting out, and that. maybe. they were biting off more than they. could chew. >> Even though he doesn't [music] have the. backing yet, Doug is convinced that he. can raise the money. So, dozens of. dancers from all over the world flock to. American National [music] Ballet with. the promise of year-long contracts, state-of-the-art studio facilities, even. a housing stipend for apartments in the. heart of Charleston. >> The idea [music] was remarkable.

The execution was a little less. >> It [music] became somewhat apparent. fairly quickly that Doug was. over-promising and. not going to be able to deliver on all. of this. >> In the fall of 2017, the dancers begin. arriving only to find that the promised. housing stipend isn't available, and the. original rehearsal space promised. doesn't exist. >> And then, I think in like mid-October,

word started to get get out that the. dancers weren't quite getting paid in a. traditional way, that they were being. paid in cash. >> Doug was then pulling money from every. source that he could of his own, money. that he didn't have, to try to just fund. this ballet. >> It just got worse and worse each day. I. didn't know where the company was going. >> Adding to the chaos, Ashley is nowhere. to be found. Not at rehearsals, not. working with the dancers. She seems to. have just vanished. And meantime, Doug.

is so financially strapped that American. National Ballet ends up laying off. nearly half of the recently hired. dancers. >> It's all fine and well to conceive of an. an amazing ambitious dance company. It's. great, but if you can't deliver it, somebody's going to get hurt. And the dancers, certainly in this case, are the ones who got hurt the most. >> The very next day after half the. company's dancers are let go, Ashley. suddenly reappears. Not in person, but.

in a post on social media, >> [music]. >> writing in part, "I publicly disavow my. support for American National Ballet.". And adding, "I'm no longer [music]. associated with this organization in any. way.". >> I was horrified. >> [music]. >> Um. I didn't. know all of the things that were falling. apart behind the scenes. I didn't see it. coming. I no longer wanted to be part of it.

>> Ashley. >> [music]. >> left the scene, and then Doug abandoned. He just like one day he just wasn't. there anymore. The organization. evaporated. >> People were mad. People were very angry. Because losing your job in ballet is not. [music] like, "Okay, I'm going to go on. Indeed and see what's, you know, who's. hiring." You're kind of locked out for. the year until the next audition season. >> American National Ballet has hurt.

everyone. [music]. You can't make promises and not live up. to them because there are people's. livelihoods that are involved. There are. people's dreams that are involved. >> Some fault Doug for mismanaging the. ballet, and others blame Ashley for. disappearing. >> Ashley's absence from the ballet company. was a very significant basis for the. failure. She was the face of this. company. When she left, the dancers, they didn't have anything.

>> But Ashley says there's a reason she. left Charleston [music] and the ballet. behind. She claims she had to, that her. very life depended on it. >> He pulled the gun out [music] and. started waving it around. I was living a. nightmare. It was terrifying. It was. like two different people. and I never knew which Doug I was going. to get.

>> In less than a year, Doug and Ashley. Benefield's American National Ballet. goes bust. What very few people knew. though was that behind the scenes, the. same was happening to the couple's. marriage. >> Doug always explained to me that the. biggest [music] factor of growing. tensions at home was the conflict. between Ashley and Eva. >> I felt like Ashley would try and act. like my mom. and tell me what to do. And I was like, you were. >> [music]. >> less than 10 years older than me.

>> Ashley says while American National. Ballet's getting up and running, Doug. and her arguments over Eva and the. ballet become more frequent, aggressive, even scary. >> He would yell and scream and [music]. cuss. It was like. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Things would be [music] happy and okay. one moment and then the next minute he. was out of control. >> I never really saw a shift in their. relationship, but [music] that's also.

because I was trying to stay out of it. as much as possible. I I said, "Okay, if. my dad's happy, I'm happy.". >> On June 15th, 2017, Eva is out of the. house when a heated argument between. Doug and Ashley quickly escalates. >> He pulled the gun out and. started waving it around. He threw the gun at me. He said that if I left that he was going. to kill himself.

I begged him not to. And [snorts] then he pulled the trigger. And the bullet went into the ceiling. >> At a legal hearing the couple will later. attend, you can hear Doug's own voice as. he describes [music] this incident. While he doesn't deny the argument or. firing his 9 mm, he disputes Ashley's. characterization of the fight.

>> You did discharge the gun into the. ceiling, correct? >> Yeah, I did. It was a horrible decision. >> She says, "He then threw the gun at me." That. didn't happen, did it? >> No, I did not throw the gun at her. I. just kind of spun in the chair and threw. it against the wall. [music]. >> She says, "Doug then grabbed the gun. again and held it to his own head. threatening to kill myself." Did you do. that? >> No, I did not. >> Ashley says at another point during that. same argument, Doug physically abuses. the family dog.

>> He hit Sully. >> Your dog. >> Sully got between us and he punched him. >> At that same 2018 hearing, Doug tells a. different version of the story to. Ashley's attorney. >> You also punched the dog the day that. you discharged the firearm. >> He jumped up in my lap. Very He's a big. dog. I admit I hit him. I didn't hit him. like you would, you know, hit a punch. him back or anything, but I hit him. But.

yes, I was probably too physical with. him. >> Were you beginning to rethink the. marriage? >> [sighs]. >> After he shot the gun in the house, that's when I really realized that. I had a problem. and I didn't know what to do. >> [music]. >> And I didn't know what was coming next. >> What comes next for the couple is. [music] a bit surprising. A celebration. of marriage 9 months after their initial. hasty I do's.

>> They had [music] a wedding ceremony. right after that. Everyone's smiling. She's smiling. People had already booked their tickets. and everyone was coming. And. I didn't want them. to. see that part of my life. I felt like a. failure. I didn't know what else to do. >> Even with their turbulent marriage, Doug. and Ashley decide they want to have a. child together. >> In August, you find out you're pregnant. What do you think [music]. initially?

>> I was scared. It was supposed to be like a happy. thing. But my heart dropped. Like, what am I supposed to do? >> Here again, Doug's story differs from. Ashley's. >> It wasn't an accident, of course, that. she got pregnant. It was planned. >> Doug had a vasectomy years ago. Ashley. paid with her own credit card for Doug. to have a vasectomy reversal. And they. then [music] started to try to get. pregnant. >> One thing both sides do agree on, Ashley.

[music] had a difficult pregnancy. >> It was. rough. >> Morning sickness? [music]. >> Yeah, and it wasn't even morning. sickness. It was like around-the-clock. sickness. I couldn't eat. He couldn't take care of me. And he. drove me down to Florida. and dropped me off at my mom's house. >> Doug's life is a whirlwind. He's got his. hands full in Charleston with the ballet. company and raising his teen daughter.

Eva. And he's spending his free time. driving to Florida to be with Ashley. The two are in constant communication. >> Doug was driving back and forth to take. care of his family, spread it across. these two states. And he had to also be back in Charleston. because on September 18th, this was. going to be the big launch of the. American National Ballet. Ashley was not. going to be able to be present for the. launch, supposedly, because she was so. sick.

>> But at that very moment, what Doug. doesn't know is that Ashley and her mom. are driving from Florida to Charleston, not to attend the ballet launch, but for. an entirely different reason. On September 18th, you decided to move. your belongings out of Doug's home. >> Yeah. She wrote a note alleging some. things were wrong in the house and that. there [music] had been some abuse or at. least violence on his part and that she. was therefore leaving him. >> Ashley writes, "Do not harass or try to.

follow me or I will call the police.". And then goes on to say, "I will talk. with you only via text and [music]. do not call me or my mom. We will not. pick up.". >> He was completely stunned. He had no. idea Ashley was leaving him. >> Just after learning that his wife is. leaving him, Doug is again blindsided by. a restraining order barring him from. contacting Ashley. The expectant dad. then hires family attorney Stephanie. Murphy to act as an intermediary.

>> Doug wanted to be present for the birth. if Ashley felt comfortable. I sent the. letter to Ashley. asking can Doug be part [music] of the. birth. >> But Murphy says shortly after sending. that letter, Ashley gives birth to a. baby girl named Emerson 3 weeks before. her due date. >> [music]. >> Did you tell Doug? >> No, there was a restraining order, so I. couldn't legally have contact with him. >> But he's the father of the child.

>> Yeah. Yeah. >> Did you intend for him to find out? >> I mean, I knew he would. eventually. >> No. >> Doug didn't know that Ashley had given. birth. >> [crying and screaming]. >> He learned through an injunction that. she filed [music] that the child had. been born, and that was several weeks. after the child had been born.

>> Doug's not on the birth certificate. She. didn't even give Doug the respect. [music] of naming his daughter. Benefield. She gave the baby's [music]. last name as her grandfather's name. He was devastated. He was devastated [music] that he missed. the birth of his child and that he was. not able to see her. >> But Ashley says she was only doing what. any mother would do. She believed that. Doug was a danger not only to her, but. to her newborn daughter, too.

>> At first, I attributed it to [music]. morning sickness, but I started to. wonder if there was more to it. >> Every morning you would make sure she. drank tea. Why? Why was that so important that she drink. the tea?

>> It's April 2018. Ashley [music]. Benefield is a new mom, changing. diapers, nursing her infant daughter. And at the same time, she's filing court. papers seeking a protection order. against her husband and the father of. her baby, Doug Benefield. >> So it would just basically put up a wall. between Ashley and Doug. >> It's not just that incident with the gun. and the dog. Medical records suggest. that she was in good health. Still, she.

says she had a growing suspicion that. the terrible morning sickness she had. wasn't just a routine part of her. pregnancy. She wondered whether she was. being poisoned by Doug. >> It seems like crazy and far-fetched. But. I. realized that. the tea. that he had been giving me. if I didn't drink it, he would get. really mad [music] at me.

And I started to wonder if he was doing. something to the tea. >> She started telling me [music] every. morning he would make sure she drank the. tea. Why? Why was that so important that she drink. the tea? >> I did some toxicology testing through. hair testing. >> And what did it reveal? >> That I had been poisoned. >> The results from the lab Ashley. privately hires for her hair test show. extremely high levels of heavy metals. like aluminum, barium, tin. The tests on.

baby Emerson also detect toxic metals. >> So you're thinking that your husband. the man who loved you and seemed to. adore you would poison you? >> Yeah. >> Why? >> I don't know why. >> Ashley says [music] she became so. concerned for her health that she. resorted to some pretty serious measures. including more than 20 sessions inside a. hyperbaric chamber like this one along.

with her infant daughter. >> Ashley says her hope was that this high. pressure environment would help detoxify. their blood. She insists that her fear. that Doug had tried to poison them was. real. >> Others [music]. call it fiction. >> Doug never poisoned Ashley. Never. I read the allegations and I. thought, "Oh my god, this is crazy.". >> Doug's family attorney points to those. medical records during and after. Ashley's pregnancy showing her to be in.

good health. >> The day after the baby was born, she was. breastfeeding the baby. So, which is it? Are you poisoned to the. point that you [music]. are full of heavy metals, or are you. okay and therefore you're going to. breastfeed your baby? [music]. There's always been holes in the story. >> A judge agrees, siding with Doug and his. toxicology expert who challenged. Ashley's test results. Her request to. keep Doug away from her and their child. is denied. >> There is not a single scintilla of.

credible evidence that Ms. Benefield has. ever been poisoned. >> A judge didn't believe you. >> Yeah. I started to just feel like maybe I was. crazy. Maybe it was all in my head. >> So, now Doug Benefield has moved into an. apartment in Florida [music] as the. couple attempts to co-parent Emerson. >> But things started [music] to. deteriorate.

He was becoming [music] very possessive. and controlling again. >> Doug has a tracking device put on. Ashley's car, even hires a private. investigator. His attorney says it. wasn't unreasonable given Ashley's past. allegations. >> He never. tried to hide the fact that he had put. the tracker on the car. And he wanted us. to kind of figure out what's going on. Am I being lied to? >> And then new concerns from Ashley.

>> She started coming home hurt. One day came back. with her. face. very badly injured. >> [music]. >> And what were you told? >> He. said that she was playing with bubbles. And that she had slipped and fell. >> It was consistent with what happened. She fell on her face with a pacifier. Ashley, however, made another abuse. allegation.

>> The sheriff's office and child. protective services investigate the. claims and conclude that there are no. indicators of injury or abuse. >> None of these cases led to charges. The child [music] protection team closed. them without any findings and then the. sheriff's office closed them as. unfounded. >> Then, amidst all this tension, the. Bennefields make a decision that will. confound everybody who knows them. >> He had gotten a job in Maryland.

And so, we started talking about. all moving. >> Moving as a family to Maryland. >> Uh not as a family, but moving. Like. together at the same time. >> I was just stunned. I mean, and once. again, Doug, what are you doing? She tried to ruin. your life. >> All along Doug would tell everyone who. knew him, "I believe I can make this. work.". >> How do you rationalize patching things.

up with a man who you think has been. abusing your daughter? >> He was her father. I wanted things to be as good as they. could be. >> But you know now that this sounds pretty. dysfunctional. >> Yeah. There didn't seem to be a good option. >> So, you're packing up. You're going to make this move. Doug. comes over. Did you two begin. arguing? [music].

>> He was constantly going back to. this idea that we had to live together. Telling me that wasn't how God intended. it. He just. flipped out. And it just kept. escalating. >> Escalating, she says, to the point of no. return. >> When you take a good man. and a woman who's. manipulative at her professional level, he's not ever going to play chess with. her and win. >> That bedroom was [music] empty.

other than two handguns. We found that suspicious. I was extremely concerned about Ashley's. safety. Ashley was about to knock down that. house of cards. I don't think he could have ever guessed. what was going to happen to him. >> And what happened? >> I had my gun. I told him to stop.

Sorry. >> [music]. >> What led you to go for the gun? >> I've never been so scared in my life. >> [music]. >> The information that I had was that it. was a domestic-related shooting. The husband was dead. The wife [music]. did the shooting and she claimed. self-defense. >> Ashley Benefield's life is taking center. stage at what's been dubbed [music] the.

black swan murder trial. >> Who murdered Ashley Benefield? >> There was always this little thought in. the back of my head that said, "Ashley's. going to do something to him.". >> She said, "My dad's dead, isn't he?" And. then she said, "She killed him. She. killed him, didn't she?". >> Why would you have a loaded gun in the. house and you've got a child? >> There was a ticking. >> clock. She was very, very afraid that. Doug was going to take this child away. from her. >> [music]. >> This is all part of Ashley's crazy. campaign to just annihilate Doug in.

every single [music] way. >> He starts moving his arms around. >> Well, show me. What was he doing? >> We stand with Ashley. >> We stand with Ashley. >> Even her own little daughter marching. for her mom. >> We stand with Ashley. >> He told you he had killed his wife? >> And he said that he could make me. disappear, too.

>> In the ballet world, it's known as the. pas de deux, a duet, a step of two. For Ashley and Doug Benefield, a former. ballerina and a businessman, their dance. begins with a 13-day whirlwind. courtship, plans to build a ballet. company, and later, a baby. But the love. affair turns dark and disturbing, court. battles, disputed allegations of. poisoning, abuse, and in the finale, Doug and Ashley,

seemingly about to reconcile [music] and. start anew, reach a sudden and tragic. end. What happened in the moments before the. gunshots rang out in this Florida. community in September of 2020 will be. scrutinized for years by investigators, by lawyers, and the media. Ashley Benefield has kept quiet about. what she says happened that night until. she sat down with me. How are you doing? >> Um.

it depends on the moment. Just a lot of. emotion, uh kind of like a roller coaster. >> That roller coaster, Ashley says, took a. sharp turn in the fall of 2020, when. after 4 years of ups and downs, she and. her husband, Doug, were preparing to. move to Maryland. The plan, according to. Ashley, was to continue living. separately, just as they had in Florida. >> He was constantly going back to.

this idea that we had to live together. >> In these text messages from September. 27th, the Benefields exchanged jokes, even emojis. Doug arrives at 5:30 with a U-Haul at. the gated community where Ashley lives. with her mom. Ashley's mom and daughter Emerson are. out of the house at a nearby park. Ashley claims it isn't long before. things go from friendly to fiery.

>> Sounds like you guys are just agreeing. to pack and. did you two begin. arguing verbally? Was there yelling? >> There was a back and forth. >> [snorts]. >> She goes on to say that Doug becomes. physically aggressive, too. At one. point, bumping into her with a moving. box and scraping her side. She then says she tries to diffuse the. tension and asks him to leave. >> He ended up trapping me.

And I tried to leave. He hit me. >> Where did he hit you? Did he threaten you? >> He said I couldn't leave. I almost made it to the front door he. stopped me. I ran to my bedroom. And he followed me there. Told him to stop.

Sorry. >> What led you to go for the gun? >> He had never hit me before. I thought he would stop if he saw it. >> What did you think was about to happen? >> I thought he was actually going to kill. me this time. >> Did he have a gun? >> [music]. >> Not that I could see. He told me I was done. And even though I was still on holding. the gun, he lunged at me.

I'm sorry. >> You fired four times. You missed him twice. And when you hit him, what did you think? >> I ran. >> Ashley says she races out of her house. over to a neighbor's home. Two residents. who were out walking their dog who heard. the shots describe seeing a woman. frantically running from the home. >> May I have your 911? What is the.

urgency? >> Okay, the address is right next door to. me. She just came over. Her strange husband attacked her and she. says she shot him. >> Okay, what's his name? >> His name is. Doug Benefield. >> I said that Doug attacked me and I shot. him. It was all a blur. >> Did you think you had killed him? >> I don't know if he was behind me or. chasing me or what. I didn't know.

>> I don't know. She came in. She was quite. hysterical. I didn't know who was. banging on my door. She said that he. attacked her and she shot him. >> And at the end of that call, even though. the neighbor had never seen Doug or. Ashley fight, he tells the dispatcher. something alarming. >> Just between you and me, the son of a. has been harassing them and. threatening them for the long time. >> Okay. >> I probably shouldn't say that.

>> When law enforcement first arrived at. the house following the 911 call and. they make it in the house, they find. Doug. >> He had a gunshot wound to his calf. through and through. He had a gunshot wound to his right side. [music] chest area that landed in his. back across on the left-hand side. Paramedics arrived, they continued CPR. and took him to the hospital, but he was. pronounced deceased at the hospital. >> This is the man that. you had loved, the father of your child. What did you make [music] of it when you.

heard that he was dead? >> I was horrified. It's like the worst nightmare. >> A nightmare Ashley won't wake up from. anytime soon. >> That bedroom was essentially empty other. [music] than. two handguns. One of them was in a backpack hanging in. the closet. One of them was just in a.

bin on top of a hamper and we found that. suspicious. >> I think that definitely gave the. detectives pause. >> There was always this little thought in. the back of my head that said Ashley's. going to do something to him. Ashley's. going to sabotage him somehow. There's a. look in [music] her eyes. where she. she just looks like she finally got her. way. >> I remember thinking to myself. there's something wrong here.

>> [music]. >> Every morning [music]. Doug reached out to Eva no matter where. he was in the world. >> He would either text [music] me a good. morning or he would send me a Bible. verse. So I expected that.

>> And that [music] morning he didn't send. it. >> And I. just texted him like 10 times. And. [music] then I said, "Dad, this is. scaring me.". >> Monday morning I was in the office. >> [music]. >> and I saw an email that Ashley's. attorney sent that we need to cancel. Wednesday's hearing. Doug is dead. >> [music]. >> I had to call Doug's family. It was just.

heart-wrenching. To the poor girl, she knew. She just. said, "My dad's dead, isn't he?" And. then she said, "She killed him. She. killed him, didn't she?". And I [music] set down my phone down and. I said, "I don't have parents anymore.". I was just shaking violently for like 6. hours. >> Doug Benefield's family and friends.

[music] are grappling with unbelievably. tragic news. And meantime, investigators. are trying to make sense of what. happened the night before. >> The information that I had was that it. was a domestic-related shooting. The husband was dead. The wife did the. shooting and she claimed self-defense. >> Ashley is taken to the sheriff's office. where attorneys from her family court. case are waiting. >> You can say whatever you want to say, but no one can stop this process.

>> [music]. >> give a statement. Why not? >> My. attorney is yelling to me [music] in the. parking lot. You know, don't say anything. Don't say. anything. I guess I was just following. advice. >> Ashley does consent to photos that she. says document the swelling on her face. [music] where she says Doug hit her. >> When I saw her that night after she left. the police station, the left side of her. face was swollen. She had obviously been.

struck. The next morning when she was. changing a shirt, I saw the cut on her. stomach. >> But law enforcement contends that. Ashley's injuries don't suggest a. life-or-death struggle. >> There was no swelling. There was no. bruising. There was no difference in the. way she looked. The entirety of the. injuries that they found [music]. that were relevant was a scratch on her. side and that was it. They got pictures. of every angle of every place that the.

attorneys wanted them to take. >> [music]. >> and there were no injuries except for. that scratch. >> And investigators are also skeptical of. Ashley's claims of being attacked. because Doug was unarmed. She had access. to two weapons. >> [music]. >> You said that you were responsible gun. owner, but why would you have a loaded. gun in the house and you've got a child? >> Well, the purpose of having a gun is for.

like a self-defense that I had is that. if something were to happen crazy in the. middle of the night. that it would be [music] accessible. >> But then you've got a loaded gun that's. basically sort of out in a bin. There. are those who say that sounds really. suspicious. >> I mean, I feel like anything can be. turned to try to make it look a certain. way. >> We found that suspicious that someone. would have two guns readily accessible. in an empty room when everything else is.

in a U-Haul truck. >> According to the medical examiner's. report, the fatal gunshot entered the. right side of Doug Bennefield's chest. To investigators, that doesn't fit with. somebody who's lunging toward her. >> If someone were coming at you or. attacking you, the entrance wound to the fatal shot. would not be in the side. >> And results from the forensic lab raised. even more questions about Ashley's claim.

of self-defense. >> There was no stippling on Doug's shirt, so that [music] told us that the barrel. of the gun was at least 3 to 7 ft away. and that's the [music] barrel of the. gun, not even her body. So, they were. not in a. combat life or death situation where. they were locked together. >> Just over a month after Doug Benefield. is shot and killed, Ashley is charged with second-degree. murder. She pleads not guilty.

>> The Manatee County woman charged with. shooting and killing her husband, Doug. >> charged with second-degree [music]. murder and the. >> He arrested. Charged with Doug's murder. What did you. think? >> I was shocked. I was blindsided by it. >> In the minds of investigators, Doug. Benefield's demise wasn't about. self-defense. To them, it was Ashley's. plan all along. >> The whole. lie, the whole deception is coming to an.

end. >> Doug was going to find out your wife is. lying to you. >> There was a ticking clock. She was very, very afraid that Doug was going to take. this child away from her. Very afraid. >> But others insist the real victim here. is Ashley. >> Doug Benefield [music] was anything but. what he portrayed himself to be. >> This is someone who is a predator and. this is someone who was not going to be. stopped. >> He told me that he had killed Renee.

>> He told you he had killed his wife? >> And he said that he could make me. disappear, too. >> [music]. [music]. >> I always try to go and sit and watch the. sunset when I can.

There's so many good memories there. We chose [music] to spread my dad's. ashes on Station 22 and a half, and that. is [music] the same station that my. parents met. >> We held a celebration, raised a toast [music] to. a life well-lived and a terrible ending. to a life. >> A life Doug's family insists was cut.

short by a woman they say was driven to. destroy him. >> No one at the memorial service in any. way believed the story of Doug attacking. Ashley, her shooting him out of fear. Doug still [music] loved Ashley in spite. of what she did to him, in spite of all. the accusations, [music]. all the allegations. >> I said, "Why do you keep going back?". And he said, "You know, I just want to. show her [music]. that like I'm a good man and men can be.

good." And then he wanted Emerson to. have a happy family. >> He was willing to do whatever he had to. do to be a part [music] of Emerson's. life. >> And while it appears to some that the. couple were trying for yet another fresh. start, their family court case in. Florida was still open. Both Ashley and. Doug had been evaluated by a. psychologist, and that report was. completed just before the planned move. to Maryland. Prosecutors insist the.

report about Ashley is crucial, that. once released, Doug was going to learn. that she had no intention of. reconciling. >> [music]. >> Ashley was afraid that Doug was going to. take custody away from her. This is the judge that did not [music]. believe her theatrics, and if anyone was. going to do it, it was going to be this. judge. >> And prosecutors believe the move to. Maryland offers Ashley another chance.

and another court to keep Doug away from. her and their child. >> I believe that she [music] was going to. start everything again in Maryland and. hoped for a different result. >> Were you thinking at all of you've got. another state you can try to. fight him for custody? >> My hope was that. >> [music]. >> if something was going wrong. that maybe in a fresh place. they would take it more seriously. >> Ashley's mindset leading up to the.

shooting, prosecutors say, is critical. Was this a woman who truly feared for. her life? >> Text messages between Doug and Ashley. leading up to that day, in the days. ahead, and then the day of the homicide. were very normal. >> [music]. >> To say that someone couldn't have been. defending themselves later in a day. because of nice text messages that. morning is absurd. Doug was always like. a flip of a switch. >> He could turn on a [music] dime. He. could be very happy. He could be.

charming. But then, for no reason at. all, he could get. very upset. We kept on asking for help. It's been years of absolute hell. And we. went from one abuser to a system that is. abusing a victim. >> Were you an abused woman? >> Yeah. I didn't think so at first. I remember. like trying to argue, "No, like it's. it's not like that. You know, I don't. have broken bones and. black eyes.".

>> Most incidents of domestic violence are. subtle. where the offender [music]. uses. isolation. financial control threatening, [music]. verbal abuse, things that the general. public doesn't necessarily see. But these are also things that the. victim doesn't always know is abuse. >> There was no evidence to indicate. [music] that she was truly a victim of.

abuse in the months leading up to the. homicide when they were not even living. together. >> In the months before the shooting, Ashley reaches [music] out to a domestic. violence agency and eventually connects. with a therapist, Dr. Barbara Russell, who becomes a trusted friend and. advocate. >> This relationship [music] was very. controlling. He was incessantly sending. her text messages saying that all of the. men that are probably flirting with her. need to be exterminated [music] like. rats. And then he would shift gears and.

talk to her very lovingly and sweetly. [music]. Like most domestic violence situations, it escalated. He would push [music] her, he would lock. her in bathrooms. >> During one of those alleged incidents. early in their relationship, Ashley. claims Doug admitted something about his. late wife that terrified her. >> He had always told me that they had this. fairy tale marriage, that. >> [music]. >> they never fought, and then I found.

messages. >> Text messages she says reveal a side of. Doug that Ashley claims she saw in her. own marriage. >> She said one time [music] he kicked her. really hard. He had secretly videotaped them starting. on their honeymoon. One time we were having an argument. [music]. and he told me that he killed Renee. >> He told you he had killed his wife? >> And he said that he could make me. disappear, too.

>> [music]. >> An investigation was done. There was no. finding of foul play in any way. There. was a full autopsy. >> The coroner in Renee's death. investigation ruled that she died of. natural causes due to a heart condition. >> Ashley tried to convince me that my dad. killed my mom. I said, "Dad, this is. what she's doing." [music] She was just. kind of like we're going to therapy. where you know things will be okay.

Obviously like I didn't kill your mom. >> This is all part of Ashley's crazy. campaign. Ashley wanted to keep Doug. away from that kid at the expense of. everything and everyone else. She would. not stop. >> Her goal was never to get rid of Doug. Her goal was to keep her daughter safe. That's very different. than wanting to kill somebody. >> Two starkly different portraits of.

Ashley Benefield. Is she a murderer? >> Benefield taking center stage at what. has been dubbed the Black Swan murder. trial. >> [music]. >> or a victim who stood her ground? >> He told her she was finished. >> He's coming at you and you have nowhere. to go. What do you do? You shoot to. protect yourself. >> A legal strategy that could keep Ashley. free. >> This is the one chance [music] at this. point that we have to end it all now.

>> We stand with Ashley, mother, daughter, sister, friend. >> [music]. >> How do you feel? >> All right, here. How about I push you. this way? You ready? >> Yeah. >> So what's summer been like for you two? >> Emerson [music] does a lot of swimming, right?

>> Yeah, I can do I can swim a lot, pretty. much. >> So you're getting to be a strong. swimmer. >> Wow. >> Ashley Benefield has spent several years. under house arrest living with her mom. and daughter Emerson, who's now five, while awaiting trial for second degree. murder. >> Here we are climbing trees, catching. geckos. >> [laughter]. >> This has been hanging, you know, in the. balance really for years now. And in the. same.

time, you know, you're trying to mother. >> Um. it definitely wouldn't be what I would. pick, but I'm I'm thankful for. all the good things that we have. She's. an amazing little girl. I love being her. mommy. >> Meanwhile, the other daughter caught in. the middle, 22-year-old [music] Eva. Benefield, found her own way to process. her pain. >> When I was 15, my mom died of an. underlying heart condition. I had been. on [music] Tik Tok for like a few.

months, and I thought, "Oh, that'd be. funny if I made a joke about my dad. being murdered." I made [music]. a Tik Tok, and I put my phone down, and. I went to bed, and I woke up, [music]. and it was at 700,000 likes. And then it. just kept going and going and going. It. got like 3 million likes and like 10. million views. And within 2 weeks, I had. 100,000 followers. >> Eva has. gone from grieving and stuck in [music]. trauma.

to getting help. to finding an outlet in her art. >> Eva, Doug's daughter, does not support. you. Do you want to say anything to her? >> My heart's broken for her. >> [snorts]. >> She has been through so much. I wouldn't even know where to start. >> In February 2023, Ashley's legal team.

files a motion to dismiss under. Florida's stand your ground law. The law allows the use of deadly force. if a person believes that that force is. necessary to prevent imminent death or. to prevent a violent crime without any. expectation to retreat. >> Doug stopped her from fleeing her home. Well, that would be [music] false. imprisonment and that would qualify as a. violent felony, which would give her the.

right to use deadly force. [music]. >> Ashley's defense filed a 105-page. motion presenting her version of the. night she shot Doug. For his family, it. was the first [music] time hearing her. side. >> The story they made up is as implausible. as. >> [music]. >> everything else she ever made up about. Doug and their relationship. It's implausible that any of that. occurred the way she and her lawyer have. told it. >> The court found enough merit in Ashley's.

motion to grant her a hearing. Now, the. burden of proof shifts to the state to. prove that Ashley did not act in. self-defense. >> The prosecution has to basically put on. a trial, but it's just a hearing in. front of a judge. >> [music]. >> Well, with this hearing. we have the opportunity to put a stop to. the proceedings. Then, I get my life back. >> Doug's family travels to Florida to.

attend the hearing. >> It feels a little weird just because the. last time I was here was um when my dad. was alive. >> All right, good morning everyone. We are. on the record in the state of Florida. versus Ashley Benefield. >> The state calls eight witnesses. including Doug's family members and law. enforcement who testify that Ashley had. no significant injuries. >> [music]. >> to justify self-defense. >> Did you have a crime scene technician. take photographs of her? >> Uh we did.

>> And why did you want pictures? >> I didn't notice any kind of injuries, things that you would typically see. during a physical altercation. >> For their part, the The relied solely on. the details laid out in the 105-page. motion filed before the hearing, calling. no witnesses. >> There was [music] no independent. evidence that refuted. her version of events. I believe this. motion compels the court to grant it.

Thank you for the court's patience. >> Judge didn't rule from the bench. They. typically [music] do not. After the. hearing ended, we just had to wait for a. written order. >> It would take 2 months, but ultimately. the judge would deny Ashley Benefield's. stand-your-ground motion, saying the. state had shown [music] the shooting was. not in self-defense. Now, out of. options, Benefield will have to face a. jury of her peers in this courthouse. >> It's happening right now. Potential. jurors being questioned in what people.

are calling the Black Swan trial. >> The Black Swan trial? >> Black Swan murder trial? >> The Black Swan [music]. has a catchy ring, and it. sensationalizes my life. And it's sad to. me. that people who don't even know me. have this idea of a monster. >> But not everybody sees her that way. >> We stand with Ashley. >> We stand with Ashley. >> Dozens of protesters here at the Manatee.

County Courthouse marching in defense of. Ashley Benefield. >> And the littlest supporter marching out. there also happens to be one of Ashley's. biggest defenders. >> We stand with Ashley. >> She kept on asking, "Mommy, can I go? Can I go? I want to be part of this. I. want to stand up for my mommy.". "I don't want to be without my mommy.". And I. I'm sorry. >> We stand with Ashley. >> With Ashley Benefield now facing the. possibility of life in prison, the big. question is will the jury believe her?

>> The entire dynamic of the trial shifting. today as Ashley Benefield made her way. to the stand. >> The stakes for Ashley were extremely. high. >> I was hoping that [music] they would. call Ashley. >> There's nowhere to go. I was trapped. >> I really just wanted them to see Ashley. for Ashley. >> I thought he was going to kill me. >> [snorts].

[music]. >> Testimony in the so-called Black Swan. murder trial happening in Manatee. County. >> Supporters rallying behind Ashley. Benefield. Benefield is the Manatee. County woman charged with shooting. [music] and killing her husband Doug. Benefield. >> After nearly 4 years, Ashley Benefield. finally gets her day in court, where. she's hoping to prove that she shot her. husband Doug in self-defense.

>> This was a custody battle. that this mother was going to win at all. costs. And the cost was the life of Doug. Benefield. And that is murder. >> All right, state call your first. witness. >> The prosecution gets to work building. its case. >> State calls Stephanie Murphy. >> Calling Doug Benefield's family attorney. to the stand. >> At the time the child was born, did you. or Doug know that the child was born? >> No, gosh, we didn't know for a good 5 or.

6 [music] weeks after she was born. >> All right, who is your next witness? >> Detective Chris Gillam. >> All right. The state also calls the. detective who spoke with Ashley back in. 2018 [music]. when he investigated her claims that. Doug had abused their daughter. >> She asked for me to arrest Doug. when he came inside the courtroom in. front of the presiding judge. >> And what was your reaction to that? >> That that absolutely would not occur. >> And how did she take that? >> She was upset. >> I think it was very important testimony.

[music] It was a snapshot into. the real Ashley Benefield. >> Her tone turned very aggressive and she. says, "You will arrest [music]. him in front of the judge and I will. make sure you do it." And she says, "I'll do whatever I have to do to keep. my baby, you asshole.". >> Ashley's side insists she was only. trying to protect her child from a man. she was terrified of. >> Defense would call Dr. Jason Kentel. >> They call a mental health counselor who. saw both Doug and Ashley.

>> Did you [music] conclude whether there. was an intimidation issue present? >> Ashley stated that she was scared of. Doug. >> Did you reach any conclusions [music]. with respect to Douglas Benefield? >> Doug occurred as someone who was um. domineering. uh and. uh. the terminology that I would use at. times would be super controlling. He. would fit the stereotype of an [music]. alpha male.

In my opinion. >> The defense also turns to a domestic. violence [music] expert to explain why, even though Ashley claimed she was. living in fear, it may not have always. looked that way from the outside. >> How common is it, Mr. Ferris, for a. victim of domestic violence to smile and. act happy in the company of the abuser? >> Very much so because they're afraid. They They They found this least.

resistance. They're trying to not poke. the bear, as we'll say. >> Doug didn't verbally abuse her. Never physically touched her. He would be angry over how [music] she. tried to ruin his life. But the anger never came out in. inappropriate ways. >> Then the defense calls the one person. they believe can convince the jury of. Ashley's innocence. >> The defense calls Ashley Benefield.

How are you feeling this morning, Ashley? >> Nervous. >> The questioning quickly turning to the. night of the shooting. >> I ran to try to leave the house. He hit me in the side of the head. [laughter]. He had never actually hit me before. >> What did you do? >> I ran. Doug was standing in the doorway.

His face was red. Like the veins were bulging in his neck. The way he was looking at me, he didn't. even look like Doug. His eyes were black. I I had held the gun like in front of me. and I I said, "Stop.". And [snorts] he like turned and he got. into this like. like a fighting stance. I thought he was going to kill me. >> Somehow Ashley Benefield found the.

strength to testify on her own behalf. and I thought she did it extremely well. >> Judge, [snorts] I wonder could we have a. minute? >> Ashley used [music] a lot of theatrics, a lot of in my opinion acting. Looking. her in the face, it did not seem genuine. to [music] me. >> Ma'am, there's Phoenix sitting next to. you. Please don't. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Even though she cried hysterically. numerous times, there was not one tear.

>> In her cross-examination, prosecutor. Suzanne O'Donnell presses Ashley about. that moment she says Doug hit her in the. head. >> You say he slapped you? >> I I wouldn't know how to classify it. [music] He struck me. He hit me. >> Was his hand open or closed? >> I don't remember. >> Okay. In direct examination, she knew the. color of his eyes and the way he was. acting. And when I asked her, "Did he. hit you with an open hand or a closed. hand?" she didn't know. Wouldn't you know if someone hit you.

with a fist versus an open hand? >> Judge, if I could have her step down so. she can demonstrate. >> You may. >> I absolutely wanted to get her down off. of the stand because she would have been. that much closer to the jury. >> Okay, so he's standing there. >> [snorts]. >> He turns to like this. and starts moving his arms around. >> Like that. >> Well, show me. What was he doing? >> He kind of like he already got like. this. I mean, he was like making like. fighting motions. I don't I don't know I.

don't know fighting. I don't know. >> Okay. >> This was the time [music] to show the. jury exactly what this person was doing. Why were you so scared? And she just. couldn't do it. >> [music]. >> And I believe that that was because it. didn't really happen. >> And O'Donnell zeros in on the physical. evidence, arguing [music] that it. contradicts Ashley's claims of. self-defense. >> So, I want to talk a little bit about. this trajectory. >> The. fatal bullet [music] went in the side of. the chest and almost came out the other. side of the back.

Her story was, he [music] starts to. lunge at her. If she then lifted the gun. and shot, it would go. >> [music]. >> in his chest and right out his back. It. would not go side to side. >> Everybody unanimously agreed [music]. that the wound path of that projectile. was from front to back, left [music] to. right. Well, I don't care how much you. would like to move front to back [music]. to the side, it is still front to back.

>> Ashley's. action on that day was absolutely. [music]. justified. She had the right to stand. her ground and use force, including. deadly force, [music]. for the last several years, I've walked hand in hand with Ashley. I'm now going to surrender her fate to. you. >> So, all of you may now retire to. consider your verdict.

>> Any minute now, Ashley Benefield could. learn her fate. >> I've played out, [music]. I guess, both scenarios in my mind. >> 6 hours into the deliberations, tensions. begin building in the jury room. >> And then, at approximately 10:00, the. jurors sent out a note. >> When they came [music] back, I feel a. sinking feeling. We were heavy-hearted. at that moment.

>> [music]. >> Are you envisioning what it might be. like to hear. guilty? >> Yeah, I've played out, I guess, both. scenarios in my mind. I mean, part of this just doesn't seem. real. I keep thinking maybe one day I'll wake. up from the nightmare and realize that. none of this happened. >> Jurors [music] still deliberating after. closing arguments. >> It's 10:00 p.m. The jury in Ashley. Benefield's case.

>> [music]. >> has been deliberating for 6 hours. Then, a message from the foreperson. >> Yeah, I've received a note from you. It. says, "Unable to come to unanimous. [music] verdict.". >> Even worse than a not guilty would be a. hung jury, because then the family has. to go through this again. We just. [music] need some finality. >> But, the judge encourages the jurors to. keep deliberating and try to come to a. consensus. >> We'll be in recess until we get another. question or a verdict. >> And less than an hour later,

>> Breaking news, we have a verdict. >> When I saw that there was a verdict a. half an hour later, my heart was in my. throat. >> We, the jury, find the defendant is. guilty of manslaughter, a lesser. included offense. >> The jury does not find Ashley guilty of. second-degree murder. Instead, they. convict her of the lesser charge of. manslaughter. >> We were hopeful for a second-degree. murder conviction, but we were very, very satisfied with a [music].

manslaughter conviction. >> Ashley learns she'll be sentenced at a. later date. >> The sound was as good as the sight. Uh. we're very thankful that she was taken. off to jail. >> If she hadn't had her gun that night, I. know without a shadow of a doubt my. daughter would be dead. I I am sure of it. Why do they not.

believe women? Why should women live in. fear? >> I feel that Ashley was abusing a system. that is designed to help. people that are victims. So that's everyone back and it makes it. so much harder for [music] those people. that really are victims. >> I'll tell you the hardest part of that. verdict was not in the courtroom. It was when we came back to our office. without Ashley. Emerson was there. waiting for her mom, but she wouldn't.

leave right around that elevator. She. just stayed there. >> This case has always been sad to me. because there are children involved that. had nothing to do with [music] this. Emerson's without her father and. probably going to be without her mother. now for a long time. Doug's family got justice. Eva's [music] still without her father. >> So today kind of [singing] just feels. like the first day of the rest of my. life. >> [music]. >> I hope one day me and Emerson will be.

able to have a relationship where she. can come to me with [music] any. questions and I hope that one day I'll. be able to explain how great of a father. my dad would have been to her. And how great he was for the short. amount [music] of time that they got to. spend together. >> Ashley Benefield is scheduled to be. sentenced next month. David, she faces. up to 30 years in prison. >> And as for Doug and Ashley's 6-year-old.

daughter, Emerson, she's currently. living with Ashley's mother now. >> That's our program for tonight. Thanks. for watching. I'm David Muir. >> And I'm Deborah Roberts. From all of us. here at 20/20 and ABC News, good night. >> You've been listening to the 20/20 true. crime vault. Friday nights [music] at. 9:00 on ABC, you can also find all new. broadcast episodes of 20/20. Thanks for. listening.