Ashley Benefield

Ashley Benefield is an American former ballerina who became widely known for the 2020 shooting death of her estranged husband, Doug Benefield, in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.

Ashley Benefield is an American former ballerina who became widely known for the 2020 shooting death of her estranged husband, Doug Benefield, in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. In 2024, she was convicted of manslaughter with a firearm and later sentenced to 20 years in prison, with additional probation to follow.

Background

Ashley Benefield was described in media reports as a former ballerina from Florida. She became publicly known through the homicide case involving her estranged husband, Doug Benefield.

2020 shooting

On September 27, 2020, Doug Benefield was shot at Ashley Benefield's mother's house in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, and later died in hospital. Prosecutors and the defence disputed whether the shooting was self-defense.

Trial and verdict

The case went to trial in 2024 and drew wide attention because of its association with the film Black Swan. After deliberation, the jury rejected second-degree murder and convicted Benefield of manslaughter with a firearm.

Sentencing

In December 2024, Benefield received a 20-year prison sentence followed by 10 years of probation. Later reporting said she was held in a Florida correctional facility and that her release date would be determined by her sentence and credit for time served.