BRYAN, Texas (KOLN/KBTX) – Former Nebraska AD Trev Alberts assumed his role as the new athletic director at Texas A&M Friday, just as a shocking development unfolded involving a man with ties to the university’s athletic department.
New Texas A&M assistant Blaise Taylor, 27, was arrested Thursday by U.S. Marshals in Utah. Taylor was indicted by a Nashville grand jury earlier this week on two counts of first-degree murder in the death of his girlfriend and her unborn child. Taylor is accused of poisoning Jade Benning on Feb. 25, 2023, and her unborn baby, which is believed to be Taylor’s.
Investigators say Taylor called 911 and said Benning was having an allergic reaction after the poisoning. She was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center by ambulance where her condition became critical. Her unborn child died on Feb. 27, 2023, and Benning died on March 6, 2023.
Earlier this month, Taylor joined the A&M Athletics staff as an assistant. Friday afternoon, he remained listed as a senior athletic assistant to the athletic director in the Texas A&M employee directory. KBTX reached out to Texas A&M Athletics to confirm details of Taylor’s employment with the university. A spokesperson for the athletics department said they were looking into his status as an employee and would follow up with additional information.
Taylor’s father, Trooper Taylor, serves on A&M’s football coaching staff as associate head coach and running backs coach under new head coach Mike Elko.
During Blaise Taylor’s time in Nashville, he worked for the Tennessee Titans in the pro scouting department. After Benning and the child died, Taylor moved to Utah where he worked at Utah State University as a senior defensive analyst for the 2023 season. Taylor was a four-year starter for Arkansas State in College.
Metro Nashville Police say they will work together with Utah authorities to arrange Taylor’s return to Nashville, which is expected to take weeks.
WATCH: WSMV coverage of Blaise Taylor’s arrest
KBTX writers contributed to this story.
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First appeared on www.1011now.com