Suvechha Sarkar
Douglas Glass Benefield, lovingly known as Doug, was a Navy veteran and a devoted father. However, his life turned upside down when he was brutally shot in Manatee County, Florida. The horrific crime sent shockwaves through the community and left his family members completely grief-stricken. It turned out that he was killed by someone who was the closest to him. CBS’ ’48 Hours: The Case of the Black Swan’ takes a deep look at how passion, control, and hatred could lead to a fatal crime. It also features interviews with his loved ones and officials who ultimately helped deliver justice.
Doug Benefield’s Life Reflected Service, Talent, and Love for Family
Douglas Glass Benefield, lovingly known as Doug, was born on October 2, 1961, in Santa Clara County, California, and arrived as a ray of sunshine in the lives of his parents, John Wesley and Suzanne Glass Benefield. He was always surrounded by the love and support of his parents and grew up in Huntsville, Alabama. Before graduating from Huntsville High School in 1980, Doug stood out for his remarkable athleticism. During his four years at the high school, he wrestled varsity and consistently attained ranks among the top 10 at the state level. Doug pursued a degree in Biology at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, and graduated in 1984. He was an Aggie Cowboys fraternity charter member during that time, which was later known as Beta Theta Pi.
Doug showcased his artistic talent by designing logos for businesses and painting murals at the university. After joining the Navy, he completed Aviation Officer Candidate School, became a Naval Flight Officer, and proceeded to fly the S-3B Viking aircraft. He continued to serve as a pilot for three years, stationed out of San Diego, California. Doug transitioned to Charleston, South Carolina, for the following three years, where he taught as a Mine Warfare Instructor before joining the Naval Intelligence Division. After retirement as a Lieutenant Commander in 1999, he opened his restaurant, Kiva Han, in Charleston. Simultaneously, Doug worked as a Consultant for the US Government on Security and Communication Technologies for several years. He supported defense and private equity ventures and earned recognition as an expert in quantum physics and futuristic technologies.
While in Charleston, Doug met his soulmate, Renee Cousar Benefield. They tied the knot and welcomed their daughter Eva into the world in 2001. Unfortunately, tragedy struck when his wife passed away in 2015, reportedly from an undiagnosed heart condition. Nine months later, in August 2016, Doug crossed paths with Ashley Byers and got a second chance at love. After just 13 days of dating, on September 6, 2016, they got married despite her being 24 years old and him being 54 years old. However, tensions soon arose between her and Doug’s daughter, Eva. Nevertheless, he helped Ashley set up a Ballet company, American National Ballet. Soon after, she got pregnant and went to her mother’s residence in Lakewood Ranch, in Manatee County, Florida, to live with her. Things began changing when she accused him of being abusive and poisoning her.
Doug Benefield Passed Away One Hour After he Was Rushed to the Hospital
By March 2018, Ashley gave birth to their daughter, Emerson, without Doug’s knowledge. In 2018, she reportedly sought an injunction to prevent him from seeing their daughter, claiming that he was abusive and tried to poison Ashley. However, it was denied, and the court ruled in favor of Doug in September 2018, reportedly stating that no evidence suggested the same. Shortly after, they agreed to meet outside the Sheriff’s office so that he could see Emerson. That was when Ashley reportedly suggested they spend more time together. Doug presumed everything was returning to normal. However, when he discovered that Ashley was dating someone else in August 2019, he filed for divorce.
Shockingly, in 2020, Ashley sought another injunction, accusing Doug of child abuse. He was never charged for the allegation, but the procedure was ongoing when he passed away. By the summer of 2020, Ashley decided to move to Maryland alongside Emerson and her mother, Alicia Byers. Despite the hurdles, Doug decided to move along with them, hoping to be present in his daughter’s life and make a fresh start. Things began to look better, but it took a tragic turn on September 27, 2020. He went to Alicia’s home in Florida to help her and Ashley pack for the move. Alicia went out with Emerson for a walk when, around 7 pm, authorities received a call from their neighbor.
The neighbor reportedly informed the police that Doug was shot in Alicia’s home. When officials rushed to the scene, they found that he was still alive and had been shot twice – on his right leg and right arm. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries one hour later, since the bullet that was shot at his arm had entered his chest cavity. They also discovered a bullet on the bedroom floor and two bullet impacts in the nearby wall. Further inspection revealed that Doug had no weapons on him, and the bullet trajectory indicated that he was presumably trying to run. The autopsy determined his cause of death to be the fatal gunshot wound to his right arm that entered the right chest cavity and then his right lung, leading to excessive bleeding.
Overwhelming Physical Evidence Brought Doug Benefield’s Killer to Justice
During the 911 call from Ashley’s neighbor, he reportedly informed them that she had run to his home with her .45 caliber gun in hand and claimed that she shot Doug because he allegedly attacked her. When she was taken to the station for questioning, she refused to speak with detectives. While investigating, Ashley’s mother claimed that she and her daughter had been facing domestic abuse for more than 3 years from Doug. Ashley’s attorney reportedly told the officials that she allegedly made an escape plan and arranged a rental car, a safe location, and a burner phone. The attorney continued that Ashley was set to implement the plan the following day.
However, Ashley allegedly grew concerned since she felt Doug was catching on to her. However, her claim of self-defense did not match the physical evidence. The medical examiner noted that the place where Doug was shot could only be done if he was not in a combat stance, but instead trying to run away. That analysis did not match the alleged account of his attack on Ashley. Furthermore, he had no weapons nearby, which would harm her. They believed the motive could have been getting the custody of their daughter. Ultimately, in November 2020, she was arrested and charged with second-degree murder of Doug. Around 17 days later, she was released on a bond of $100,000.
The judge denied the defense’s motion to dismiss the case against Ashley in July 2023. Her jury trial began in July 2024, where she claimed that Doug had hit her on the face that night. She alleged that she ran to the room, picked up her gun, and shot him when he allegedly lunged towards her. After deliberation, she was found guilty of a lesser charge of manslaughter and not guilty of second-degree murder on July 30, 2024. On December 3, 2024, Ashley was sentenced to 20 years in prison with 10 years of probation.
Read More: Eva Benefield: Where is Doug Benefield’s Daughter Now?
