Ex-ballerina convicted of murdering husband in infamous 'Black Swan' murder case, Her stepdaughter condemned her in an emotional statement in court as she was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday.
Ashley Benefield was found guilty in July of manslaughter for fatally shooting her 58-year-old husband, Doug Benefield, in Florida during a custody battle over their daughter in 2020.
Benefield, 33, looked downcast and stone-faced Monday as he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, followed by 10 years of probation.
“I've been waiting a long time to talk to her face to face,” Doug's daughter Eva Benefield said in a victim impact statement. “I hope prison will be beneficial to her.
“What hurts me the most is not the thought of not having my father anymore, but because I will always have him by my side in spirit.…What hurts me the most is not the idea that my father is no longer with me. Think about how I found you.”
Former ballerina found guilty of murder in high-profile 'Black Swan murder case'
Former ballet dancer Ashley Benefield was found guilty in September 2020 of fatally shooting her husband, Doug Benefield. (Facebook)
Ashley Benefield was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the “Black Swan” murder. (WTVT)
The manslaughter conviction comes in what has become known as the “black swan” case, in which Benefield was charged with the death of Doug inside his bedroom at his Lakewood ranch in Florida on September 27, 2020. This was a step down from the original charge of second-degree murder.
“For Doug…Ashley is this innocent, pure white swan,” Doug's family attorney Stephanie Murphy previously said on CBS' “48 Hours.”
“But beneath those white wings…she is an evil woman….She is a black swan.”
Former Florida ballet dancer charged with murdering husband during custody battle: Police
Ashley Benefield was found guilty of shooting and killing her husband, Doug Benefield, during a custody dispute. She said it was self-defense. (Facebook)
According to a complaint filed by a former ballerina, the former ballerina claims she shot and killed her husband in self-defense, claiming that she opened fire after ordering the Navy veteran to leave the house, and that she shot him in the face when her husband refused. He claims he hit him. Lawyer last year.
“I thought he was going to kill me,” Benefield testified during the trial. Investigators said Benefield showed no signs of physical abuse after the shooting.
Benefield accused Doug of emotional abuse, but the allegations were never substantiated. She also accused him of poisoning her with heavy metals while she was pregnant, firing a gun at her home and beating her dog.
Former Florida ballerina wants to be acquitted of murder rap in husband's death, pleads 'firmly' defense
Ashley Benefield, 31, is accused of fatally shooting her husband, Doug Benefield, at their Florida home in 2020 after she claimed he beat her. (Facebook)
Prosecutors argued that her abuse claims and allegations were made to gain sole custody of her daughter.
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At Monday's hearing, the court ordered that Benefield be diagnosed with PTSD and undergo a mental health evaluation in case he is released from prison and on probation.
Fox News' Rebecca Rosenberg and Timothy HJ Nerozzi contributed to this report.
