Posted on 11/10/2020 12:19:44 AM PST by nickcarraway
Douglas Benefield had his back to his wife when she opened fire on him Sept. 27, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. Benefield, 58, later died, and the woman, Ashley Benefield, 28, was arrested and charged this week with second-degree murder.
Details about what detectives believed happen were included in an affidavit in support of an arrest warrant for Ashley Benefield.
Detectives say recent claims by Ashley Benefield that she was the victim of a domestic violence and that her husband had attacked her before she shot him, were false.
According to the affidavit, Benefield began to file domestic violence reports soon after she realized she was pregnant.
“It appears that the main focus of these complaints was to keep the child away from Douglas,” the affidavit states.
Most recently, Benefield had attempted to file an injunction against her husband in a last ditch attempt to keep the child away from him. The judge in that case, “openly advised that she did not find Ashley’s story to possess a ‘scintilla of truth,’” detectives said.
The judge ordered visitation and, “at this point, it appeared Ashley had exhausted all legal means to keep the child away from Douglas before the shooting.”
According to the affidavit, Benefield ran to a neighbor’s house in the Central Park subdivision after shooting her husband. Deputies arrived to find Douglas Benefield still alive and that he had been shot twice by a .45 caliber handgun. He was shot once in the leg and another round grazed his right arm and entered his chest.
Benefield was taken to the hospital where he died later that night.
Detectives say Benefield fired four times. Her husband was struck twice and two additional bullets were found embedded in the walls.
Detectives determined that based on how the bullets entered Douglas Benefield’s body, “it does not appear that he was facing Ashley when she began shooting,” the affidavit states.
Benefield was several feet away from her husband when she opened fire, according to the affidavit.
There were no other weapons found in the vicinity other than the handgun Benefield used to shoot her husband.
Benefield’s attorney was already at the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office when she was transported there for an interview. Deputies noted there were no signs of a struggle on her other than a small scratch that a witness said had happened to her the day before the shooting when she was scratched by a box.
Benefield refused to make any statements during the initial interview attempt, and detectives noted that to date, she has still refused to provide any further statements.
Benefield was arrested Wednesday and charged with second-degree murder. She remains in custody without bond pending a future court date.
Never turn your back...
One damn creepy photo. Not evidence, but man...
Feelin’ the Manson vibe.
NOT GUILTY!
How much was the life insurance death benefit? Doubtful she married him out of love.
should be 1st degree
Maybe. But she probably won’t even be convicted of second degree, since she’s claiming self-defense.
That’s not Manson it’s meth. Florida special
Dang, I read her name the first time as Ashley Banfield. Too bad it isn’t.
The eyes, the eyes....windows to the soul.
Too-tall ballerina finds a new job with a company that highlights diversity
Not Guilty? Wow, You and me definitely have very different taste. That is a Batshit Crazy looking murderer.
Yeth, it thertainly ith a heck of a meth.
He was 58, she was 28. Raises the possibility of a financial motives in the marriage, although far from conclusive.
Knew it.
Even before i saw the photo.
Suspicions confirmed.
Missed 2 shots at close range. She had to be crazy during shooting and crazy before and after. Or on drugs.
I have always found the combination of brunette hair and blue eyes irresistibly attractive...until this photo. She’s just scary looking.
Knew what?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.