Law&Crime podcast explores Ashley Benefield Case
October 10, 2024
Legal and true crime network Law&Crime has announced the next installment of its trial-focused podcast slate, Black Swan Murder, available exclusively on Wondery+. The new series will be hosted by Cooper Moll, writer and producer of Law&Crime’s three previous charting podcasts, Karen, Sins of the Child and The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke. It details the tragic death of veteran-turned-entrepreneur Doug Benefield at the hands of his gun-toting, professional dancer wife, Ashley Benefield, in a case that simultaneously explored the defendant’s position as an alleged victim of domestic abuse and the exploitative ringleader of a doomed ballet business venture.
In a case that captivated social media for both its vivid ballet backdrop and the vocal “We Stand With Ashley” movement launched by the defendant’s diehard supporters, the jury was asked to determine whether the ballerina shot her husband out of self defense or spite. As the trial wore on, however, followers’ attention shifted instead to the full scope of the couple’s secret transgressions – specifically the bungled launch of a diversity-oriented ballet company that left a community of dancers jilted and destitute.
Over the course of six episodes, the series sets out to provide listeners with a detailed legal analysis of a complex string of evidence pertaining to Ashley’s recollections of the shooting, while also unpacking the deeper issues behind a seemingly picture-perfect marriage teeming with investment scams, poisoning accusations and several prior gun incidents. Through key interviews with investigators, attorneys and those with a front row seat to the Benefields’ turbulent partnership, the series weaves together a years-long timeline of violent behavior and conspiracy-fueled tendencies that ultimately turned a poised and disciplined ballerina into a cold-blooded killer.
Black Swan Murder is the fourth of five Law&Crime produced podcasts released on Wondery+ in the coming months. All of the preceding podcasts – The Rise and Fall of Ruby Franke, Sins of the Child and Karen – have garnered significant attention, with the first’s coverage of a mom-fluencer child-abuse scandal hitting the #1 spot in true crime on Apple Podcasts.
Black Swan Murder launches as part of Wondery’s Exhibit C brand campaign this fall, which celebrates true crime fandom. The campaign will also feature the expansion of the Law&Crime library on Wondery+, allowing subscribers to enjoy fan favorites including Sidebar with Jesse Weber and The Disturbing Truth in an ad-free listening experience.
The first two episodes of Black Swan Murder will be released on October 14th.
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