Jury selection begins in murder trial of Lakewood Ranch mother

BRADENTON, Fla. (WFLA) — Jury selection begins on Monday in the murder trial of Lakewood Ranch mother Ashley Benefield, who is accused of killing her estranged husband nearly four years ago, claiming it was self-defense.

Authorities were called to a Lakewood Ranch subdivision called Central Park after a 911 caller said his neighbor, Ashley Benefield, ran to his house, claiming she shot her husband Doug after he attacked her.

Five weeks of investigating later, Manatee County Sheriff’s Deputies charged then-28-year-old Benefield with the second-degree murder of her 59-year-old husband.

A sheriff’s office report found bullet entry wounds on Doug indicating he was shot while facing away from his wife, and they found no evidence of self-defense.

The couple was separated at the time of the shooting.

Investigators learned that in the time since Benefield had been pregnant, she made several allegations against her husband, though none of physical violence.

In a hearing before the shooting, a judge granted Doug access to the child and said Benefield was lying about her allegations. A law enforcement report stated, “It appears that Ashley had exhausted all legal means of keeping the child away from Douglas before the shooting.”

Among the group marching was her pastor, Mike Brown, who told News Channel 8 he stands with Ashley.

“We really just want to see justice prevail. When she first came into our congregation, I had absolutely no clue who she was. I found out later on and as I observed over that four months who Ashley was, I saw an incredible mother, an incredible daughter, a friend, and a very compassionate, service-minded individual that just loved on people. She helped us out so many times, just with children and just with working with other people that she didn’t have to amidst all of this turmoil,” said Pastor Brown. “I have really seen somebody who is true. Somebody who is who they say they are and not who they are portrayed to be,” he continued.

Doug and Ashley’s love story came to be in a short amount of time. According to Doug’s family, the couple got married 13 days after they met. When the shooting took place in 2020, the two were in the middle of a custody battle involving their then-2-year-old daughter.

Doug Benefield’s family was also in the courthouse Monday for the long-awaited trial.

“For us, it is not four years, it is 1394 days,” said Doug’s cousin Tommie Douglas Benefield Junior.

Benefield Jr. says he’s hopeful the jury will come back with a guilty verdict based on the facts of the case.

“Doug was a technology guy, he has many patents out there that are leading companies into the future today. Just a good guy who fell in love with a woman, made a really bad choice to marry in 13 days, did everything he could to try to put together with his daughter in very short notice, bringing a young woman into the home, and none of it went well,” said Benefield Jr.

Last year, Benefield claimed the shooting was a Stand Your Ground case, but the courts ruled that out. Her attorney declined to comment on the case.

The judge told Benefield — who is out on bond right now — that if she is found guilty, she’s facing a minimum mandatory sentence of 25 years in prison and a maximum of life in prison. The trial is expected to last about two weeks.

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