1 00:00:16,655 --> 00:00:18,551 SCANDAL IN THE BALLET WORLD. 2 00:00:18,551 --> 00:00:21,862 MY NAME IS ALICE ROBB AND I'M A 3 00:00:21,862 --> 00:00:22,827 CONTRIBUTING WRITER FOR "VANITY 4 00:00:22,827 --> 00:00:23,000 FAIR." 5 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:25,068 IT WAS A BUSINESS STORY ABOUT A 6 00:00:25,068 --> 00:00:27,206 BALLET COMPANY THAT TURNED INTO 7 00:00:27,206 --> 00:00:31,724 A MURDER INVESTIGATION. 8 00:00:31,724 --> 00:00:36,103 IN 2016, ASHLEY MARRIED A MUCH 9 00:00:36,103 --> 00:00:36,931 OLDER MAN. 10 00:00:36,931 --> 00:00:39,103 TOGETHER, THEY MADE A PLAN TO 11 00:00:39,103 --> 00:00:42,620 START A NEW BALLET COMPANY. 12 00:00:42,620 --> 00:00:44,241 ASHLEY'S DREAM WAS TO CREATE A 13 00:00:44,241 --> 00:00:46,137 BALLET COMPANY THAT WOULD BE A 14 00:00:46,137 --> 00:00:52,000 HOME FOR DANCERS WHO WERE 15 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:52,379 UNCONVENTIONAL. 16 00:00:52,379 --> 00:00:54,482 >> SHE DIDN'T WANT A 17 00:00:54,482 --> 00:00:54,965 COOKIE-CUTTER COMPANY. 18 00:00:54,965 --> 00:00:56,517 SHE WANTED GIRL THAT WERE TALL. 19 00:00:56,517 --> 00:00:59,862 GIRLS THAT WERE SHORT. 20 00:00:59,862 --> 00:01:00,275 >> I AM TALLER. 21 00:01:00,275 --> 00:01:01,206 I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GREAT 22 00:01:01,206 --> 00:01:02,689 FIT FOR ME. 23 00:01:02,689 --> 00:01:04,931 >> I DIDN'T KNOW DOUG COULD 24 00:01:04,931 --> 00:01:06,827 SPELL BALLET WHEN HE MET ASHLEY. 25 00:01:06,827 --> 00:01:08,793 YOU WANT TO MAKE HER HAPPY. 26 00:01:08,793 --> 00:01:11,448 >> ASHLEY WAS 24 AND DOUG WAS 27 00:01:11,448 --> 00:01:11,758 54. 28 00:01:11,758 --> 00:01:13,000 THEY KNEW EACH OTER FOR 29 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:14,000 APPROXIMATELY 13 DAYS BEFORE 30 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:15,724 THEY GOT MARRIED. 31 00:01:15,724 --> 00:01:16,827 ASHLEY WAS SENDING PHOTOGRAPHS 32 00:01:16,827 --> 00:01:18,965 OF HERSELF TO DOUG CONSTANTLY. 33 00:01:18,965 --> 00:01:21,000 SHE WAS, YOU KNOW, A BIKINI 34 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:24,241 MODEL AT SOME POINT AND SHE KNEW 35 00:01:24,241 --> 00:01:24,620 HOW TO WORK IT. 36 00:01:24,620 --> 00:01:28,517 SHE KNEW HOW TO USE IT. 37 00:01:28,517 --> 00:01:31,103 >> HIS MAJOR CONCERN IS HOW WILL 38 00:01:31,103 --> 00:01:32,551 HE INTRODUCE ASHLEY TO EVA? 39 00:01:32,551 --> 00:01:34,862 >> I FELT LIKE ASHLEY WAS TAKING 40 00:01:34,862 --> 00:01:36,586 MY DAD AWAY FROM ME. 41 00:01:36,586 --> 00:01:38,862 >> ASHLEY WANTS TO WIN TOTAL 42 00:01:38,862 --> 00:01:39,103 AFFECTION. 43 00:01:39,103 --> 00:01:40,655 SHE WANTS TO BE NUMBER ONE. 44 00:01:40,655 --> 00:01:42,000 >> THEY WOULD GO THROUGH PERIODS 45 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:45,206 WHERE SHE WAS RAGING AT DOUG. 46 00:01:45,206 --> 00:01:49,723 >> SHE FLIP-FLOPS BETWEEN HE'S A 47 00:01:49,723 --> 00:01:52,068 GREAT GUY, HE'S GOOD OR EVIL, 48 00:01:52,068 --> 00:01:52,896 GOOD OR EVIL. 49 00:01:52,896 --> 00:01:53,896 >> SHE GOES TO LIVE WITH HER 50 00:01:53,896 --> 00:01:56,206 MOTHER AND EFFECTIVELY CUTS OFF 51 00:01:56,206 --> 00:01:57,723 ALL COMMUNICATION WITH DOUG. 52 00:01:57,723 --> 00:01:59,206 HE'S BEGGING HER TO TALK ABOUT 53 00:01:59,206 --> 00:02:01,689 THINGS, GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE. 54 00:02:01,689 --> 00:02:03,000 MEANWHILE, SHE ACCUSED HIM OF 55 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:04,551 TRYING TO POISON HER. 56 00:02:04,551 --> 00:02:06,551 >> SHE'S ACCUSED HIM PUBLICLY OF 57 00:02:06,551 --> 00:02:08,033 MURDER, ATTEMPTED MURDER. 58 00:02:08,033 --> 00:02:10,482 >> WAS DOUG BENEFIELD DANGEROUS? 59 00:02:10,482 --> 00:02:12,931 >> THEY BOTH HAD A LOT OF GUNS. 60 00:02:12,931 --> 00:02:14,724 AND THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHERE 61 00:02:14,724 --> 00:02:17,241 DURING AN ARGUMENT, HE SHOT A 62 00:02:17,241 --> 00:02:20,655 GUN INTO THE CEILING. 63 00:02:20,655 --> 00:02:23,137 AFTER THE CASE WITH THE 64 00:02:23,137 --> 00:02:24,724 POISONING ALLEGATIONS I SAW A 65 00:02:24,724 --> 00:02:26,793 PICTURE OF THE TWO OF THEM, YOU 66 00:02:26,793 --> 00:02:28,931 KNOW, ARM IN ARM, ATTENDING A 67 00:02:28,931 --> 00:02:30,413 GALA TOGETHER AND LOOKING LIKE A 68 00:02:30,413 --> 00:02:31,413 HAPPY COUPLE. 69 00:02:31,413 --> 00:02:33,275 >> HE WAS SO HOPEFUL AND 70 00:02:33,275 --> 00:02:34,137 OPTIMISTIC THAT EVERYTHING WOULD 71 00:02:34,137 --> 00:02:35,206 BE ALL RIGHT. 72 00:02:35,206 --> 00:02:37,379 >> EVERY TIME SHE MADE 73 00:02:37,379 --> 00:02:38,930 ALLEGATIONS, SHE ALWAYS CAME 74 00:02:38,930 --> 00:02:44,034 BACK TO HIM AND GAVE HIM HOPE OF 75 00:02:44,034 --> 00:02:44,379 RECONCILING. 76 00:02:44,379 --> 00:02:47,930 >> AT SOME POINT, ASHLEY SAID 77 00:02:47,930 --> 00:02:49,448 THAT SHE WANTED TO MOVE TO 78 00:02:49,448 --> 00:02:50,551 MARYLAND TOGETHER AND START OVER 79 00:02:50,551 --> 00:02:51,793 AS A FAMILY. 80 00:02:51,793 --> 00:02:53,896 >> THEY WERE PACKING UP HER 81 00:02:53,896 --> 00:02:56,103 HOUSE IN FLORIDA. 82 00:02:56,103 --> 00:02:57,482 >> I HEARD SOMEBODY SCREAMING 83 00:02:57,482 --> 00:02:58,275 OUTSIDE -- 84 00:02:58,275 --> 00:03:00,793 >> AND SHE SHOT HIM. 85 00:03:00,793 --> 00:03:03,137 >> SHE WALKS NEXT DOOR, GUN IN 86 00:03:03,137 --> 00:03:05,965 HAND, AND TELLS THE NEIGHBOR I 87 00:03:05,965 --> 00:03:08,103 SHOT DOUG IN SELF-DEFENSE. 88 00:03:08,103 --> 00:03:10,206 >> RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO ME. 89 00:03:10,206 --> 00:03:11,931 SHE JUST CAME OVER. 90 00:03:11,931 --> 00:03:13,724 HER ESTRANGED HUSBAND ATTACKED 91 00:03:13,724 --> 00:03:16,413 HER AND SHE SAID SHE SHOT HIM. 92 00:03:16,413 --> 00:03:18,275 >> WAS SHE GENUINELY AFRAID OR 93 00:03:18,275 --> 00:03:26,103 TRYING TO GET HER WAY? 94 00:03:26,103 --> 00:03:27,000 >> SINCE BLAC"BLACK SWAN" CAME OUT, 95 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:28,931 THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE'S ONLY 96 00:03:28,931 --> 00:03:30,724 WINDOW INTO BALLET WHICH SUCKS 97 00:03:30,724 --> 00:03:33,689 BUT THIS CERTAINLY DOES PARLAY 98 00:03:33,689 --> 00:03:34,758 INTO THAT NARRATIVE. 99 00:03:34,758 --> 00:03:37,241 >> TO DOUG, THIS INNOCENT, PURE, 100 00:03:37,241 --> 00:03:38,793 WHITE SWAN. 101 00:03:38,793 --> 00:03:43,103 UNDERNEATH THOSE WHITE FEATHERS, 102 00:03:43,103 --> 00:03:48,793 UNDERNEATH THOSE WHITE FEATHERS, SHE'S A BLACK SWAN. 103 00:03:48,793 --> 00:03:50,448 SHE'S A BLACK SWAN. 104 00:03:50,448 --> 00:03:58,517 SHE'S A BLACK SWAN. ♪ 105 00:03:58,517 --> 00:04:16,137 ♪ 106 00:04:16,137 --> 00:04:27,689 ♪ ♪ 107 00:04:27,689 --> 00:04:31,103 ♪ 108 00:04:31,103 --> 00:04:36,827 ♪ 109 00:04:36,827 --> 00:04:37,482 >> DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR LAST 110 00:04:37,482 --> 00:04:38,517 CONVERSATION WITH YOUR DAD? 111 00:04:38,517 --> 00:04:40,379 >> HE TRIED TO CALL ME BUT I 112 00:04:40,379 --> 00:04:41,896 DIDN'T PICK UP BECAUSE I WAS AT 113 00:04:41,896 --> 00:04:42,068 WORK. 114 00:04:42,068 --> 00:04:44,034 I SAID I WOULD CALL HIM LATER. 115 00:04:44,034 --> 00:04:45,724 I NEVER CALLED HIM. 116 00:04:45,724 --> 00:04:46,379 I ASSUMED EVERYTHING WOULD BE 117 00:04:46,379 --> 00:04:47,137 ALL RIGHT. 118 00:04:47,137 --> 00:04:48,655 I WOULD GET A BIBLE VERSE THE 119 00:04:48,655 --> 00:04:49,448 NEXT MORNING AND I WOULD CALL 120 00:04:49,448 --> 00:04:53,310 HIM AND EVERYTHING WOULD BE 121 00:04:53,310 --> 00:04:54,000 OKAY. 122 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:55,862 >> EVA BENEFIELD GOT A BIBLE 123 00:04:55,862 --> 00:04:57,862 VERSE BY TEXT EVERY MORNING FROM 124 00:04:57,862 --> 00:04:59,068 HER FATHER, DOUG. 125 00:04:59,068 --> 00:05:00,310 IT WAS THEIR DAILY RITUAL. 126 00:05:00,310 --> 00:05:02,689 ON SEPTEMBER 28th, 2020, THAT 127 00:05:02,689 --> 00:05:03,896 BIBLE VERSE NEVER CAME. 128 00:05:03,896 --> 00:05:05,793 A SIGN THAT EVERYTHING WAS NOT 129 00:05:05,793 --> 00:05:06,000 OKAY. 130 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,965 >> I WAS FREAKING OUT AND I, I 131 00:05:08,965 --> 00:05:10,448 SPAMD HIM WITH TEXT MESSAGES. 132 00:05:10,448 --> 00:05:11,206 I CALLED HIM. 133 00:05:11,206 --> 00:05:15,965 >> OUT OF DESPERATION, SHE BEGAN 134 00:05:15,965 --> 00:05:19,000 GOOGLING THE NAMES DOUG AND 135 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:20,000 ASHLEY BENEFIELD AND ACCIDENT 136 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:21,103 WITH FLORIDA MAN. 137 00:05:21,103 --> 00:05:24,551 LATER THAT DAY EVA CALLED AN 138 00:05:24,551 --> 00:05:25,551 UNCLE WHO HAD TEXTED HER. 139 00:05:25,551 --> 00:05:27,241 >> I SAID WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY 140 00:05:27,241 --> 00:05:27,793 DAD. 141 00:05:27,793 --> 00:05:29,000 HE SAID THERE'S BEEN AN 142 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:29,413 ACCIDENT. 143 00:05:29,413 --> 00:05:31,000 AND I SAID, SHE KILLED HIM, 144 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:31,931 DIDN'T SHE? 145 00:05:31,931 --> 00:05:33,724 AND HE SAID YES, SHE SHOT HIM 146 00:05:33,724 --> 00:05:34,482 TWICE. 147 00:05:34,482 --> 00:05:35,827 >> THOSE WERE THE FIRST WORDS 148 00:05:35,827 --> 00:05:37,000 OUT OF YOUR MOUTH? 149 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:38,413 WHERE WAS THAT COMING FROM? 150 00:05:38,413 --> 00:05:42,448 >> I JUST HAD A GUT FEELING. 151 00:05:42,448 --> 00:05:44,137 I DROVE A COUPLE BLOCKS DOWN THE 152 00:05:44,137 --> 00:05:46,137 ROAD TO MY FRIEND'S HOUSE. 153 00:05:46,137 --> 00:05:47,655 THEY SAW I WAS CRYING AND SAID 154 00:05:47,655 --> 00:05:48,655 WHAT'S WRONG. 155 00:05:48,655 --> 00:05:52,758 AND I SAID ASHLEY KILLED MY DAD. 156 00:05:52,758 --> 00:05:54,620 >> IT WAS A TRAGIC END TO A 157 00:05:54,620 --> 00:05:56,034 RELATIONSHIP THAT BEGAN AT A 158 00:05:56,034 --> 00:05:58,344 DINNER IN FLORIDA BACK IN AUGUST 159 00:05:58,344 --> 00:05:59,896 OF 2016. 160 00:05:59,896 --> 00:06:01,931 DOUG MET ASHLEY AND FELT LIKE 161 00:06:01,931 --> 00:06:04,655 HE'D BEEN STRUCK BY A 162 00:06:04,655 --> 00:06:04,965 THUNDERBOLT. 163 00:06:04,965 --> 00:06:07,965 >> HE JUST IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT 164 00:06:07,965 --> 00:06:09,068 ASHLEY WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, 165 00:06:09,068 --> 00:06:13,000 THE MOST AMAZING PERSON IN THE 166 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:13,241 WORLD. 167 00:06:13,241 --> 00:06:15,068 >> WRITER ALICE ROBB WROTE A 168 00:06:15,068 --> 00:06:18,620 PIECE ABOUT THE BENEFIELDS FOR 169 00:06:18,620 --> 00:06:19,000 "VANITY FAIR." 170 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:21,275 DOUG WAS FROM CHARLESTON, SOUTH 171 00:06:21,275 --> 00:06:22,896 CAROLINA, A CONSULTANT WHO 172 00:06:22,896 --> 00:06:24,517 WORKED WITH TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES 173 00:06:24,517 --> 00:06:25,620 AND DEFENSE CONTRACTORS. 174 00:06:25,620 --> 00:06:28,068 THE TWO HAD BONDED OVER 175 00:06:28,068 --> 00:06:31,482 CONSERVATIVE VALUES AND GUNS. 176 00:06:31,482 --> 00:06:33,103 >> THE NIGHT SHE MET DOUG FOR 177 00:06:33,103 --> 00:06:34,896 THE FIRST TIME, SHE HAD GUNS ON 178 00:06:34,896 --> 00:06:37,896 HER PERSON, IN HER PURSE, IN HER 179 00:06:37,896 --> 00:06:38,448 BRA. 180 00:06:38,448 --> 00:06:39,965 >> STEPHANIE MURPHY, DOUG'S 181 00:06:39,965 --> 00:06:42,034 FAMILY ATTORNEY, SAID WHEN 182 00:06:42,034 --> 00:06:43,137 ASHLEY FIRST MET DOUG SHE WA 183 00:06:43,137 --> 00:06:45,448 WORKING IN THE SARASOTA CAMPAIGN 184 00:06:45,448 --> 00:06:46,655 OFFICE OF DONALD TRUMP. 185 00:06:46,655 --> 00:06:49,068 HER JOB WAS TO HELP GALVANIZE 186 00:06:49,068 --> 00:06:50,758 THE EVANGELICAL VOTE AND WORK 187 00:06:50,758 --> 00:06:51,655 THE RALLIES. 188 00:06:51,655 --> 00:06:55,000 >> YOU CAN SEE VIDEO OF HER ON 189 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:55,965 THE INTERNET THROWING THINGS 190 00:06:55,965 --> 00:06:59,965 INTO THE CROWD, GETTING PEOPLE 191 00:06:59,965 --> 00:07:03,241 REALLY EXCITED. 192 00:07:03,241 --> 00:07:03,827 >> ASIDE FROM HER WORK IN 193 00:07:03,827 --> 00:07:08,413 POLITICS, SHE HAD BEEN A 194 00:07:08,413 --> 00:07:09,517 FLEDGLING SWIMSUIT MOD AND HE 195 00:07:09,517 --> 00:07:11,241 WILL A DANCER WITH THE MARYLAND 196 00:07:11,241 --> 00:07:18,689 YOUTH BALLET, AS IN THIS PIECE 197 00:07:18,689 --> 00:07:19,172 FROM THE "NUTCRACKER." 198 00:07:19,172 --> 00:07:22,448 >> SHE WAS A WELL TRAINED 199 00:07:22,448 --> 00:07:22,689 DANCER. 200 00:07:22,689 --> 00:07:23,896 >> DAYS AFTER THEY MET, DOUG 201 00:07:23,896 --> 00:07:25,655 LEFT THE COUNTRY ON A SHORT 202 00:07:25,655 --> 00:07:27,206 BUSINESS TRIP AND BY THE TIME 203 00:07:27,206 --> 00:07:29,034 HIS PLANE WAS LANDING BACK IN 204 00:07:29,034 --> 00:07:31,620 THE UNITED STATES, THE HEART 205 00:07:31,620 --> 00:07:34,758 EMOJIS WERE FLYING FAST AND 206 00:07:34,758 --> 00:07:35,000 FURIOUS. 207 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:37,000 >> THEY WERE SAYING I LOVE YOU 208 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:38,620 TO EACH OTHER WITHIN, I THINK, A 209 00:07:38,620 --> 00:07:39,827 WEEK OR SO. 210 00:07:39,827 --> 00:07:42,482 >> DOUG WAS DEEPLY RELIGIOUS AND 211 00:07:42,482 --> 00:07:44,724 HIS FRIENDS BELIEVE HE WANTED TO 212 00:07:44,724 --> 00:07:45,655 MARRY ASHLEY BEFORE HE WAS 213 00:07:45,655 --> 00:07:47,620 INTIMATE WITH HER. 214 00:07:47,620 --> 00:07:49,482 >> WHAT DID HE SAY TO YOU? 215 00:07:49,482 --> 00:07:51,586 >> WILL YOU MARRY US? 216 00:07:51,586 --> 00:07:53,655 >> TRIP CORMENY WAS ONE OF 217 00:07:53,655 --> 00:07:55,000 DOUG'S CLOSEST FRIENDS AND 218 00:07:55,000 --> 00:08:02,655 HAPPENED TO BE AN ORDAINED 219 00:08:02,655 --> 00:08:03,655 EPISCOPAL PASTOR AT THE TIME. 220 00:08:03,655 --> 00:08:05,310 JUST 13 DAYS HAD PASSED SINCE 221 00:08:05,310 --> 00:08:07,034 THE COUPLE HAD MET. 222 00:08:07,034 --> 00:08:08,586 TRIP WAS NOT THRILLED BUT HE 223 00:08:08,586 --> 00:08:10,172 AGREED TO PERFORM THE CEREMONY. 224 00:08:10,172 --> 00:08:13,000 >> I WAS BEING LOYAL TO MY 225 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:13,206 FRIEND. 226 00:08:13,206 --> 00:08:15,137 >> DOUG INVITED ALMOST NO ONE TO 227 00:08:15,137 --> 00:08:16,931 THE WEDDING, NOT EVEN HIS 228 00:08:16,931 --> 00:08:18,068 TEENAGE DAUGHTER. 229 00:08:18,068 --> 00:08:20,862 >> HE LOVES THIS GIRL, HAD IT IS 230 00:08:20,862 --> 00:08:21,827 15-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER. 231 00:08:21,827 --> 00:08:25,000 HE GETS MARRIED AND DOESN'T EVEN 232 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:26,000 TELL HER. 233 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:27,206 >> IT'S BEWILDERING. 234 00:08:27,206 --> 00:08:30,206 I WOULD HAVE TALKED HIM OUT OF 235 00:08:30,206 --> 00:08:30,793 IT. 236 00:08:30,793 --> 00:08:31,655 EVA CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE TALKED 237 00:08:31,655 --> 00:08:32,655 HIM OUT OF IT. 238 00:08:32,655 --> 00:08:34,413 >> EVA WAS STUNNED. 239 00:08:34,413 --> 00:08:36,206 STILL DEALING WITH AN 240 00:08:36,206 --> 00:08:37,000 UNSPEAKABLE TRAUMA. 241 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:38,688 NINE MONTHS EARLIER, EVA'S 242 00:08:38,688 --> 00:08:41,965 MOTHER AND DOUG'S WIFE, 243 00:08:41,965 --> 00:08:45,034 56-YEAR-OLD RENEE BENEFIELD, HAD 244 00:08:45,034 --> 00:08:45,517 DIED. 245 00:08:45,517 --> 00:08:47,931 EVA HAD DISCOVERED HER MOTHER'S 246 00:08:47,931 --> 00:08:48,103 BODY. 247 00:08:48,103 --> 00:08:49,896 >> I COULDN'T GET INTO THE FRONT 248 00:08:49,896 --> 00:08:51,137 DOOR AND SHE WASN'T ANSWERING 249 00:08:51,137 --> 00:08:53,103 THE DOOR BELL OR THE KNOCK. 250 00:08:53,103 --> 00:08:54,551 SO I CRAWLED THROUGH THESE 251 00:08:54,551 --> 00:08:55,862 BUSHES AND THEN -- 252 00:08:55,862 --> 00:08:57,379 >> THAT WAS YOUR PARENTS' 253 00:08:57,379 --> 00:08:57,620 BEDOOM? 254 00:08:57,620 --> 00:08:58,068 >> YES. 255 00:08:58,068 --> 00:09:00,379 SO I COULD SEE IN THERE. 256 00:09:00,379 --> 00:09:01,482 THE BLINDS WERE OPEN. 257 00:09:01,482 --> 00:09:02,758 THE LIGHTS WEREN'T ON OR 258 00:09:02,758 --> 00:09:03,000 ANYTHING. 259 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,482 AND I COULD KIND OF SEE HER 260 00:09:06,482 --> 00:09:07,241 SILHOUETTE SO I WENT TO THE DOOR 261 00:09:07,241 --> 00:09:08,689 AND TO MY NEIGHBOR. 262 00:09:08,689 --> 00:09:13,034 >> THE NEIGHBOR KICKED IN THE 263 00:09:13,034 --> 00:09:13,344 DOOR. 264 00:09:13,344 --> 00:09:17,137 THERE RENEE WAS, DEAD FROM AN 265 00:09:17,137 --> 00:09:18,379 UNDIAGNOSED HEART AILMENT. 266 00:09:18,379 --> 00:09:19,724 IN THE AFTERMATH, DOUG WAS RIGHT 267 00:09:19,724 --> 00:09:21,103 THERE FOR HIS DAUGHTER. 268 00:09:21,103 --> 00:09:24,448 >> AFTER MAY MOM DIED, HE REALLY 269 00:09:24,448 --> 00:09:27,793 TOOK KIND OF A MOTHERLY ROLE 270 00:09:27,793 --> 00:09:29,793 ALONG WITH THE FATHERLY ROLE. 271 00:09:29,793 --> 00:09:31,137 HE MADE SURE I COULD GO TO HIM 272 00:09:31,137 --> 00:09:32,275 WITH PROBLEMS, WITH SCHOOL 273 00:09:32,275 --> 00:09:32,965 DRAMA, WITH ANYTHING. 274 00:09:32,965 --> 00:09:34,896 HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT. 275 00:09:34,896 --> 00:09:38,034 >> BUT NINE MONTHS LATER, EVA 276 00:09:38,034 --> 00:09:40,206 DISCOVERED DOUG HAD A NEW WOMAN 277 00:09:40,206 --> 00:09:41,448 IN HIS LIFE. 278 00:09:41,448 --> 00:09:43,965 >> I WAS UPSTAIRS AND HE SAID, 279 00:09:43,965 --> 00:09:45,931 EVA, YOU NEED TO COME DOWN AND 280 00:09:45,931 --> 00:09:47,689 TALK TO ME AND ASHLEY. 281 00:09:47,689 --> 00:09:49,275 I SAID THE ONLY THING YOU WOULD 282 00:09:49,275 --> 00:09:51,413 NEED TO TELL ME ABOUT Y'ALL'S 283 00:09:51,413 --> 00:09:54,000 RELATIONSHIP IS IF YOU PROPOSED. 284 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:55,000 AND AS SOON AS THOSE WORDS CAME 285 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:57,172 OUT OF MY MOUTH, HE SAID, WE'RE 286 00:09:57,172 --> 00:09:57,413 MARRIED. 287 00:09:57,413 --> 00:09:58,965 >> THAT'S A LOT. 288 00:09:58,965 --> 00:10:02,689 >> IT IS A LOT. 289 00:10:02,689 --> 00:10:05,172 >> DOUG ENCOURAGED ASHLEY TO TRY 290 00:10:05,172 --> 00:10:07,551 AND MOTHER A RELUCTANT EVA WHO 291 00:10:07,551 --> 00:10:10,275 WAS ONLY NINE YEARS YOUNGER. 292 00:10:10,275 --> 00:10:12,275 >> HE SAID I NEEDED SOMEBODY. 293 00:10:12,275 --> 00:10:13,724 A MOTHERLY ROLE IN MY LIFE. 294 00:10:13,724 --> 00:10:15,137 AND I DIDN'T THINK I NEEDED 295 00:10:15,137 --> 00:10:15,862 THAT. 296 00:10:15,862 --> 00:10:17,724 >> THE SITUATION BECAME EVEN 297 00:10:17,724 --> 00:10:19,448 MORE COMPLICATED WHEN DOUG AND 298 00:10:19,448 --> 00:10:21,965 ASHLEY ALLOWED EVA'S FRIEND 299 00:10:21,965 --> 00:10:23,586 SYDNEY TO MOVE INTO THE HOUSE. 300 00:10:23,586 --> 00:10:25,000 TWO TEENAGE GIRLS AND A NEW 301 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:29,068 YOUNG WIFE WERE A COMBUSTIBLE 302 00:10:29,068 --> 00:10:29,413 COMBINATION. 303 00:10:29,413 --> 00:10:31,000 AND DURING ONE HEATED ARGUMENT 304 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:33,586 WITH ASHLEY, DOUG CRACKED. 305 00:10:33,586 --> 00:10:36,206 >> IN A TERRIBLE MOMENT, HE 306 00:10:36,206 --> 00:10:38,482 DISCHARGED THE GUN INTO THE 307 00:10:38,482 --> 00:10:42,172 CEILING OF HIS HOUSE. 308 00:10:42,172 --> 00:10:43,620 >> HIS BEST FRIEND TRIP SAID 309 00:10:43,620 --> 00:10:45,689 DOUG WAS FILLED WITH REGRET. 310 00:10:45,689 --> 00:10:47,793 >> IN HIS WORDS, HE SAID, I DID 311 00:10:47,793 --> 00:10:49,551 THE DUMBEST THING I'VE EVER DONE 312 00:10:49,551 --> 00:10:50,586 IN MY LIFE. 313 00:10:50,586 --> 00:10:53,068 >> BUT THAT DID NOT END THE 314 00:10:53,068 --> 00:10:53,448 RELATIONSHIP. 315 00:10:53,448 --> 00:10:55,137 JUST THE OPPOSITE. 316 00:10:55,137 --> 00:10:58,275 TWO DAYS AFTER THE GUN INCIDENT, 317 00:10:58,275 --> 00:10:59,379 DOUG AND ASHLEY THREW THEMSELVES 318 00:10:59,379 --> 00:11:02,310 A FORMAL WEDDING RECEPTION, 319 00:11:02,310 --> 00:11:07,000 COMPLETE WITH GUESTS THIS TIME. 320 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:12,275 THE NEWLY WEDS ALSO FORGED AHEAD 321 00:11:12,275 --> 00:11:14,034 WITH ASHLEY'S GRAND PLAN TO 322 00:11:14,034 --> 00:11:17,827 CREATE AN INCLUSIVE BALLET 323 00:11:17,827 --> 00:11:18,068 COMPANY. 324 00:11:18,068 --> 00:11:19,413 >> THE IDEA WAS REALLY GREAT. 325 00:11:19,413 --> 00:11:22,689 >> BUT IMPLEMENTING IT WAS 326 00:11:22,689 --> 00:11:23,206 >> BUT IMPLEMENTING IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY. 327 00:11:23,206 --> 00:11:43,310 SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY. 328 00:11:43,310 --> 00:11:45,724 >>> ONCE ASHLEY STARTED CAUSING 329 00:11:45,724 --> 00:11:46,965 TROUBLE AND STRESS, THAT'S WHEN 330 00:11:46,965 --> 00:11:51,172 HE STARTED TO REALIZE HOW I WAS 331 00:11:51,172 --> 00:11:51,448 FEELING. 332 00:11:51,448 --> 00:11:53,655 >> EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A 333 00:11:53,655 --> 00:11:55,758 GROWING TENSION AT HOME BETWEEN 334 00:11:55,758 --> 00:11:57,482 ASHLEY AND EVA -- 335 00:11:57,482 --> 00:12:00,103 >> HE PROMISED ME THINGS WOULD 336 00:12:00,103 --> 00:12:01,206 BE OKAY EVENTUALLY. 337 00:12:01,206 --> 00:12:03,344 >> DOUG WENT AHEAD WITH HERBAL 338 00:12:03,344 --> 00:12:07,206 ASHLEY FOLLOW HER DREAM, 339 00:12:07,206 --> 00:12:08,965 ESTABLISHING A BALLET COMPANY IN 340 00:12:08,965 --> 00:12:10,379 CHARLESTON WITH A UNIQUE 341 00:12:10,379 --> 00:12:10,896 MISSION. 342 00:12:10,896 --> 00:12:13,482 >> BEING MORE INCLUSIVE. 343 00:12:13,482 --> 00:12:15,206 HAVING DANCERS OF EVERY SHADE, 344 00:12:15,206 --> 00:12:17,137 COLOR, BODY TYPE. 345 00:12:17,137 --> 00:12:19,137 THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT I'M A 346 00:12:19,137 --> 00:12:22,965 BIG BELIEVER IN. 347 00:12:22,965 --> 00:12:24,448 >> ASHLEY AND DOUG HIRED THE 348 00:12:24,448 --> 00:12:25,965 BALLET MASTER MICHAEL WISE TO 349 00:12:25,965 --> 00:12:27,137 TRAIN THE DANCERS. 350 00:12:27,137 --> 00:12:28,793 THEY TALKED A BIG GAME ABOUT BIG 351 00:12:28,793 --> 00:12:30,551 MONEY, HE SAYS. 352 00:12:30,551 --> 00:12:33,275 $10 MILLION THEY PROMISED THEY 353 00:12:33,275 --> 00:12:35,000 HAD SECURED FROM BACKERS AND 354 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:36,482 BOLDLY NAMED THEIR NEW COMPANY 355 00:12:36,482 --> 00:12:39,241 THE AMERICAN NATIONAL BALLET, OR 356 00:12:39,241 --> 00:12:39,482 ANB. 357 00:12:39,482 --> 00:12:41,310 >> WHEN YOU FIRST MET DOUG, WHAT 358 00:12:41,310 --> 00:12:44,275 KIND OF GUY DID HE STRIKE YOU 359 00:12:44,275 --> 00:12:44,482 AS? 360 00:12:44,482 --> 00:12:45,413 >> KIND. 361 00:12:45,413 --> 00:12:47,620 A VERY SERIOUS BUSINESSMAN AND 362 00:12:47,620 --> 00:12:48,965 HAD A VERY METHODICAL APPROACH 363 00:12:48,965 --> 00:12:51,448 TO A LOT OF WHAT HE DID. 364 00:12:51,448 --> 00:12:53,000 >> DID HE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT 365 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:53,206 BALLET. 366 00:12:53,206 --> 00:12:54,000 >> >> NO. 367 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:56,000 AND HE WAS VERY OPEN ABOUT THAT. 368 00:12:56,000 --> 00:12:56,965 I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING 369 00:12:56,965 --> 00:12:58,413 WITH ASHLEY TO GET HER TO 370 00:12:58,413 --> 00:12:59,034 UNDERSTAND HOW A COMPANY SHOULD 371 00:12:59,034 --> 00:12:59,689 BE RUN. 372 00:12:59,689 --> 00:13:01,620 >> WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST 373 00:13:01,620 --> 00:13:02,896 IMPRESSION OF ASHLEY? 374 00:13:02,896 --> 00:13:06,034 >> YOUNG. 375 00:13:06,034 --> 00:13:06,310 AMBITIOUS. 376 00:13:06,310 --> 00:13:08,310 WE WERE ALL HOPING SHE WOULD 377 00:13:08,310 --> 00:13:11,172 RISE TO THE OCCASION. 378 00:13:11,172 --> 00:13:13,827 >> IN THE SUMMER OF 2017, ASHLEY 379 00:13:13,827 --> 00:13:20,310 AND DOUG WERE THERE AS ANB HELD 380 00:13:20,310 --> 00:13:21,275 AUDITIONS. 381 00:13:21,275 --> 00:13:22,517 >> I DEFINITELY THOUGHT IT WAS 382 00:13:22,517 --> 00:13:24,206 SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO BE A 383 00:13:24,206 --> 00:13:25,586 PART OF. 384 00:13:25,586 --> 00:13:28,448 >> DANCER EMMANA HEMSLEY HOPED 385 00:13:28,448 --> 00:13:29,896 ANB WOULD BE HER CHANCE TO PROVE 386 00:13:29,896 --> 00:13:30,275 HERSELF. 387 00:13:30,275 --> 00:13:32,172 >> BEING A BLACK FEMALE DANCER, 388 00:13:32,172 --> 00:13:33,896 IT IS SO CHALLENGING TO AUDITION 389 00:13:33,896 --> 00:13:35,517 FOR OTHER COMPANIES WHERE YOU 390 00:13:35,517 --> 00:13:36,793 DON'T FIT THE MOLD EXACTLY. 391 00:13:36,793 --> 00:13:40,034 I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GREAT 392 00:13:40,034 --> 00:13:45,896 FIT FOR ME. 393 00:13:45,896 --> 00:13:47,586 >> IF YOU'RE IN THE BALLET 394 00:13:47,586 --> 00:13:48,482 COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW THERE'S A 395 00:13:48,482 --> 00:13:52,482 LOT OF CRAP THAT NEEDS TO 396 00:13:52,482 --> 00:13:52,724 CHANGE. 397 00:13:52,724 --> 00:13:58,241 >> ATHENA NIKOLAKOPULOS HEARD 398 00:13:58,241 --> 00:14:00,517 ABOUT IT AND WAS EXCITED ABOUT 399 00:14:00,517 --> 00:14:00,689 IT. 400 00:14:00,689 --> 00:14:01,896 >> IT SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE 401 00:14:01,896 --> 00:14:04,241 GOING TO TRY TO DO THINGS A 402 00:14:04,241 --> 00:14:07,827 LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY. 403 00:14:07,827 --> 00:14:11,413 >> THE MAJORITY OF HER DANCERS 404 00:14:11,413 --> 00:14:14,310 WERE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE VERY 405 00:14:14,310 --> 00:14:17,620 MUCH LIKE HER. 406 00:14:17,620 --> 00:14:20,310 HAD THE DRIVE, HAD THE WANTED 407 00:14:20,310 --> 00:14:22,000 BUT HADN'T NECESSARILY BEEN 408 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:23,413 GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY. 409 00:14:23,413 --> 00:14:26,310 >> DANCER AFTER DANCER PROUDLY 410 00:14:26,310 --> 00:14:27,206 POSTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA THEY HAD 411 00:14:27,206 --> 00:14:30,448 JOINED THE ANB FAMILY. 412 00:14:30,448 --> 00:14:32,344 BUT THAT WASN'T THE ONLY FAMILY 413 00:14:32,344 --> 00:14:35,551 ASHLEY HAD IN MIND. 414 00:14:35,551 --> 00:14:38,758 >> ON TOP OF STARTING A BALLET 415 00:14:38,758 --> 00:14:39,758 COMPANY, ASHLEY ALSO WANTED TO 416 00:14:39,758 --> 00:14:40,482 GET PREGNANT. 417 00:14:40,482 --> 00:14:42,000 >> IN THE MIDST OF PUTTING 418 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:44,000 TOGETHER THE BALLET COMPANY, 419 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:45,000 THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. 420 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:48,482 >> HOW DID THAT SIT WITH YOU IN. 421 00:14:48,482 --> 00:14:51,620 >> IT DIDN'T SIT WELL AT ALL. 422 00:14:51,620 --> 00:14:52,724 THIS FELT LIKE ANOTHER STAB IN 423 00:14:52,724 --> 00:14:53,517 THE BACK. 424 00:14:53,517 --> 00:14:56,241 THERE WAS A LOT OF STRESS. 425 00:14:56,241 --> 00:14:57,275 NOW BASICALLY THEY HAVE TWO 426 00:14:57,275 --> 00:15:00,689 TEENAGE DAUGHTERS AND A LITTLE 427 00:15:00,689 --> 00:15:02,896 GIRL ON THE WAY. 428 00:15:02,896 --> 00:15:05,000 >> AT THE END OF THE SUMMER IN 429 00:15:05,000 --> 00:15:06,724 2017, SOME 40 DANCERS FROM ALL 430 00:15:06,724 --> 00:15:08,310 OVER THE WORLD BEGAN ARRIVING IN 431 00:15:08,310 --> 00:15:10,586 CHARLESTON TO WORK WITH ASHLEY. 432 00:15:10,586 --> 00:15:12,655 FROM THE FIRST MEETING, THEY 433 00:15:12,655 --> 00:15:14,310 REALIZED WHAT THEY'D BEEN 434 00:15:14,310 --> 00:15:20,310 PROMISED AT ANB WASN'T WHAT THEY 435 00:15:20,310 --> 00:15:20,724 WOULD BE GETTING. 436 00:15:20,724 --> 00:15:21,965 >> WE GET THERE AND WE'RE LIKE, 437 00:15:21,965 --> 00:15:22,965 WHERE IS SHE? 438 00:15:22,965 --> 00:15:24,517 DOUG ANNOUNCES THAT SHE'S 439 00:15:24,517 --> 00:15:26,103 BEDRIDDEN WITH A REALLY 440 00:15:26,103 --> 00:15:27,482 DIFFICULT PREGNANCY AND SHE 441 00:15:27,482 --> 00:15:29,034 WASN'T GOING TO BE THERE FOR THE 442 00:15:29,034 --> 00:15:32,310 FIRST HOWEVER MANY MONTHS. 443 00:15:32,310 --> 00:15:33,413 >> IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT 444 00:15:33,413 --> 00:15:36,068 THEY WOULD BE DEVELOPING THIS 445 00:15:36,068 --> 00:15:37,000 STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY IN 446 00:15:37,000 --> 00:15:37,931 DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON. 447 00:15:37,931 --> 00:15:39,965 DAY ONE, WHEN WE'RE READY TO 448 00:15:39,965 --> 00:15:43,896 START UP, THEY WERE LIKE, CAN WE 449 00:15:43,896 --> 00:15:45,379 USE YOUR FACILITY? 450 00:15:45,379 --> 00:15:46,965 >> EACH DAY, SOMETHING WOULD 451 00:15:46,965 --> 00:15:48,517 HAPPEN THAT MADE US FEEL EVEN 452 00:15:48,517 --> 00:15:51,206 MORE UNSETTLED. 453 00:15:51,206 --> 00:15:52,827 >> THE SHOES KEPT DROPPING. 454 00:15:52,827 --> 00:15:54,965 >> THE COMPANY TYPICALLY PAYS 455 00:15:54,965 --> 00:15:56,344 FOR THE DANCERS' POINT SHOES. 456 00:15:56,344 --> 00:15:58,000 >> I REMEMBER ONE DAY WE CAME IN 457 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,137 AND THEY WERE LIKE, YEAH, 458 00:16:01,137 --> 00:16:02,344 UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO HALVE 459 00:16:02,344 --> 00:16:04,172 YOUR ALLOTMENT OF SHOES. 460 00:16:04,172 --> 00:16:05,862 >> THIS SOUNDS LIKE A 461 00:16:05,862 --> 00:16:07,172 PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL TEAM NOT 462 00:16:07,172 --> 00:16:08,344 SUPPLYING THEIR PLAYERS WITH 463 00:16:08,344 --> 00:16:08,551 BATS. 464 00:16:08,551 --> 00:16:10,068 >> YEAH. 465 00:16:10,068 --> 00:16:13,379 THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS. 466 00:16:13,379 --> 00:16:16,413 >> ON TOP OF ALL THIS CHAOS AND 467 00:16:16,413 --> 00:16:17,034 CONFUSION, THE DANCERS WERE 468 00:16:17,034 --> 00:16:18,275 HAVING TROUBLE GETTING PAID. 469 00:16:18,275 --> 00:16:20,965 THEIR CHECKS WERE OFTEN LATE IF 470 00:16:20,965 --> 00:16:22,413 THEY ARRIVED AT ALL. 471 00:16:22,413 --> 00:16:26,344 >> DOUG WAS SCRAMBLING TO MEET 472 00:16:26,344 --> 00:16:27,413 THE COMPANY'S OBLIGATIONS. 473 00:16:27,413 --> 00:16:28,862 >> WE WOULD ASK WHERE'S THE 474 00:16:28,862 --> 00:16:30,827 MONEY FOR OUR SHOES OR OUR 475 00:16:30,827 --> 00:16:31,068 PAYCHECKS. 476 00:16:31,068 --> 00:16:32,965 WE GO TO THE BANK AND JUST PULL 477 00:16:32,965 --> 00:16:35,000 OUT CASH AND GIVE PEOPLE CASH. 478 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:36,689 >> PAYING YOU OUT OF HIS OWN 479 00:16:36,689 --> 00:16:38,655 POCKET IN CASH IS NOT THE KIND 480 00:16:38,655 --> 00:16:40,517 OF THING THAT IS GOING TO 481 00:16:40,517 --> 00:16:41,862 INSPIRE CONFIDENCE. 482 00:16:41,862 --> 00:16:43,689 >> NO. 483 00:16:43,689 --> 00:16:44,310 NO. 484 00:16:44,310 --> 00:16:46,103 CONFIDENCE HAD GONE A LONG TIME 485 00:16:46,103 --> 00:16:47,551 AT THIS POINT. 486 00:16:47,551 --> 00:16:49,896 THAT WAS VERY LONG GONE. 487 00:16:49,896 --> 00:16:52,482 WE REALLY THOUGHT, WHEN ASHLEY 488 00:16:52,482 --> 00:16:55,000 COMES BACK, THAT MIGHT BE WHAT 489 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:58,793 FIXES ALL OF THIS. 490 00:16:58,793 --> 00:17:01,172 >> BUT ASHLEY WASN'T COMING 491 00:17:01,172 --> 00:17:01,379 BACK. 492 00:17:01,379 --> 00:17:04,241 AT THE END OF AUGUST, CITING HER 493 00:17:04,241 --> 00:17:05,310 DIFFICULT PREGNANCY, ASHLEY WENT 494 00:17:05,310 --> 00:17:07,241 BACK TO FLORIDA TO LIVE WITH HER 495 00:17:07,241 --> 00:17:08,550 MOTHER WHILE DOUG TRIED TO MAKE 496 00:17:08,550 --> 00:17:10,758 THE BALLET WORK IN CHARLESTON. 497 00:17:10,758 --> 00:17:12,550 >> WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT? 498 00:17:12,550 --> 00:17:13,896 >> I WAS GOING, OKAY. 499 00:17:13,896 --> 00:17:15,792 THAT MEANS I GET MORE ALONE TIME 500 00:17:15,792 --> 00:17:17,550 WITH MY DAD TO HANG OUT. 501 00:17:17,550 --> 00:17:18,689 WE HAD A DECENT AMOUNT OF 502 00:17:18,689 --> 00:17:20,482 SYMPATHY FOR HIM, TOO. 503 00:17:20,482 --> 00:17:22,310 HE WAS SUCKED INTO THIS WHOLE 504 00:17:22,310 --> 00:17:22,517 THING. 505 00:17:22,517 --> 00:17:24,448 POOR THING, HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT 506 00:17:24,448 --> 00:17:25,000 HE'S DOING. 507 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:26,172 HE'S TRYING TO BE THERE FOR US 508 00:17:26,172 --> 00:17:27,034 AS MUCH AS HE CAN. 509 00:17:27,034 --> 00:17:30,862 >> THE RUMBLINGS ABOUT TROUBLE 510 00:17:30,862 --> 00:17:32,517 IN THE BENEFIELDS' MARRIAGE GREW 511 00:17:32,517 --> 00:17:32,758 LOUDER. 512 00:17:32,758 --> 00:17:34,068 >> IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS 513 00:17:34,068 --> 00:17:35,344 SOMETHING THAT WAS GOING TO 514 00:17:35,344 --> 00:17:39,344 CRASH AND BURN VERY SHORTLY. 515 00:17:39,344 --> 00:17:41,000 >> VERY SHORTLY. 516 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:43,034 IN SEPTEMBER, WHILE DOUG WAS AT 517 00:17:43,034 --> 00:17:44,620 AN EVENT FOR THE BALLET, ASHLEY 518 00:17:44,620 --> 00:17:47,137 AND HER MOTHER DROVE FROM 519 00:17:47,137 --> 00:17:48,517 FLORIDA TO THE HOUSE IN 520 00:17:48,517 --> 00:17:50,758 CHARLESTON AND DROPPED A 521 00:17:50,758 --> 00:17:51,000 BOMBSHELL. 522 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:53,482 THE MARRIAGE WAS OVER. 523 00:17:53,482 --> 00:17:55,862 >> SHE CAME TO CHARLESTON AND 524 00:17:55,862 --> 00:17:58,551 PACKED UP HER THINGS AND THEN 525 00:17:58,551 --> 00:18:01,137 LEFT DOUG THIS SCATHING NOTE 526 00:18:01,137 --> 00:18:02,344 ABOUT ALL THE REASONS WHY SHE 527 00:18:02,344 --> 00:18:08,241 DIDN'T WANT TO BE WITH HIM 528 00:18:08,241 --> 00:18:08,517 ANYMORE. 529 00:18:08,517 --> 00:18:10,655 >> IN THE NOTE, ASHLEY CALLED 530 00:18:10,655 --> 00:18:12,034 HIM POSSESSIVE AND CONTROLLING. 531 00:18:12,034 --> 00:18:13,827 SHE WROTE THE INCIDENT WHEN HE'D 532 00:18:13,827 --> 00:18:15,517 FIRED A GUN INTO THE CEILING, AS 533 00:18:15,517 --> 00:18:17,655 WELL AS OTHER UNSAFE BEHAVIOR, 534 00:18:17,655 --> 00:18:19,620 HAD LEFT HER FEARFUL FOR HER 535 00:18:19,620 --> 00:18:23,827 LIFE AND THE SAFETY OF HER 536 00:18:23,827 --> 00:18:24,620 UNBORN CHILD. 537 00:18:24,620 --> 00:18:26,275 >> I COULD SEE THE LOOK IN HIS 538 00:18:26,275 --> 00:18:27,862 FACE WHEN HE READ IT. 539 00:18:27,862 --> 00:18:29,724 I COULD TELL HIS HEART WAS 540 00:18:29,724 --> 00:18:30,206 BROKEN. 541 00:18:30,206 --> 00:18:32,310 >> BUT ASHLEY'S NOTE WAS JUST 542 00:18:32,310 --> 00:18:33,724 THE BEGINNING. 543 00:18:33,724 --> 00:18:35,620 >> HE HAD THIS FAMILY THAT HE 544 00:18:35,620 --> 00:18:38,310 THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE PERFECT 545 00:18:38,310 --> 00:18:41,448 AND HAPPY AND FAITHFUL, AND IT 546 00:18:41,448 --> 00:18:43,482 FELL APART IN THE MOST 547 00:18:43,482 --> 00:18:44,517 SPECTACULAR WAY. 548 00:18:44,517 --> 00:18:48,517 >> WASN'T LONG BEFORE THE 549 00:18:48,517 --> 00:18:49,793 RELATIONSHIP BECAME TRULY TOXIC. 550 00:18:49,793 --> 00:18:52,517 >> SHE THOUGHT DOUG MAY HAVE 551 00:18:52,517 --> 00:18:54,310 >> SHE THOUGHT DOUG MAY HAVE POISONED HER. 552 00:18:54,310 --> 00:19:14,000 POISONED HER. 553 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:15,586 >>> THIS WAS A PRETTY LONG 554 00:19:15,586 --> 00:19:15,827 LETTER. 555 00:19:15,827 --> 00:19:18,206 SHE SAYS AT THE END, DO NOT 556 00:19:18,206 --> 00:19:19,931 HARASS OR TRY TO FOLLOW ME OR I 557 00:19:19,931 --> 00:19:21,103 WILL CALL THE POLICE. 558 00:19:21,103 --> 00:19:23,068 SHE DOES NOT SEEM LIKE SOMEONE 559 00:19:23,068 --> 00:19:29,000 WHO IS OPEN TO GETTING BACK 560 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:29,275 TOGETHER. 561 00:19:29,275 --> 00:19:30,931 >> ASHLEY'S SCATHING NOTE TO 562 00:19:30,931 --> 00:19:33,310 DOUG LEFT LITTLE DOUBT ABOUT HER 563 00:19:33,310 --> 00:19:34,000 FEELINGS. 564 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:35,724 >> I REALLY THINK ASHLEY THOUGHT 565 00:19:35,724 --> 00:19:36,931 THAT WAS GOING TO BE IT. 566 00:19:36,931 --> 00:19:38,965 JUST PACK UP HER STUFF, LEAVE A 567 00:19:38,965 --> 00:19:40,448 NOT AND IT WAS GOING TO BE 568 00:19:40,448 --> 00:19:41,068 OVER. 569 00:19:41,068 --> 00:19:43,551 >> BUT DOUG WASN'T READY TO GIVE 570 00:19:43,551 --> 00:19:43,724 UP. 571 00:19:43,724 --> 00:19:45,379 HE SENT ASHLEY TEXT AFTER TEXT, 572 00:19:45,379 --> 00:19:46,896 BEGGING HER TO RECONSIDER. 573 00:19:46,896 --> 00:19:49,586 ONE OF THEM READ, I AM ON MY 574 00:19:49,586 --> 00:19:51,620 KNEES AND FACE BEFORE GOD ASKING 575 00:19:51,620 --> 00:19:57,068 YOU TO FORGIVE ME. 576 00:19:57,068 --> 00:19:58,172 BUT ASHLEY WAS NOT IN A 577 00:19:58,172 --> 00:19:58,862 FORGIVING MOOD. 578 00:19:58,862 --> 00:20:00,448 SHE DECIDED TO CALL THE 579 00:20:00,448 --> 00:20:02,034 AUTHORITIES ON DOUG. 580 00:20:02,034 --> 00:20:03,758 >> COPS SHOWED UP AT MY HOUSE 581 00:20:03,758 --> 00:20:05,206 AFTER SHE LEFT MY DAD AND HE 582 00:20:05,206 --> 00:20:06,344 WASN'T HOME. 583 00:20:06,344 --> 00:20:08,206 I HAD TO ANSWER THE DOOR. 584 00:20:08,206 --> 00:20:10,379 SHE GOT CHILD PROTECTIVE 585 00:20:10,379 --> 00:20:11,620 SERVICES INVOLVED FROM FLORIDA. 586 00:20:11,620 --> 00:20:13,344 I HADN'T EVEN SEEN HER IN 587 00:20:13,344 --> 00:20:13,793 MONTHS. 588 00:20:13,793 --> 00:20:15,965 >> ASHLEY TOLD POLICE THAT DOUG 589 00:20:15,965 --> 00:20:17,068 HAD ANGER ISSUES AND ALL ABOUT 590 00:20:17,068 --> 00:20:21,103 THE DAY HE FIRED HIS GUN INSIDE 591 00:20:21,103 --> 00:20:22,379 THE HOUSE. 592 00:20:22,379 --> 00:20:27,000 INVESTIGATORS INTERVIEWED EVA. 593 00:20:27,000 --> 00:20:27,862 >> I WAS CONSTANTLY HAVING 594 00:20:27,862 --> 00:20:30,000 PEOPLE COME UP TO MY DOOR AND 595 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:33,551 ASKING ME IF MY DAD WAS A GOOD 596 00:20:33,551 --> 00:20:33,724 DAD. 597 00:20:33,724 --> 00:20:34,931 IT MADE ME SO ANGRY. 598 00:20:34,931 --> 00:20:36,344 I KEPT HAVING TO REPEAT MYSELF. 599 00:20:36,344 --> 00:20:38,448 MY DAD IS A GOOD DAD. 600 00:20:38,448 --> 00:20:41,000 HE'S NEVER DONE ANYTHING TO HURT 601 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:41,206 ANYONE. 602 00:20:41,206 --> 00:20:42,241 HE WOULDN'T HURT ANYONE. 603 00:20:42,241 --> 00:20:45,034 >> DOUG WAS INVESTIGATED BY CPS 604 00:20:45,034 --> 00:20:46,862 AND ULTIMATELY CLEARED. 605 00:20:46,862 --> 00:20:49,482 >> HE HAD BEEN EVALUATED BY A 606 00:20:49,482 --> 00:20:51,379 PSYCHOLOGIST, A FULL PSYCH 607 00:20:51,379 --> 00:20:52,310 RE-EVALUATION WHO SAID THERE'S 608 00:20:52,310 --> 00:20:54,517 NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS GUY. 609 00:20:54,517 --> 00:20:55,379 HE'S NOT DANGEROUS. 610 00:20:55,379 --> 00:20:59,034 >> DOUG WAS STRUGGLING ON 611 00:20:59,034 --> 00:21:04,448 ANOTHER FRONT, OVERWHELMED BY 612 00:21:04,448 --> 00:21:06,275 HANDLING THE BALLET COMPANY. 613 00:21:06,275 --> 00:21:08,724 >> BY MID-OCTOBER, WE WERE 614 00:21:08,724 --> 00:21:11,655 NOTIFIED THAT ASHLEY WAS 615 00:21:11,655 --> 00:21:12,448 STEPPING DOWN. 616 00:21:12,448 --> 00:21:14,793 >> DID SHE HAVE JUMP OR WAS SHE 617 00:21:14,793 --> 00:21:15,344 PUSHED? 618 00:21:15,344 --> 00:21:16,655 >> PUSHED. 619 00:21:16,655 --> 00:21:17,517 >> WHY? 620 00:21:17,517 --> 00:21:20,517 >> BECAUSE THERE NEEDED TO BE 621 00:21:20,517 --> 00:21:24,000 LEADERSHIP AND ASHLEY WAS NOT 622 00:21:24,000 --> 00:21:24,379 BEING A LEADER. 623 00:21:24,379 --> 00:21:25,586 >> WISE WAS IN THE ROOM WHEN 624 00:21:25,586 --> 00:21:28,793 DOUG GOT A CALL FROM ASHLEY, WHO 625 00:21:28,793 --> 00:21:30,517 WAS MORE THAN A LITTLE UPSET. 626 00:21:30,517 --> 00:21:31,448 >> THE PHONE RANG. 627 00:21:31,448 --> 00:21:33,758 HE PICKS IT UP AND YOU HEAR 628 00:21:33,758 --> 00:21:34,793 ASHLEY SCREAMING. 629 00:21:34,793 --> 00:21:39,000 YOU TOOK MY BALLET COMPANY AWAY 630 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:39,724 FROM ME. 631 00:21:39,724 --> 00:21:41,241 >> WITH ASHLEY GONE, DOUG 632 00:21:41,241 --> 00:21:44,620 BROUGHT IN NEW LEADERS WHO MADE 633 00:21:44,620 --> 00:21:45,103 DRASTIC CHANGES. 634 00:21:45,103 --> 00:21:48,758 ON OCTOBER 23rd, 2017, SOME OF 635 00:21:48,758 --> 00:21:51,551 THESE DANCERS INCLUDING EMMANA 636 00:21:51,551 --> 00:21:53,827 WERE CALLED INTO A MEETING, TOLD 637 00:21:53,827 --> 00:21:57,000 TO SIGN NONDISCLOSURE 638 00:21:57,000 --> 00:21:58,172 AGREEMENTS, AND FIRED. 639 00:21:58,172 --> 00:22:00,310 >> AND DOUG WAS OF NO HELP HERE? 640 00:22:00,310 --> 00:22:00,896 >> NO. 641 00:22:00,896 --> 00:22:04,551 DOUG WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND 642 00:22:04,551 --> 00:22:04,965 THAT DAY. 643 00:22:04,965 --> 00:22:07,000 >> JUST LIKE THAT, HALF THE 644 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:12,827 COMPANY'S DANCERS WERE GONE. 645 00:22:12,827 --> 00:22:15,137 TWO DAYS LATER, ASHLEY POSTED ON 646 00:22:15,137 --> 00:22:17,068 THE BALLET'S SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES, 647 00:22:17,068 --> 00:22:20,413 I AM COMPLETELY DEVASTATED BY 648 00:22:20,413 --> 00:22:22,413 WHAT HAS BEEN DONE, AND THE NEW 649 00:22:22,413 --> 00:22:23,586 LEADERSHIP HAS DESTROYED ALL 650 00:22:23,586 --> 00:22:26,689 THAT WE WORKED SO HARD TO BUILD. 651 00:22:26,689 --> 00:22:27,862 >> WHAT HAPPENED HURT. 652 00:22:27,862 --> 00:22:29,034 IT HELPED TO KNOW THAT SOMEONE 653 00:22:29,034 --> 00:22:31,758 WAS ON OUR SIDE THERE AND THAT, 654 00:22:31,758 --> 00:22:35,310 YOU KNOW, THIS WAS NEVER THE 655 00:22:35,310 --> 00:22:35,586 INTENTION. 656 00:22:35,586 --> 00:22:37,793 >> IT SEEMED LIKE A BEAUTIFUL 657 00:22:37,793 --> 00:22:41,034 IDEA HAD GONE UP IN SMOKE. 658 00:22:41,034 --> 00:22:42,482 WITHIN MONTHS THE AMERICAN 659 00:22:42,482 --> 00:22:44,724 NATIONAL BALLET WAS DONE. 660 00:22:44,724 --> 00:22:47,103 DOUG WAS OUT MORE THAN $100,000. 661 00:22:47,103 --> 00:22:49,586 HIS BALLET NIGHTMARE WAS OVER, 662 00:22:49,586 --> 00:22:53,034 BUT HIS FRIENDS SAY A NEW ONE 663 00:22:53,034 --> 00:22:54,689 WAS JUST BEGINNING. 664 00:22:54,689 --> 00:22:56,896 ASHLEY NOW HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT 665 00:22:56,896 --> 00:23:00,068 DOUG'S FIRST WIFE, EVA'S MOTHER, 666 00:23:00,068 --> 00:23:02,931 RENEE, AND HOW SHE DIED. 667 00:23:02,931 --> 00:23:05,103 ASHLEY TEXTED DOUG, WAIT, WHAT 668 00:23:05,103 --> 00:23:07,344 DID SHE DIE OF AGAIN? 669 00:23:07,344 --> 00:23:10,965 DOUG TOLD HER THAT RENEE HAD A 670 00:23:10,965 --> 00:23:15,862 75% ARTERY BLOCKAGE. 671 00:23:15,862 --> 00:23:19,344 ASHLEY:I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY 672 00:23:19,344 --> 00:23:21,034 SOMETHING ABOUT MEDICATIONS OR 673 00:23:21,034 --> 00:23:21,310 SOMETHING? 674 00:23:21,310 --> 00:23:22,482 LIKE BAD DRUGS? 675 00:23:22,482 --> 00:23:23,758 >> I READ THE AUTOPSY REPORT. 676 00:23:23,758 --> 00:23:25,068 IT'S CLEAR. 677 00:23:25,068 --> 00:23:28,551 DIED OF A HEART ATTACK 678 00:23:28,551 --> 00:23:28,896 ESSENTIALLY. 679 00:23:28,896 --> 00:23:30,827 >> IT SOON BECAME CLEAR WHY 680 00:23:30,827 --> 00:23:34,137 ASHLEY WAS SO INTERESTED IN HOW 681 00:23:34,137 --> 00:23:35,000 RENEE HAD DIED. 682 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:37,655 SHE TOLD DOUG'S COUSIN TOMMIE 683 00:23:37,655 --> 00:23:39,448 THAT SHE THOUGHT DOUG HAD 684 00:23:39,448 --> 00:23:42,517 POISONED RENEE EVEN THOUGH DOUG 685 00:23:42,517 --> 00:23:42,931 WAS OUT OF TOWN. 686 00:23:42,931 --> 00:23:45,551 >> WHAT? 687 00:23:45,551 --> 00:23:47,655 IT'S OUT OF LEFT FIELD. 688 00:23:47,655 --> 00:23:49,000 >> THE LOCAL POLICE CLOSED THE 689 00:23:49,000 --> 00:23:53,034 CASE IN 2016 AFTER THEY GOT THE 690 00:23:53,034 --> 00:23:54,206 CORONER'S REPORT. 691 00:23:54,206 --> 00:23:56,551 BUT ASHLEY TALKED TO WRITER 692 00:23:56,551 --> 00:23:58,103 ALICE ROBB AND SHADE HER THEORY 693 00:23:58,103 --> 00:24:00,310 AND MADE A SHOCKING ALLEGATION. 694 00:24:00,310 --> 00:24:01,931 >> SHE SAID SHE KNEW HER BODY 695 00:24:01,931 --> 00:24:03,413 WELL AND SHE WAS EVEN MORE 696 00:24:03,413 --> 00:24:05,000 NAUSEOUS THAN SHE WOULD HAVE 697 00:24:05,000 --> 00:24:08,896 EXPECTED AS A PREGNANT WOMAN. 698 00:24:08,896 --> 00:24:12,896 AND SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD BEEN 699 00:24:12,896 --> 00:24:13,137 POISONED. 700 00:24:13,137 --> 00:24:14,344 >> ASHLEY BELIEVED THAT DOUG HAD 701 00:24:14,344 --> 00:24:16,724 BEEN POISONING WHERE WHILE SHE 702 00:24:16,724 --> 00:24:18,896 WAS PREGNANT WITH HER DAUGHTER. 703 00:24:18,896 --> 00:24:20,896 THEY WERE BOTH BIG TEA FANS. 704 00:24:20,896 --> 00:24:22,275 SHE HARKENED BACK TO THE TIMES 705 00:24:22,275 --> 00:24:24,000 DOUG WAS BRINGING HER TEA IN BED 706 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:25,068 BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GET 707 00:24:25,068 --> 00:24:26,620 OUT OF BED. 708 00:24:26,620 --> 00:24:28,758 >> DOUG, STILL HOPING FOR A 709 00:24:28,758 --> 00:24:30,413 RECONCILIATION, AND HAVING NO 710 00:24:30,413 --> 00:24:32,551 IDEA ABOUT ASHLEY'S SUSPICIONS, 711 00:24:32,551 --> 00:24:35,000 SENT HER A BIRTHDAY GIFT AT THE 712 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:37,275 END OF NOVEMBER 2017. 713 00:24:37,275 --> 00:24:41,310 >> HE HAD PURCHASED A LOVELY 714 00:24:41,310 --> 00:24:43,482 TEAPOT AND TEACUPS AND SAUCERS 715 00:24:43,482 --> 00:24:46,000 AND A SPECIALTY TEA THAT WAS 716 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:47,551 SUPPOSED TO BE FOR PREGNANT 717 00:24:47,551 --> 00:24:48,103 WOMEN. 718 00:24:48,103 --> 00:24:49,586 >> THE GIFT IF HE HAD ASHLEY'S 719 00:24:49,586 --> 00:24:50,793 GROWING CONCERNS ABOUT DOUG. 720 00:24:50,793 --> 00:24:52,517 >> SHE TAKES IT TO THE POLICE 721 00:24:52,517 --> 00:24:53,310 DEPARTMENT AS HAZARDOUS 722 00:24:53,310 --> 00:24:55,379 MATERIALS AND CLAIMS THAT IT IS 723 00:24:55,379 --> 00:24:56,655 HOW HE'S POISONING HER. 724 00:24:56,655 --> 00:24:58,310 >> WHAT DO THE POLICE MAKE OF 725 00:24:58,310 --> 00:24:59,000 THAT? 726 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:01,448 >> THEY TREATED IT AT O'AS 727 00:25:01,448 --> 00:25:02,172 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS THAT DAY 728 00:25:02,172 --> 00:25:05,137 THEM TESTED IT AND PROVED OUT IT 729 00:25:05,137 --> 00:25:12,310 WAS NOT ANY POISONOUS MATERIALS. 730 00:25:12,310 --> 00:25:15,275 >> ASHLEY SENT HER HAIR TO BE 731 00:25:15,275 --> 00:25:18,068 TESTED AT AN INDEPENDENT LAB. 732 00:25:18,068 --> 00:25:19,931 IT SHOWED THAT IT WAS HIGHER 733 00:25:19,931 --> 00:25:22,482 THAN NORMAL LEVELS OF ALUMINUM, 734 00:25:22,482 --> 00:25:25,896 ZINC, AND OTHER METALS. 735 00:25:25,896 --> 00:25:27,172 BUT DOUG'S LAWYER DISPUTES THOSE 736 00:25:27,172 --> 00:25:27,448 FINDINGS. 737 00:25:27,448 --> 00:25:28,965 ZBLO IN SOUTH CAROLINA HER LABS 738 00:25:28,965 --> 00:25:31,793 ALL CAME BACK NORMAL. 739 00:25:31,793 --> 00:25:34,448 >> THREE WEEKS BEFORE HER DUE 740 00:25:34,448 --> 00:25:36,482 DATE, WITHOUT DOUG KNOWING, 741 00:25:36,482 --> 00:25:38,275 ASHLEY CHECKED HERSELF INTO THE 742 00:25:38,275 --> 00:25:38,586 HOSPITAL. 743 00:25:38,586 --> 00:25:39,655 >> I DON'T THINK SHE WAS 744 00:25:39,655 --> 00:25:41,068 POISONED BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN 745 00:25:41,068 --> 00:25:44,862 SHE DOESN'T THINK SHE WAS 746 00:25:44,862 --> 00:25:45,103 POISONED. 747 00:25:45,103 --> 00:25:46,931 >> SHE WAS AT TAMPA GENERAL 748 00:25:46,931 --> 00:25:48,379 HOSPITAL CLAIMING THE CHILD HAD 749 00:25:48,379 --> 00:25:50,724 BEEN EXPOSED TO HEAVY METALS IN 750 00:25:50,724 --> 00:25:53,034 UTERO BECAUSE HER HUSBAND HAD 751 00:25:53,034 --> 00:25:54,862 POISONED HER. 752 00:25:54,862 --> 00:25:56,241 >> ASHLEY ALSO CLAIMED, WITHOUT 753 00:25:56,241 --> 00:25:59,137 ANY PROOF, THAT DOUG WAS 754 00:25:59,137 --> 00:26:00,586 PHYSICALLY ABUSIVE AND HAD HELD 755 00:26:00,586 --> 00:26:02,931 HER PRISONER BACK IN CHARLESTON. 756 00:26:02,931 --> 00:26:05,103 SHE SAID HE HAD BEEN STALKING 757 00:26:05,103 --> 00:26:06,724 HER IN FLORIDA. 758 00:26:06,724 --> 00:26:08,586 WITH NO WAY TO KNOW IF WHAT 759 00:26:08,586 --> 00:26:10,689 ASHLEY TOLD THEM WAS TRUE, THE 760 00:26:10,689 --> 00:26:12,103 HOSPITAL TOOK PRECAUTIONS FOR 761 00:26:12,103 --> 00:26:14,655 HER SAFETY AND ASSIGNED HER A 762 00:26:14,655 --> 00:26:17,689 NEW NAME, CHRISTINA. 763 00:26:17,689 --> 00:26:19,206 THREE DAYS LATER, DOCTORS 764 00:26:19,206 --> 00:26:20,758 PERFORMED A C-SECTION. 765 00:26:20,758 --> 00:26:24,827 THE BABY GIRL WAS HEALTHY, BUT 766 00:26:24,827 --> 00:26:27,241 ASHLEY CONTINUED TO WORRY HER 767 00:26:27,241 --> 00:26:30,482 BABY HAD BEEN POISONED. 768 00:26:30,482 --> 00:26:32,448 >> BOTH ASHLEY AND HER DAUGHTER 769 00:26:32,448 --> 00:26:36,586 WERE HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY 770 00:26:36,586 --> 00:26:37,551 RECEIVING TREATMENTS. 771 00:26:37,551 --> 00:26:45,758 RECEIVING TREATMENTS. >> DO YOU THINK ASHLEY BELIEVED 772 00:26:45,758 --> 00:26:54,620 >> DO YOU THINK ASHLEY BELIEVED 773 00:26:54,620 --> 00:26:56,620 >>> THE NEWS THAT ASHLEY HAD 774 00:26:56,620 --> 00:26:58,344 GIVEN BIRTH TO A HEALTHY BABY 775 00:26:58,344 --> 00:26:59,689 GIRL IN MARCH 2018 TOOK MORE 776 00:26:59,689 --> 00:27:02,758 THAN A MONTH TO REACH DOUG, SAYS 777 00:27:02,758 --> 00:27:04,379 HIS LAWYER, STEPHANIE MURPHY. 778 00:27:04,379 --> 00:27:05,965 >> THE BABY WAS BORN ABOUT THREE 779 00:27:05,965 --> 00:27:06,655 WEEKS EARLY. 780 00:27:06,655 --> 00:27:07,827 DOUG HAD NO IDEA. 781 00:27:07,827 --> 00:27:10,000 >> BABY EMERSON DID NOT HAVE 782 00:27:10,000 --> 00:27:11,655 DOUG'S LAST NAME AND DOUG WAS 783 00:27:11,655 --> 00:27:14,000 NOT LISTED AS THE FATHER ON THE 784 00:27:14,000 --> 00:27:15,034 ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE. 785 00:27:15,034 --> 00:27:16,931 NO ONE WAS. 786 00:27:16,931 --> 00:27:19,448 >> ASHLEY WANTED TO RAISE HER 787 00:27:19,448 --> 00:27:22,137 DAUGHTER WITH HER MOTHER ALONE. 788 00:27:22,137 --> 00:27:27,551 SHE DIDN'T WANT TO CO-PARENT. 789 00:27:27,551 --> 00:27:29,137 >> AND SHE AT THE PRESENT TIME 790 00:27:29,137 --> 00:27:34,931 PURSUING HER ACCUSATION THAT 791 00:27:34,931 --> 00:27:38,241 DOUG HAD CLEARED RENEE. 792 00:27:38,241 --> 00:27:39,517 >> THEY SUGGESTED TO YOU YOUR 793 00:27:39,517 --> 00:27:41,896 FATHER HAD A PART IN YOUR 794 00:27:41,896 --> 00:27:42,482 MOTHER'S DEATH? 795 00:27:42,482 --> 00:27:42,827 >> RIGHT. 796 00:27:42,827 --> 00:27:45,034 >> WHAT DID THEY SAY TO YOU? 797 00:27:45,034 --> 00:27:45,896 >> THEY SAID WE'RE CONCERNED 798 00:27:45,896 --> 00:27:46,931 ABOUT YOUR SAFETY. 799 00:27:46,931 --> 00:27:48,689 YOUR DAD IS A BAD GUY. 800 00:27:48,689 --> 00:27:49,931 HE DOES BAD THINGS. 801 00:27:49,931 --> 00:27:52,482 I TOLD THEM TO GET AWAY FROM ME. 802 00:27:52,482 --> 00:27:55,034 >> BUT MOTHER AND DAUGHTER DID 803 00:27:55,034 --> 00:27:56,275 NOT GO AWAY. 804 00:27:56,275 --> 00:27:59,344 MONTHS LATER, EVA SAYS, THEY 805 00:27:59,344 --> 00:28:00,655 RENEWED THEIR ACCUSATIONS. 806 00:28:00,655 --> 00:28:02,586 >> WHAT DID THEY SAY THAT TIME? 807 00:28:02,586 --> 00:28:04,724 >> YOUR DAD POISONED YOUR MOM. 808 00:28:04,724 --> 00:28:06,551 >> HOW DID YOU REACT TO THAT? 809 00:28:06,551 --> 00:28:07,655 >> I SAID NO, HE DIDN'T. 810 00:28:07,655 --> 00:28:08,758 I WAS THERE. 811 00:28:08,758 --> 00:28:11,551 I FOUND MY MOM AND THAT CAUSED A 812 00:28:11,551 --> 00:28:15,482 LOT OF EMOTIONAL TRAUMA. 813 00:28:15,482 --> 00:28:16,482 MY DAD WOULDN'T DO THAT. 814 00:28:16,482 --> 00:28:17,862 HE LOVED MY MOM. 815 00:28:17,862 --> 00:28:19,655 >> I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT 816 00:28:19,655 --> 00:28:20,862 SOMETHING. 817 00:28:20,862 --> 00:28:24,379 WAS DOUG EVER CHARGED WITH ANY 818 00:28:24,379 --> 00:28:24,586 CRIME? 819 00:28:24,586 --> 00:28:26,000 >> NO, SIR. 820 00:28:26,000 --> 00:28:28,206 NONE OF THE ALLEGATIONS WERE 821 00:28:28,206 --> 00:28:28,413 TRUE. 822 00:28:28,413 --> 00:28:29,758 >> ASHLEY DID NOT RESPOND TO OUR 823 00:28:29,758 --> 00:28:32,344 REQUEST FOR AN INTERVIEW BUT SHE 824 00:28:32,344 --> 00:28:33,724 APPEARED CONVINCED THAT SHE AND 825 00:28:33,724 --> 00:28:36,379 HER 3-MONTH-OLD BABY HAD BEEN 826 00:28:36,379 --> 00:28:36,655 POISONED. 827 00:28:36,655 --> 00:28:38,344 IN HER SEARCH FOR HELP, ASHLEY 828 00:28:38,344 --> 00:28:40,620 SIGNED THEM UP FOR 26 829 00:28:40,620 --> 00:28:43,413 CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF TREATMENT IN 830 00:28:43,413 --> 00:28:45,137 THIS HYPERBARIC CHAMBER. 831 00:28:45,137 --> 00:28:47,620 >> IT CAN DETOX THE BODY OF 832 00:28:47,620 --> 00:28:49,965 HEAVY METALS AND OTHER TOXINS. 833 00:28:49,965 --> 00:28:53,620 >> THE SAFETY DIRECTOR ROBERT 834 00:28:53,620 --> 00:28:55,241 CEDEROTH SAYS ASHLEY AND HER 835 00:28:55,241 --> 00:28:58,448 DAUGHTER SPENT 40 HOURS IN THIS 836 00:28:58,448 --> 00:28:59,344 12-PERSON CHAMBER THAT LOOKS 837 00:28:59,344 --> 00:29:00,896 MORE NAUTICAL THAN MEDICAL. 838 00:29:00,896 --> 00:29:02,275 >> WE CALL THEM DIVES. 839 00:29:02,275 --> 00:29:05,827 THEY'RE ALMOST SIMULATING 840 00:29:05,827 --> 00:29:06,034 DIVING. 841 00:29:06,034 --> 00:29:09,758 LIKE WHEN DIVERS GO DOWN. 842 00:29:09,758 --> 00:29:12,275 >> ASHLEY'S DAUGHTER IT WAS 843 00:29:12,275 --> 00:29:14,103 YOUNGEST PATIENT EVER TREATED 844 00:29:14,103 --> 00:29:14,586 HERE. 845 00:29:14,586 --> 00:29:17,000 ADULTS WEAR A PLASTIC HOOD WHILE 846 00:29:17,000 --> 00:29:18,896 INSIDE BUT THING WERE TRICKY. 847 00:29:18,896 --> 00:29:20,517 >> WE ENDED UP TAKING THIS RING 848 00:29:20,517 --> 00:29:22,551 AND PUT IT AROUND HER WAIST. 849 00:29:22,551 --> 00:29:25,620 SHE WAS LIKE A LITTLE BALLERINA. 850 00:29:25,620 --> 00:29:27,896 HALF OF HER BODY WAS INSIDE THE 851 00:29:27,896 --> 00:29:28,206 HOOD. 852 00:29:28,206 --> 00:29:31,310 >> IN THE SUMMER OF 2018, THE 853 00:29:31,310 --> 00:29:32,758 POISONING ALLEGATIONS CAME TO A 854 00:29:32,758 --> 00:29:34,862 HEAD WHEN THE BENEFIELDS SQUARED 855 00:29:34,862 --> 00:29:38,241 OFF IN A BRADENTON, FLORIDA, 856 00:29:38,241 --> 00:29:38,517 COURTROOM. 857 00:29:38,517 --> 00:29:40,137 DOUG WANTED TO SEE HIS DAUGHTER 858 00:29:40,137 --> 00:29:41,931 AND ASHLEY WAS REQUESTING AN 859 00:29:41,931 --> 00:29:44,413 INJUNCTION TO KEEP HIM FAR AWAY. 860 00:29:44,413 --> 00:29:46,724 AN AUDIO RECORDING WAS MADE OF 861 00:29:46,724 --> 00:29:47,655 THE PROCEEDING. 862 00:29:47,655 --> 00:29:49,137 HERE, STEPHANIE QUESTIONS ASHLEY 863 00:29:49,137 --> 00:29:51,482 ABOUT THE STATE OF HER 864 00:29:51,482 --> 00:29:51,896 PREGNANCY. 865 00:29:51,896 --> 00:29:54,827 >> YOU ALSO TOLD LAKEWOOD RANCH 866 00:29:54,827 --> 00:29:56,827 OBGYN THAT THE PREGNANCY HAD 867 00:29:56,827 --> 00:29:59,689 BEEN UNCOMPLICATED, CORRECT? 868 00:29:59,689 --> 00:30:02,172 >> IS THERE A PAGE THAT YOU'D 869 00:30:02,172 --> 00:30:03,034 LIKE FLOW REFERENCE? 870 00:30:03,034 --> 00:30:05,310 >> I WOULDN'T SOY IT WAS 871 00:30:05,310 --> 00:30:05,655 UNCOMPLICATED. 872 00:30:05,655 --> 00:30:07,068 MY ENTIRE LIFE HAS BEEN 873 00:30:07,068 --> 00:30:08,551 COMPLICATED FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS. 874 00:30:08,551 --> 00:30:12,137 >> THE OB WROTE PREGNANCY WAS 875 00:30:12,137 --> 00:30:12,482 UNCOMPLICATED. 876 00:30:12,482 --> 00:30:13,896 >> I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT 877 00:30:13,896 --> 00:30:18,103 THE DOCTOR OR THE NURSE WRITES. 878 00:30:18,103 --> 00:30:19,379 >> YOU HAVE ACCUSED YOUR HUSBAND 879 00:30:19,379 --> 00:30:20,241 OF POISONING YOU. 880 00:30:20,241 --> 00:30:21,034 >> YES. 881 00:30:21,034 --> 00:30:22,827 IT IS HEARTBREAKING THAT 882 00:30:22,827 --> 00:30:24,758 SOMEBODY YOU TRUST WOULD DO 883 00:30:24,758 --> 00:30:25,379 SOMETHING TO YOU. 884 00:30:25,379 --> 00:30:26,931 >> BUT THE JUDGE WAS NOT 885 00:30:26,931 --> 00:30:28,827 PERSUADED BY TWO DAYS OF 886 00:30:28,827 --> 00:30:31,068 TESTIMONY AND THE LAB TEST 887 00:30:31,068 --> 00:30:34,241 RESULTS ASHLEY HAD SUBMITTED. 888 00:30:34,241 --> 00:30:37,379 >> THERE IS NOT A SINGLE 889 00:30:37,379 --> 00:30:39,586 SCINTILLA OF CREDIBLE EVIDENCE 890 00:30:39,586 --> 00:30:43,379 THAT MISS BENEFIELD HAS EVER 891 00:30:43,379 --> 00:30:45,862 BEEN POISONED OR SUFFERED FROM 892 00:30:45,862 --> 00:30:48,793 ANY ILLNESS OF ANY POISON. 893 00:30:48,793 --> 00:30:50,172 >> THAT RULING CLEARED THE WAY 894 00:30:50,172 --> 00:30:53,000 FOR DOUG TO FINALLY SEE HIS 895 00:30:53,000 --> 00:30:53,241 DAUGHTER. 896 00:30:53,241 --> 00:30:55,517 DAYS LATER, HE AND ASHLEY MET 897 00:30:55,517 --> 00:30:57,896 OUTSIDE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO 898 00:30:57,896 --> 00:30:59,551 EXCHANGE THE BABY. 899 00:30:59,551 --> 00:31:02,241 TO STEPHANIE'S SURPRISE, ASHLEY 900 00:31:02,241 --> 00:31:04,758 WAS SUDDENLY VERY ACCOMMODATING. 901 00:31:04,758 --> 00:31:05,965 >> SHE THEN IMMEDIATELY WENT 902 00:31:05,965 --> 00:31:08,310 RIGHT UP TO DOUG, HANDED THE 903 00:31:08,310 --> 00:31:10,448 BABY OVER, NICE AS SHE COULD BE. 904 00:31:10,448 --> 00:31:11,206 VERY CORDIAL. 905 00:31:11,206 --> 00:31:12,413 >> SHE EVEN SUGGESTED THAT THE 906 00:31:12,413 --> 00:31:15,206 THREE OF THEM, DOUG, ASHLEY, AND 907 00:31:15,206 --> 00:31:19,310 THE BABY, SPEND TIME TOGETHER. 908 00:31:19,310 --> 00:31:21,275 >> AND DOUG SAID, OKAY, SURE. 909 00:31:21,275 --> 00:31:22,689 DOUG WANTED TO MAKE THE 910 00:31:22,689 --> 00:31:24,000 TRANSITION AS EASY FOR HIS 911 00:31:24,000 --> 00:31:25,758 DAUGHTER AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE TO 912 00:31:25,758 --> 00:31:28,689 HER, HE WAS A STRANGER. 913 00:31:28,689 --> 00:31:30,103 AND I TALKED TO DOUG. 914 00:31:30,103 --> 00:31:30,896 I SAID OKAY. 915 00:31:30,896 --> 00:31:31,827 THAT'S FINE, OF COURSE. 916 00:31:31,827 --> 00:31:34,000 PLEASE BE CAREFUL. 917 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:35,000 >> FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE 918 00:31:35,000 --> 00:31:37,379 NEXT YEAR, DOUG, ASHLEY, AND 919 00:31:37,379 --> 00:31:39,000 THEIR DAUGHTER SEEMED HAPPY, AT 920 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:40,551 LEAST ACCORDING TO DOUG. 921 00:31:40,551 --> 00:31:42,551 DOUG EVEN MOVED TO A NEARBY 922 00:31:42,551 --> 00:31:43,896 APARTMENT IN FLORIDA. 923 00:31:43,896 --> 00:31:45,689 >> DOUG THOUGHT THEY WERE BACK 924 00:31:45,689 --> 00:31:46,068 TOGETHER. 925 00:31:46,068 --> 00:31:47,586 THAT THEY WERE DOING WHAT THEY 926 00:31:47,586 --> 00:31:49,379 WERE SUPPOSED TO DO IN THE 927 00:31:49,379 --> 00:31:51,241 BEGINNING, TO SLOWLY GET TO KNOW 928 00:31:51,241 --> 00:31:52,827 EACH OTHER, BE A FAMILY. 929 00:31:52,827 --> 00:31:54,241 I THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS GOING 930 00:31:54,241 --> 00:31:54,689 TO BE OKAY. 931 00:31:54,689 --> 00:31:57,724 >> BUT IN AUGUST 2019, WHEN HE 932 00:31:57,724 --> 00:31:59,862 MET ASHLEY TO PICK UP HIS 933 00:31:59,862 --> 00:32:01,000 DAUGHTER, DOUG WAS STUNNED TO 934 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:03,620 SEE WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS AN 935 00:32:03,620 --> 00:32:06,965 ENGAGEMENT RING ON ASHLEY'S 936 00:32:06,965 --> 00:32:07,172 FINGER. 937 00:32:07,172 --> 00:32:08,344 >> DOUG HIRED A PRIVATE 938 00:32:08,344 --> 00:32:10,206 INVESTIGATOR TO FIND OUT WHAT -WAS GOING ON. 939 00:32:10,206 --> 00:32:12,103 >> THE PRIVATE EYE TOLD DOUG 940 00:32:12,103 --> 00:32:13,827 ASHLEY WAS SEEING ANOTHER MAN. 941 00:32:13,827 --> 00:32:17,793 AND IN NOVEMBER 2019, DOUG FILED 942 00:32:17,793 --> 00:32:18,586 FOR DIVORCE. 943 00:32:18,586 --> 00:32:20,862 SOON AFTER, ASHLEY BEGAN LODGING 944 00:32:20,862 --> 00:32:22,896 COMPLAINTS AGAINST DOUG. 945 00:32:22,896 --> 00:32:24,827 >> ASHLEY ACCUSED DOUG OF 946 00:32:24,827 --> 00:32:26,000 SEXUALLY ABUSING HIS DAUGHTER. 947 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:28,344 SHE ACCUSED HIM OF A WHOLE 948 00:32:28,344 --> 00:32:30,482 LITANY OF THINGS. 949 00:32:30,482 --> 00:32:31,034 >> BYE-BYE! 950 00:32:31,034 --> 00:32:34,551 >> DOUG VEHEMENTLY DENIED 951 00:32:34,551 --> 00:32:35,275 HARMING HIS DAUGHTER AND 952 00:32:35,275 --> 00:32:38,896 AUTHORITIES AGREED THERE WAS NO 953 00:32:38,896 --> 00:32:39,344 EVIDENCE. 954 00:32:39,344 --> 00:32:40,379 DOUG THEN WROTE AN EMAIL IN 955 00:32:40,379 --> 00:32:43,379 MARCH OF 2020 TO THE SHERIFF'S 956 00:32:43,379 --> 00:32:45,000 OFFICE ACCUSING ASHLEY OF HAVING 957 00:32:45,000 --> 00:32:46,724 A SPLIT PERSONALITY. 958 00:32:46,724 --> 00:32:49,379 BUT A FEW MONTHS LATER, DOUG DID 959 00:32:49,379 --> 00:32:52,344 SOMETHING THAT SEEMED 960 00:32:52,344 --> 00:32:52,655 UNTHINKABLE. 961 00:32:52,655 --> 00:32:54,241 IN A HEAD-SPINNING MOVE, HE 962 00:32:54,241 --> 00:32:55,793 ANNOUNCED THAT HE AND ASHLEY 963 00:32:55,793 --> 00:32:58,655 WERE GOING TO TRY AGAIN TO BE A 964 00:32:58,655 --> 00:33:02,344 FAMILY AND WERE RELOCATING TO 965 00:33:02,344 --> 00:33:02,620 MARYLAND. 966 00:33:02,620 --> 00:33:04,172 >> TOMMIE, I KNOW WE KEEP 967 00:33:04,172 --> 00:33:05,103 CIRCLING BACK TO THE SAME 968 00:33:05,103 --> 00:33:06,620 QUESTION AND I'M SORRY. 969 00:33:06,620 --> 00:33:09,448 IT'S JUST, ANY VIEWER OF THIS 970 00:33:09,448 --> 00:33:11,137 HOUR IS GOING TO BE ASKING, WHAT 971 00:33:11,137 --> 00:33:13,275 DID DOUG NEED TO SEE BEFORE HE 972 00:33:13,275 --> 00:33:17,206 WOULD SAY, TIME-OUT, WE'RE DONE. 973 00:33:17,206 --> 00:33:19,413 >> HE IS STILL BELIEVING HE CAN 974 00:33:19,413 --> 00:33:21,931 RESCUE AND SAVE AND HAVE A 975 00:33:21,931 --> 00:33:26,827 MARRIAGE, A LOVING MARRIAGE. 976 00:33:26,827 --> 00:33:28,172 >> AFTER SOMEBODY SAYS YOU'RE 977 00:33:28,172 --> 00:33:30,896 SEXUALLY ABUSING YOUR DAUGHTER, 978 00:33:30,896 --> 00:33:32,586 DON'T YOU CUT AND RUN? 979 00:33:32,586 --> 00:33:35,482 DON'T YOU SAY, I TRIED. 980 00:33:35,482 --> 00:33:35,896 I'M OUT. 981 00:33:35,896 --> 00:33:38,000 >> RIGHT, RIGHT. 982 00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:38,241 YES. 983 00:33:38,241 --> 00:33:41,689 MOST PEOPLE DO. 984 00:33:41,689 --> 00:33:42,068 BUT NOT DOUG. 985 00:33:42,068 --> 00:33:44,793 >> SHE'S STILL PRESENTING TO HIM 986 00:33:44,793 --> 00:33:46,965 AND TO OTHERS THAT THEY'RE GOING 987 00:33:46,965 --> 00:33:52,275 TO PUT ALL THIS BACK TOGETHER 988 00:33:52,275 --> 00:33:52,517 AGAIN. 989 00:33:52,517 --> 00:33:55,586 >> FRIENDS HELD THEIR BREATH BUT 990 00:33:55,586 --> 00:33:57,793 HOPED, FOR DOUG'S SAKE, THAT A 991 00:33:57,793 --> 00:33:59,413 MIRACLE REUNION WAS ABOUT TO 992 00:33:59,413 --> 00:33:59,620 LAMB. 993 00:33:59,620 --> 00:34:02,482 TRIP SAID HE KNEW BETTER THAN TO 994 00:34:02,482 --> 00:34:06,034 TRY TO TALK TO DOUG OUT OF 995 00:34:06,034 --> 00:34:06,551 RECONCILING WITH ASHLEY. 996 00:34:06,551 --> 00:34:07,103 >> THERE'S NOTHING I COULD 997 00:34:07,103 --> 00:34:08,137 POSSIBLY SAY THAT WOULD TURN HIM 998 00:34:08,137 --> 00:34:09,482 AROUND ON THIS. 999 00:34:09,482 --> 00:34:11,620 HE'S GOING TO DO THIS IF IT 1000 00:34:11,620 --> 00:34:14,585 KILLS HIM. 1001 00:34:14,585 --> 00:34:23,724 KILLS HIM. >> GO INSIDE THE 1002 00:34:23,724 --> 00:34:29,206 >> GO INSIDE THE 1003 00:34:29,206 --> 00:34:30,275 >>> HE SAID THAT THEIR 1004 00:34:30,275 --> 00:34:31,655 RELATIONSHIP WAS GOING REALLY 1005 00:34:31,655 --> 00:34:32,724 WELL AND HE WAS JUST EXCITED FOR 1006 00:34:32,724 --> 00:34:33,965 A FRESH START. 1007 00:34:33,965 --> 00:34:36,344 >> ON SEPTEMBER 27th, 2020, DOUG 1008 00:34:36,344 --> 00:34:37,793 BENEFIELD WAS PREPARING TO BEGIN 1009 00:34:37,793 --> 00:34:39,379 HIS NEW LIFE. 1010 00:34:39,379 --> 00:34:41,172 HE WAS MOVING WITH ASHLEY, THEIR 1011 00:34:41,172 --> 00:34:43,793 YOUNG DAUGHTER, AND ASHLEY'S 1012 00:34:43,793 --> 00:34:47,516 MOTHER ALICIA, FROM FLORIDA TO 1013 00:34:47,516 --> 00:34:47,793 MARYLAND. 1014 00:34:47,793 --> 00:34:49,413 >> SO IT'S SUNDAY NIGHT AND DOUG 1015 00:34:49,413 --> 00:34:54,344 IS OVER AT ASHLEY AND ALICIA'S 1016 00:34:54,344 --> 00:34:54,827 HOUSE. 1017 00:34:54,827 --> 00:34:57,586 DOUG IS FILLING UP THE U-HAUL. 1018 00:34:57,586 --> 00:34:59,206 ALICIA DECIDES TO TAKE THE BABY 1019 00:34:59,206 --> 00:35:01,137 TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK. 1020 00:35:01,137 --> 00:35:02,655 >> ASHLEY STAYED BEHIND WITH 1021 00:35:02,655 --> 00:35:02,862 DOUG. 1022 00:35:02,862 --> 00:35:06,000 SOON AFTER, A NEIGHBOR HEARD 1023 00:35:06,000 --> 00:35:07,862 SCREAMS AND CALLED 911. 1024 00:35:07,862 --> 00:35:11,034 >> I HEARD SOMEBODY SCREAMING 1025 00:35:11,034 --> 00:35:11,275 OUTSIDE. 1026 00:35:11,275 --> 00:35:12,655 >> THEN ASHLEY WALKED TO A 1027 00:35:12,655 --> 00:35:14,655 DIFFERENT NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE, 1028 00:35:14,655 --> 00:35:17,000 CARRYING HER .45 CALIBER 1029 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:17,241 HANDGUN. 1030 00:35:17,241 --> 00:35:19,827 >> SHE WALKS NEXT DOOR, GUN IN 1031 00:35:19,827 --> 00:35:20,724 HAND. 1032 00:35:20,724 --> 00:35:22,965 TELLS THE NEIGHBOR, I SHOT DOUG 1033 00:35:22,965 --> 00:35:24,586 IN SELF-DEFENSE. 1034 00:35:24,586 --> 00:35:29,620 THE NEIGHBOR CALLS 911. 1035 00:35:29,620 --> 00:35:31,827 >> RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO ME. 1036 00:35:31,827 --> 00:35:33,275 SHE CAME OVER. 1037 00:35:33,275 --> 00:35:34,655 SHE SAID HE ATTACKED HER AND SHE 1038 00:35:34,655 --> 00:35:36,379 SHOT HIM. 1039 00:35:36,379 --> 00:35:37,724 >> ASHLEY CAN BE HEARD SOBBING 1040 00:35:37,724 --> 00:35:39,068 IN THE BACKGROUND. 1041 00:35:39,068 --> 00:35:40,551 >> WHEN THE AMBULANCE ARRIVES, 1042 00:35:40,551 --> 00:35:42,206 DOUG WAS STILL BREATHING. 1043 00:35:42,206 --> 00:35:45,586 >> POLICE AND EMTs SECOND BASED 1044 00:35:45,586 --> 00:35:47,068 DOUG WHO HAD BEEN SHOT TWICE IN 1045 00:35:47,068 --> 00:35:49,000 HIS RIGHT LEG AND ARM. 1046 00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:50,620 POLICE NOTED THAT THE BULLET 1047 00:35:50,620 --> 00:35:53,724 FROM HIS ARM TRAVELED INTO HIS 1048 00:35:53,724 --> 00:35:54,517 CHEST CAVITY. 1049 00:35:54,517 --> 00:35:56,724 DOUG LIVED FOR AN HOUR, BUT DIED 1050 00:35:56,724 --> 00:36:01,862 AT NEARBY DOCTORS HOSPITAL. 1051 00:36:01,862 --> 00:36:03,620 ASHLEY WAS NOT ARRESTED THAT 1052 00:36:03,620 --> 00:36:04,620 NIGHT AS INVESTIGATORS BEGAN 1053 00:36:04,620 --> 00:36:07,689 INVESTIGATING HER CLAIM OF 1054 00:36:07,689 --> 00:36:08,000 SELF-DEFENSE. 1055 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:09,034 BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO IT 1056 00:36:09,034 --> 00:36:09,413 WITHOUT HER. 1057 00:36:09,413 --> 00:36:11,068 >>> SHE DIDN'T SPEAK TO 1058 00:36:11,068 --> 00:36:12,137 DETECTIVES AT ALL. 1059 00:36:12,137 --> 00:36:14,551 >> BUT ASHLEY'S MOTHER ALICIA 1060 00:36:14,551 --> 00:36:16,724 SAID SHE AND HER DAUGHTER WERE 1061 00:36:16,724 --> 00:36:17,862 VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE AND 1062 00:36:17,862 --> 00:36:19,172 HAD BEEN LIVING IN FEAR OF DOUG 1063 00:36:19,172 --> 00:36:21,310 FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS. 1064 00:36:21,310 --> 00:36:23,689 SHE CLAIMED THAT THEY TRIED TO 1065 00:36:23,689 --> 00:36:26,724 GET HELP BUT NOBODY WOULD HELP 1066 00:36:26,724 --> 00:36:26,931 THEM. 1067 00:36:26,931 --> 00:36:28,655 AND ASHLEY'S LAWYER, FAITH 1068 00:36:28,655 --> 00:36:31,827 BROWN, TOLD THE DETECTIVE THAT 1069 00:36:31,827 --> 00:36:33,000 ASHLEY WAS CREATING AN ESCAPE 1070 00:36:33,000 --> 00:36:35,103 PLAN TO GET AWAY FROM DOUG ONCE 1071 00:36:35,103 --> 00:36:36,275 AND FOR ALL. 1072 00:36:36,275 --> 00:36:39,310 BROWN TOLD THE DETECTIVE ASHLEY 1073 00:36:39,310 --> 00:36:41,241 WAS IN DANGER, HAS A 1074 00:36:41,241 --> 00:36:43,689 PSYCHOLOGIST, TWO ATTORNEYS AND 1075 00:36:43,689 --> 00:36:44,517 A BURNER PHONE. 1076 00:36:44,517 --> 00:36:46,275 ASHLEY ALSO HAD A SAFE LOCATION 1077 00:36:46,275 --> 00:36:48,517 AND A RENTAL CAR SET-UP. 1078 00:36:48,517 --> 00:36:50,000 ASHLEY WAS EXPECTED TO IMPLEMENT 1079 00:36:50,000 --> 00:36:52,931 THE PLAN THE VERY NEXT DAY 1080 00:36:52,931 --> 00:36:54,862 BECAUSE, AS ASHLEY'S LAWYER TOLD 1081 00:36:54,862 --> 00:36:57,000 THE DETECTIVE, SHE WAS VERY 1082 00:36:57,000 --> 00:37:00,689 CONCERNED DOUG WAS GETTING WIND 1083 00:37:00,689 --> 00:37:02,517 OF THE PLAN. 1084 00:37:02,517 --> 00:37:05,758 BUT AS DETECTIVES INVESTIGATED, 1085 00:37:05,758 --> 00:37:09,000 ASHLEY'S CLAIM OF SELF-DEFENSE 1086 00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:10,000 BECAME PROBLEMATIC. 1087 00:37:10,000 --> 00:37:11,827 A DETECTIVE NOTED THAT DOUG HAD 1088 00:37:11,827 --> 00:37:14,827 NO GUNS OR WEAPONS ON HIS PERSON 1089 00:37:14,827 --> 00:37:16,000 OR NEAR HIM. 1090 00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:18,517 >> SHE SHOT AN UNARMED MAN. 1091 00:37:18,517 --> 00:37:19,862 >> IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AFTER 1092 00:37:19,862 --> 00:37:23,103 THE SHOOTING, ASHLEY DIDN'T 1093 00:37:23,103 --> 00:37:25,413 REVEAL WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT 1094 00:37:25,413 --> 00:37:25,689 MOMENT. 1095 00:37:25,689 --> 00:37:29,655 IN NOVEMBER OF 2020, ASHLEY 1096 00:37:29,655 --> 00:37:31,758 BENEFIELD WAS CHARGED WITH 1097 00:37:31,758 --> 00:37:33,000 SECOND-DEGREE MURDER. 1098 00:37:33,000 --> 00:37:34,862 THE ARREST WARRANT NOTED, IT 1099 00:37:34,862 --> 00:37:35,896 APPEARS THAT ASHLEY HAD 1100 00:37:35,896 --> 00:37:37,241 EXHAUSTED ALL LEGAL MEANS OF 1101 00:37:37,241 --> 00:37:39,000 KEEPING THE CHILD AWAY FROM 1102 00:37:39,000 --> 00:37:41,965 DOUGLAS BEFORE THE SHOOTING. 1103 00:37:41,965 --> 00:37:46,000 SHE'S PLED NOT GUILTY. 1104 00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:48,068 >> I DON'T KNOW WHAT ASHLEY 1105 00:37:48,068 --> 00:37:48,344 BELIEVED. 1106 00:37:48,344 --> 00:37:50,310 >> WRITER ALICE ROBB SAID IT IS 1107 00:37:50,310 --> 00:37:51,724 DIFFICULT TO KNOW IF ASHLEY WAS 1108 00:37:51,724 --> 00:37:54,000 A VICTIM OR A MASTER 1109 00:37:54,000 --> 00:37:54,275 MANIPULATOR. 1110 00:37:54,275 --> 00:37:56,482 >> WAS SHE GENUINELY AFRAID AND 1111 00:37:56,482 --> 00:37:59,310 JUST TRYING TO PROTECT HER BABY 1112 00:37:59,310 --> 00:38:00,862 AND SAVE HERSELF? 1113 00:38:00,862 --> 00:38:03,655 OR WAS SHE TRYING TO GET DOUG 1114 00:38:03,655 --> 00:38:07,793 OUT OF HER LIFE, JUST OUT OF 1115 00:38:07,793 --> 00:38:10,413 SPITE, JUST BECAUSE SHE HATED 1116 00:38:10,413 --> 00:38:10,620 HIM? 1117 00:38:10,620 --> 00:38:12,965 >> I FEEL LIKE SHE, PART OF HER 1118 00:38:12,965 --> 00:38:14,896 WANTED TO BELIEVE THAT MY DAD 1119 00:38:14,896 --> 00:38:15,965 WAS A GOOD GUY. 1120 00:38:15,965 --> 00:38:17,482 BUT THEN THERE WAS PART OF HER 1121 00:38:17,482 --> 00:38:18,965 THAT WAS SCARED OF HIM. 1122 00:38:18,965 --> 00:38:20,551 I THINK THAT PART TOOK OVER. 1123 00:38:20,551 --> 00:38:23,655 >> WHY WAS SHE SCARED OF HIM? 1124 00:38:23,655 --> 00:38:25,344 >> I THINK ALL THE ALLEGATIONS 1125 00:38:25,344 --> 00:38:28,413 SHE MADE JUST, SHE STARTED TO 1126 00:38:28,413 --> 00:38:32,275 BELIEVE THEM A LITTLE TOO MUCH. 1127 00:38:32,275 --> 00:38:35,793 >> ASHLEY'S MOTHER, ALICIA 1128 00:38:35,793 --> 00:38:37,827 BYERS, WAS GRANTED CUSTODY OF 1129 00:38:37,827 --> 00:38:39,034 HER GRANDCHILD. 1130 00:38:39,034 --> 00:38:40,620 WHILE AWAITING TRIAL, ASHLEY WAS 1131 00:38:40,620 --> 00:38:42,034 FREE ON BOND AND SAW HER 1132 00:38:42,034 --> 00:38:43,413 DAUGHTER FREQUENTLY. 1133 00:38:43,413 --> 00:38:45,551 >> DO YOU EVER THINK ABOUT HER? 1134 00:38:45,551 --> 00:38:45,827 ASHLEY? 1135 00:38:45,827 --> 00:38:46,862 >> ALL THE TIME. 1136 00:38:46,862 --> 00:38:48,344 >> WHAT DO YOU THINK? 1137 00:38:48,344 --> 00:38:50,310 >> I WANT TO KNOW, WHY WOULD SHE 1138 00:38:50,310 --> 00:38:52,482 TAKE AWAY MY FATHER, MY BEST 1139 00:38:52,482 --> 00:38:53,344 FRIEND, KNOWING THAT I DON'T 1140 00:38:53,344 --> 00:38:54,344 HAVE ANOTHER APPARENTLY? 1141 00:38:54,344 --> 00:38:56,310 >> I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG 1142 00:38:56,310 --> 00:38:58,241 ONE DAY WHEN HE DIDN'T SEND MAY 1143 00:38:58,241 --> 00:38:58,862 GOOD MORNING TEXT. 1144 00:38:58,862 --> 00:39:01,896 THEN A COUPLE HOURS LATER I GOT 1145 00:39:01,896 --> 00:39:04,000 A CALL THAT SHE SHOT AND KILLED 1146 00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:04,172 HIM. 1147 00:39:04,172 --> 00:39:06,551 >> OVER THE PAST YEAR, EVA HAS 1148 00:39:06,551 --> 00:39:08,000 BEEN EXPLORING HER FEELINGS ON 1149 00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:10,034 TIKTOK, USING HER UNIQUE SENSE 1150 00:39:10,034 --> 00:39:15,551 OF HUMOR TO SOOTHE HER PAIN. 1151 00:39:15,551 --> 00:39:17,482 SHE POSTS FREQUENTLY UNDER THE 1152 00:39:17,482 --> 00:39:25,137 NAME EVATHEFREAKINDIVA WHERE SHE 1153 00:39:25,137 --> 00:39:26,862 JOKES THAT HER BRAND IS THE GIRL 1154 00:39:26,862 --> 00:39:30,862 WITH THE DEAD PARENTS. 1155 00:39:30,862 --> 00:39:31,793 >> I USE DARK HUMOR. 1156 00:39:31,793 --> 00:39:33,758 IT'S THE WAY MAY BRAIN IS WIRED. 1157 00:39:33,758 --> 00:39:37,000 I WOULD RATHER NOT SIT AND SULK. 1158 00:39:37,000 --> 00:39:38,413 I WOULD RATHER MAKE LIGHT OF A 1159 00:39:38,413 --> 00:39:39,000 SITUATION. 1160 00:39:39,000 --> 00:39:41,413 >> THESE DAYS, EVA CHERISHES HER 1161 00:39:41,413 --> 00:39:43,206 TIME WITH SULLY, THE DOG THAT 1162 00:39:43,206 --> 00:39:44,862 ONCE BELONGED TO HER FATHER. 1163 00:39:44,862 --> 00:39:46,758 AND SHE AND TOMMIE STILL GO TO 1164 00:39:46,758 --> 00:39:49,517 THE BEACH AT SULLIVAN'S ISLAND 1165 00:39:49,517 --> 00:39:54,586 WHERE HER FATHER'S ASHES WERE 1166 00:39:54,586 --> 00:39:54,862 SCATTERED. 1167 00:39:54,862 --> 00:39:56,724 WHEN WE STAND OUT HERE NOW, ALL 1168 00:39:56,724 --> 00:40:00,689 THESE MONTHS LATER, ANY PEACE? 1169 00:40:00,689 --> 00:40:01,827 >> I DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO 1170 00:40:01,827 --> 00:40:06,000 GET PEACE UNTIL AFTER THE TRIAL 1171 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:06,206 IS OVER. 1172 00:40:06,206 --> 00:40:07,827 >> DO YOU EVER DREAM ABOUT YOUR 1173 00:40:07,827 --> 00:40:08,448 DAD? 1174 00:40:08,448 --> 00:40:09,862 >> A FEW TIMES. 1175 00:40:09,862 --> 00:40:11,586 >> WHAT HAPPENS IN THE DREAM? 1176 00:40:11,586 --> 00:40:14,275 >> WE'RE IN THIS BIG HOUSE AND 1177 00:40:14,275 --> 00:40:16,965 HE ENTERS THE ROOM THROUGH A 1178 00:40:16,965 --> 00:40:19,793 DOOR AND HE SAYS, I'VE BEEN IN 1179 00:40:19,793 --> 00:40:21,103 HIDING AND I NEED TO YOU HELP 1180 00:40:21,103 --> 00:40:21,275 ME. 1181 00:40:21,275 --> 00:40:22,827 AND THEN I RUN WITH HIM AND 1182 00:40:22,827 --> 00:40:25,793 THERE'S A TUNNEL. 1183 00:40:25,793 --> 00:40:30,827 AND THEN I WAKE UP. 1184 00:40:30,827 --> 00:40:32,655 >>> COMING UP NEXT -- 1185 00:40:32,655 --> 00:40:33,758 >> GUESS WHAT. 1186 00:40:33,758 --> 00:40:34,620 I KNOW EVERYBODY HAS BEEN 1187 00:40:34,620 --> 00:40:36,000 WAITING FOR THE DAY. 1188 00:40:36,000 --> 00:40:38,000 NEXT WEEK IS HER FIRST IN-PERSON 1189 00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:40,000 HEARING WHICH MEANS I'M GOING TO 1190 00:40:40,000 --> 00:40:41,655 SEE HER IN-PERSON FOR THE FIRST 1191 00:40:41,655 --> 00:40:44,172 TIME SINCE SHE KILLED MY DAD. 1192 00:40:44,172 --> 00:40:47,034 >> A DAUGHTER COMES FACE TO FACE 1193 00:40:47,034 --> 00:40:49,310 WITH HER FATHER'S ACCUSED 1194 00:40:49,310 --> 00:40:49,758 KILLER. 1195 00:40:49,758 --> 00:40:52,620 LEARNING DISTURBING NEW DETAILS. 1196 00:40:52,620 --> 00:40:54,103 >> IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT FOR ME 1197 00:40:54,103 --> 00:40:56,517 HEARING ABOUT IT OVER AGAIN AND 1198 00:40:56,517 --> 00:40:57,758 OVER AGAIN AND OVER AGAIN. 1199 00:40:57,758 --> 00:40:58,965 IT'S A LOT. 1200 00:40:58,965 --> 00:41:01,517 >> THEY MADE THIS ALL ABOUT 1201 00:41:01,517 --> 00:41:01,724 DOUG. 1202 00:41:01,724 --> 00:41:03,344 THEY CAST DOUG IN THE WORST 1203 00:41:03,344 --> 00:41:04,517 POSSIBLE LIGHT. 1204 00:41:04,517 --> 00:41:07,827 >> FOR THE FIRST TIME, ASHLEY 1205 00:41:07,827 --> 00:41:08,931 BENEFIELD TAKES THE STAND 1206 00:41:08,931 --> 00:41:11,413 CLAIMING DOUG TRIED TO POISON 1207 00:41:11,413 --> 00:41:12,793 HER WITH A GIFT. 1208 00:41:12,793 --> 00:41:15,793 >> WHEN I OPENED IT, THERE WAS 1209 00:41:15,793 --> 00:41:18,448 AN OVERWHELMING DRUG CONNECTION 1210 00:41:18,448 --> 00:41:20,931 CAL SMELL. 1211 00:41:20,931 --> 00:41:22,620 I GOT A HEADACHE. 1212 00:41:22,620 --> 00:41:24,103 >> HE WOULD COME AT ME LIKE HE 1213 00:41:24,103 --> 00:41:25,793 WAS GOING TO HIT ME. 1214 00:41:25,793 --> 00:41:27,586 HE THREW A CHAIR AT ME. 1215 00:41:27,586 --> 00:41:29,793 >> THEN IN TEARS, ASHLEY'S STORY 1216 00:41:29,793 --> 00:41:31,793 OF WHAT SHE SAID HAPPENED THAT 1217 00:41:31,793 --> 00:41:33,551 NIGHT. 1218 00:41:33,551 --> 00:41:35,172 >> HE'S A [ BLEEP ]. 1219 00:41:35,172 --> 00:41:36,655 I WAS SCARED TO DEATH. 1220 00:41:36,655 --> 00:41:40,275 >> SHE'S THE KIND OF PERSON WHO 1221 00:41:40,275 --> 00:41:42,758 EVENTUALLY BELIEVES HER OWN 1222 00:41:42,758 --> 00:41:43,517 LIES. 1223 00:41:43,517 --> 00:41:45,206 BUT JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE 1224 00:41:45,206 --> 00:41:46,620 BELIEVES WHAT THEY'RE SAYING 1225 00:41:46,620 --> 00:41:55,379 DOESN'T MAKE IT TRUE. 1226 00:41:55,379 --> 00:42:01,586 DOESN'T MAKE IT TRUE. >> THAT'S NEXT ON "48 HOURS." 1227 00:42:01,586 --> 00:42:17,517 >> THAT'S NEXT ON "48 HOURS."