SCANDAL IN THE BALLET WORLD.
MY NAME IS ALICE ROBB AND I'M A
CONTRIBUTING WRITER FOR "VANITY
FAIR."
IT WAS A BUSINESS STORY ABOUT A
BALLET COMPANY THAT TURNED INTO
A MURDER INVESTIGATION.
IN 2016, ASHLEY MARRIED A MUCH
OLDER MAN.
TOGETHER, THEY MADE A PLAN TO
START A NEW BALLET COMPANY.
ASHLEY'S DREAM WAS TO CREATE A
BALLET COMPANY THAT WOULD BE A
HOME FOR DANCERS WHO WERE
UNCONVENTIONAL.
>> SHE DIDN'T WANT A
COOKIE-CUTTER COMPANY.
SHE WANTED GIRL THAT WERE TALL.
GIRLS THAT WERE SHORT.
>> I AM TALLER.
I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GREAT
FIT FOR ME.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW DOUG COULD
SPELL BALLET WHEN HE MET ASHLEY.
YOU WANT TO MAKE HER HAPPY.
>> ASHLEY WAS 24 AND DOUG WAS
54.
THEY KNEW EACH OTER FOR
APPROXIMATELY 13 DAYS BEFORE
THEY GOT MARRIED.
ASHLEY WAS SENDING PHOTOGRAPHS
OF HERSELF TO DOUG CONSTANTLY.
SHE WAS, YOU KNOW, A BIKINI
MODEL AT SOME POINT AND SHE KNEW
HOW TO WORK IT.
SHE KNEW HOW TO USE IT.
>> HIS MAJOR CONCERN IS HOW WILL
HE INTRODUCE ASHLEY TO EVA?
>> I FELT LIKE ASHLEY WAS TAKING
MY DAD AWAY FROM ME.
>> ASHLEY WANTS TO WIN TOTAL
AFFECTION.
SHE WANTS TO BE NUMBER ONE.
>> THEY WOULD GO THROUGH PERIODS
WHERE SHE WAS RAGING AT DOUG.
>> SHE FLIP-FLOPS BETWEEN HE'S A
GREAT GUY, HE'S GOOD OR EVIL,
GOOD OR EVIL.
>> SHE GOES TO LIVE WITH HER
MOTHER AND EFFECTIVELY CUTS OFF
ALL COMMUNICATION WITH DOUG.
HE'S BEGGING HER TO TALK ABOUT
THINGS, GIVE HIM ANOTHER CHANCE.
MEANWHILE, SHE ACCUSED HIM OF
TRYING TO POISON HER.
>> SHE'S ACCUSED HIM PUBLICLY OF
MURDER, ATTEMPTED MURDER.
>> WAS DOUG BENEFIELD DANGEROUS?
>> THEY BOTH HAD A LOT OF GUNS.
AND THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHERE
DURING AN ARGUMENT, HE SHOT A
GUN INTO THE CEILING.
AFTER THE CASE WITH THE
POISONING ALLEGATIONS I SAW A
PICTURE OF THE TWO OF THEM, YOU
KNOW, ARM IN ARM, ATTENDING A
GALA TOGETHER AND LOOKING LIKE A
HAPPY COUPLE.
>> HE WAS SO HOPEFUL AND
OPTIMISTIC THAT EVERYTHING WOULD
BE ALL RIGHT.
>> EVERY TIME SHE MADE
ALLEGATIONS, SHE ALWAYS CAME
BACK TO HIM AND GAVE HIM HOPE OF
RECONCILING.
>> AT SOME POINT, ASHLEY SAID
THAT SHE WANTED TO MOVE TO
MARYLAND TOGETHER AND START OVER
AS A FAMILY.
>> THEY WERE PACKING UP HER
HOUSE IN FLORIDA.
>> I HEARD SOMEBODY SCREAMING
OUTSIDE --
>> AND SHE SHOT HIM.
>> SHE WALKS NEXT DOOR, GUN IN
HAND, AND TELLS THE NEIGHBOR I
SHOT DOUG IN SELF-DEFENSE.
>> RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO ME.
SHE JUST CAME OVER.
HER ESTRANGED HUSBAND ATTACKED
HER AND SHE SAID SHE SHOT HIM.
>> WAS SHE GENUINELY AFRAID OR
TRYING TO GET HER WAY?
>> SINCE BLAC"BLACK SWAN" CAME OUT,
THAT'S A LOT OF PEOPLE'S ONLY
WINDOW INTO BALLET WHICH SUCKS
BUT THIS CERTAINLY DOES PARLAY
INTO THAT NARRATIVE.
>> TO DOUG, THIS INNOCENT, PURE,
WHITE SWAN.
UNDERNEATH THOSE WHITE FEATHERS,
SHE'S A BLACK SWAN.
♪
>> DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR LAST
CONVERSATION WITH YOUR DAD?
>> HE TRIED TO CALL ME BUT I
DIDN'T PICK UP BECAUSE I WAS AT
WORK.
I SAID I WOULD CALL HIM LATER.
I NEVER CALLED HIM.
I ASSUMED EVERYTHING WOULD BE
ALL RIGHT.
I WOULD GET A BIBLE VERSE THE
NEXT MORNING AND I WOULD CALL
HIM AND EVERYTHING WOULD BE
OKAY.
>> EVA BENEFIELD GOT A BIBLE
VERSE BY TEXT EVERY MORNING FROM
HER FATHER, DOUG.
IT WAS THEIR DAILY RITUAL.
ON SEPTEMBER 28th, 2020, THAT
BIBLE VERSE NEVER CAME.
A SIGN THAT EVERYTHING WAS NOT
OKAY.
>> I WAS FREAKING OUT AND I, I
SPAMD HIM WITH TEXT MESSAGES.
I CALLED HIM.
>> OUT OF DESPERATION, SHE BEGAN
GOOGLING THE NAMES DOUG AND
ASHLEY BENEFIELD AND ACCIDENT
WITH FLORIDA MAN.
LATER THAT DAY EVA CALLED AN
UNCLE WHO HAD TEXTED HER.
>> I SAID WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY
DAD.
HE SAID THERE'S BEEN AN
ACCIDENT.
AND I SAID, SHE KILLED HIM,
DIDN'T SHE?
AND HE SAID YES, SHE SHOT HIM
TWICE.
>> THOSE WERE THE FIRST WORDS
OUT OF YOUR MOUTH?
WHERE WAS THAT COMING FROM?
>> I JUST HAD A GUT FEELING.
I DROVE A COUPLE BLOCKS DOWN THE
ROAD TO MY FRIEND'S HOUSE.
THEY SAW I WAS CRYING AND SAID
WHAT'S WRONG.
AND I SAID ASHLEY KILLED MY DAD.
>> IT WAS A TRAGIC END TO A
RELATIONSHIP THAT BEGAN AT A
DINNER IN FLORIDA BACK IN AUGUST
OF 2016.
DOUG MET ASHLEY AND FELT LIKE
HE'D BEEN STRUCK BY A
THUNDERBOLT.
>> HE JUST IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT
ASHLEY WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL,
THE MOST AMAZING PERSON IN THE
WORLD.
>> WRITER ALICE ROBB WROTE A
PIECE ABOUT THE BENEFIELDS FOR
"VANITY FAIR."
DOUG WAS FROM CHARLESTON, SOUTH
CAROLINA, A CONSULTANT WHO
WORKED WITH TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES
AND DEFENSE CONTRACTORS.
THE TWO HAD BONDED OVER
CONSERVATIVE VALUES AND GUNS.
>> THE NIGHT SHE MET DOUG FOR
THE FIRST TIME, SHE HAD GUNS ON
HER PERSON, IN HER PURSE, IN HER
BRA.
>> STEPHANIE MURPHY, DOUG'S
FAMILY ATTORNEY, SAID WHEN
ASHLEY FIRST MET DOUG SHE WA
WORKING IN THE SARASOTA CAMPAIGN
OFFICE OF DONALD TRUMP.
HER JOB WAS TO HELP GALVANIZE
THE EVANGELICAL VOTE AND WORK
THE RALLIES.
>> YOU CAN SEE VIDEO OF HER ON
THE INTERNET THROWING THINGS
INTO THE CROWD, GETTING PEOPLE
REALLY EXCITED.
>> ASIDE FROM HER WORK IN
POLITICS, SHE HAD BEEN A
FLEDGLING SWIMSUIT MOD AND HE
WILL A DANCER WITH THE MARYLAND
YOUTH BALLET, AS IN THIS PIECE
FROM THE "NUTCRACKER."
>> SHE WAS A WELL TRAINED
DANCER.
>> DAYS AFTER THEY MET, DOUG
LEFT THE COUNTRY ON A SHORT
BUSINESS TRIP AND BY THE TIME
HIS PLANE WAS LANDING BACK IN
THE UNITED STATES, THE HEART
EMOJIS WERE FLYING FAST AND
FURIOUS.
>> THEY WERE SAYING I LOVE YOU
TO EACH OTHER WITHIN, I THINK, A
WEEK OR SO.
>> DOUG WAS DEEPLY RELIGIOUS AND
HIS FRIENDS BELIEVE HE WANTED TO
MARRY ASHLEY BEFORE HE WAS
INTIMATE WITH HER.
>> WHAT DID HE SAY TO YOU?
>> WILL YOU MARRY US?
>> TRIP CORMENY WAS ONE OF
DOUG'S CLOSEST FRIENDS AND
HAPPENED TO BE AN ORDAINED
EPISCOPAL PASTOR AT THE TIME.
JUST 13 DAYS HAD PASSED SINCE
THE COUPLE HAD MET.
TRIP WAS NOT THRILLED BUT HE
AGREED TO PERFORM THE CEREMONY.
>> I WAS BEING LOYAL TO MY
FRIEND.
>> DOUG INVITED ALMOST NO ONE TO
THE WEDDING, NOT EVEN HIS
TEENAGE DAUGHTER.
>> HE LOVES THIS GIRL, HAD IT IS
15-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER.
HE GETS MARRIED AND DOESN'T EVEN
TELL HER.
>> IT'S BEWILDERING.
I WOULD HAVE TALKED HIM OUT OF
IT.
EVA CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE TALKED
HIM OUT OF IT.
>> EVA WAS STUNNED.
STILL DEALING WITH AN
UNSPEAKABLE TRAUMA.
NINE MONTHS EARLIER, EVA'S
MOTHER AND DOUG'S WIFE,
56-YEAR-OLD RENEE BENEFIELD, HAD
DIED.
EVA HAD DISCOVERED HER MOTHER'S
BODY.
>> I COULDN'T GET INTO THE FRONT
DOOR AND SHE WASN'T ANSWERING
THE DOOR BELL OR THE KNOCK.
SO I CRAWLED THROUGH THESE
BUSHES AND THEN --
>> THAT WAS YOUR PARENTS'
BEDOOM?
>> YES.
SO I COULD SEE IN THERE.
THE BLINDS WERE OPEN.
THE LIGHTS WEREN'T ON OR
ANYTHING.
AND I COULD KIND OF SEE HER
SILHOUETTE SO I WENT TO THE DOOR
AND TO MY NEIGHBOR.
>> THE NEIGHBOR KICKED IN THE
DOOR.
THERE RENEE WAS, DEAD FROM AN
UNDIAGNOSED HEART AILMENT.
IN THE AFTERMATH, DOUG WAS RIGHT
THERE FOR HIS DAUGHTER.
>> AFTER MAY MOM DIED, HE REALLY
TOOK KIND OF A MOTHERLY ROLE
ALONG WITH THE FATHERLY ROLE.
HE MADE SURE I COULD GO TO HIM
WITH PROBLEMS, WITH SCHOOL
DRAMA, WITH ANYTHING.
HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF IT.
>> BUT NINE MONTHS LATER, EVA
DISCOVERED DOUG HAD A NEW WOMAN
IN HIS LIFE.
>> I WAS UPSTAIRS AND HE SAID,
EVA, YOU NEED TO COME DOWN AND
TALK TO ME AND ASHLEY.
I SAID THE ONLY THING YOU WOULD
NEED TO TELL ME ABOUT Y'ALL'S
RELATIONSHIP IS IF YOU PROPOSED.
AND AS SOON AS THOSE WORDS CAME
OUT OF MY MOUTH, HE SAID, WE'RE
MARRIED.
>> THAT'S A LOT.
>> IT IS A LOT.
>> DOUG ENCOURAGED ASHLEY TO TRY
AND MOTHER A RELUCTANT EVA WHO
WAS ONLY NINE YEARS YOUNGER.
>> HE SAID I NEEDED SOMEBODY.
A MOTHERLY ROLE IN MY LIFE.
AND I DIDN'T THINK I NEEDED
THAT.
>> THE SITUATION BECAME EVEN
MORE COMPLICATED WHEN DOUG AND
ASHLEY ALLOWED EVA'S FRIEND
SYDNEY TO MOVE INTO THE HOUSE.
TWO TEENAGE GIRLS AND A NEW
YOUNG WIFE WERE A COMBUSTIBLE
COMBINATION.
AND DURING ONE HEATED ARGUMENT
WITH ASHLEY, DOUG CRACKED.
>> IN A TERRIBLE MOMENT, HE
DISCHARGED THE GUN INTO THE
CEILING OF HIS HOUSE.
>> HIS BEST FRIEND TRIP SAID
DOUG WAS FILLED WITH REGRET.
>> IN HIS WORDS, HE SAID, I DID
THE DUMBEST THING I'VE EVER DONE
IN MY LIFE.
>> BUT THAT DID NOT END THE
RELATIONSHIP.
JUST THE OPPOSITE.
TWO DAYS AFTER THE GUN INCIDENT,
DOUG AND ASHLEY THREW THEMSELVES
A FORMAL WEDDING RECEPTION,
COMPLETE WITH GUESTS THIS TIME.
THE NEWLY WEDS ALSO FORGED AHEAD
WITH ASHLEY'S GRAND PLAN TO
CREATE AN INCLUSIVE BALLET
COMPANY.
>> THE IDEA WAS REALLY GREAT.
>> BUT IMPLEMENTING IT WAS
SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY.
>>> ONCE ASHLEY STARTED CAUSING
TROUBLE AND STRESS, THAT'S WHEN
HE STARTED TO REALIZE HOW I WAS
FEELING.
>> EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A
GROWING TENSION AT HOME BETWEEN
ASHLEY AND EVA --
>> HE PROMISED ME THINGS WOULD
BE OKAY EVENTUALLY.
>> DOUG WENT AHEAD WITH HERBAL
ASHLEY FOLLOW HER DREAM,
ESTABLISHING A BALLET COMPANY IN
CHARLESTON WITH A UNIQUE
MISSION.
>> BEING MORE INCLUSIVE.
HAVING DANCERS OF EVERY SHADE,
COLOR, BODY TYPE.
THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT I'M A
BIG BELIEVER IN.
>> ASHLEY AND DOUG HIRED THE
BALLET MASTER MICHAEL WISE TO
TRAIN THE DANCERS.
THEY TALKED A BIG GAME ABOUT BIG
MONEY, HE SAYS.
$10 MILLION THEY PROMISED THEY
HAD SECURED FROM BACKERS AND
BOLDLY NAMED THEIR NEW COMPANY
THE AMERICAN NATIONAL BALLET, OR
ANB.
>> WHEN YOU FIRST MET DOUG, WHAT
KIND OF GUY DID HE STRIKE YOU
AS?
>> KIND.
A VERY SERIOUS BUSINESSMAN AND
HAD A VERY METHODICAL APPROACH
TO A LOT OF WHAT HE DID.
>> DID HE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT
BALLET.
>> >> NO.
AND HE WAS VERY OPEN ABOUT THAT.
I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WORKING
WITH ASHLEY TO GET HER TO
UNDERSTAND HOW A COMPANY SHOULD
BE RUN.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST
IMPRESSION OF ASHLEY?
>> YOUNG.
AMBITIOUS.
WE WERE ALL HOPING SHE WOULD
RISE TO THE OCCASION.
>> IN THE SUMMER OF 2017, ASHLEY
AND DOUG WERE THERE AS ANB HELD
AUDITIONS.
>> I DEFINITELY THOUGHT IT WAS
SOMETHING THAT I WANTED TO BE A
PART OF.
>> DANCER EMMANA HEMSLEY HOPED
ANB WOULD BE HER CHANCE TO PROVE
HERSELF.
>> BEING A BLACK FEMALE DANCER,
IT IS SO CHALLENGING TO AUDITION
FOR OTHER COMPANIES WHERE YOU
DON'T FIT THE MOLD EXACTLY.
I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GREAT
FIT FOR ME.
>> IF YOU'RE IN THE BALLET
COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW THERE'S A
LOT OF CRAP THAT NEEDS TO
CHANGE.
>> ATHENA NIKOLAKOPULOS HEARD
ABOUT IT AND WAS EXCITED ABOUT
IT.
>> IT SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE
GOING TO TRY TO DO THINGS A
LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.
>> THE MAJORITY OF HER DANCERS
WERE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE VERY
MUCH LIKE HER.
HAD THE DRIVE, HAD THE WANTED
BUT HADN'T NECESSARILY BEEN
GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> DANCER AFTER DANCER PROUDLY
POSTED TO SOCIAL MEDIA THEY HAD
JOINED THE ANB FAMILY.
BUT THAT WASN'T THE ONLY FAMILY
ASHLEY HAD IN MIND.
>> ON TOP OF STARTING A BALLET
COMPANY, ASHLEY ALSO WANTED TO
GET PREGNANT.
>> IN THE MIDST OF PUTTING
TOGETHER THE BALLET COMPANY,
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
>> HOW DID THAT SIT WITH YOU IN.
>> IT DIDN'T SIT WELL AT ALL.
THIS FELT LIKE ANOTHER STAB IN
THE BACK.
THERE WAS A LOT OF STRESS.
NOW BASICALLY THEY HAVE TWO
TEENAGE DAUGHTERS AND A LITTLE
GIRL ON THE WAY.
>> AT THE END OF THE SUMMER IN
2017, SOME 40 DANCERS FROM ALL
OVER THE WORLD BEGAN ARRIVING IN
CHARLESTON TO WORK WITH ASHLEY.
FROM THE FIRST MEETING, THEY
REALIZED WHAT THEY'D BEEN
PROMISED AT ANB WASN'T WHAT THEY
WOULD BE GETTING.
>> WE GET THERE AND WE'RE LIKE,
WHERE IS SHE?
DOUG ANNOUNCES THAT SHE'S
BEDRIDDEN WITH A REALLY
DIFFICULT PREGNANCY AND SHE
WASN'T GOING TO BE THERE FOR THE
FIRST HOWEVER MANY MONTHS.
>> IT WAS EXPLAINED TO ME THAT
THEY WOULD BE DEVELOPING THIS
STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY IN
DOWNTOWN CHARLESTON.
DAY ONE, WHEN WE'RE READY TO
START UP, THEY WERE LIKE, CAN WE
USE YOUR FACILITY?
>> EACH DAY, SOMETHING WOULD
HAPPEN THAT MADE US FEEL EVEN
MORE UNSETTLED.
>> THE SHOES KEPT DROPPING.
>> THE COMPANY TYPICALLY PAYS
FOR THE DANCERS' POINT SHOES.
>> I REMEMBER ONE DAY WE CAME IN
AND THEY WERE LIKE, YEAH,
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE TO HALVE
YOUR ALLOTMENT OF SHOES.
>> THIS SOUNDS LIKE A
PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL TEAM NOT
SUPPLYING THEIR PLAYERS WITH
BATS.
>> YEAH.
THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
>> ON TOP OF ALL THIS CHAOS AND
CONFUSION, THE DANCERS WERE
HAVING TROUBLE GETTING PAID.
THEIR CHECKS WERE OFTEN LATE IF
THEY ARRIVED AT ALL.
>> DOUG WAS SCRAMBLING TO MEET
THE COMPANY'S OBLIGATIONS.
>> WE WOULD ASK WHERE'S THE
MONEY FOR OUR SHOES OR OUR
PAYCHECKS.
WE GO TO THE BANK AND JUST PULL
OUT CASH AND GIVE PEOPLE CASH.
>> PAYING YOU OUT OF HIS OWN
POCKET IN CASH IS NOT THE KIND
OF THING THAT IS GOING TO
INSPIRE CONFIDENCE.
>> NO.
NO.
CONFIDENCE HAD GONE A LONG TIME
AT THIS POINT.
THAT WAS VERY LONG GONE.
WE REALLY THOUGHT, WHEN ASHLEY
COMES BACK, THAT MIGHT BE WHAT
FIXES ALL OF THIS.
>> BUT ASHLEY WASN'T COMING
BACK.
AT THE END OF AUGUST, CITING HER
DIFFICULT PREGNANCY, ASHLEY WENT
BACK TO FLORIDA TO LIVE WITH HER
MOTHER WHILE DOUG TRIED TO MAKE
THE BALLET WORK IN CHARLESTON.
>> WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF THAT?
>> I WAS GOING, OKAY.
THAT MEANS I GET MORE ALONE TIME
WITH MY DAD TO HANG OUT.
WE HAD A DECENT AMOUNT OF
SYMPATHY FOR HIM, TOO.
HE WAS SUCKED INTO THIS WHOLE
THING.
POOR THING, HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT
HE'S DOING.
HE'S TRYING TO BE THERE FOR US
AS MUCH AS HE CAN.
>> THE RUMBLINGS ABOUT TROUBLE
IN THE BENEFIELDS' MARRIAGE GREW
LOUDER.
>> IT SEEMED LIKE IT WAS
SOMETHING THAT WAS GOING TO
CRASH AND BURN VERY SHORTLY.
>> VERY SHORTLY.
IN SEPTEMBER, WHILE DOUG WAS AT
AN EVENT FOR THE BALLET, ASHLEY
AND HER MOTHER DROVE FROM
FLORIDA TO THE HOUSE IN
CHARLESTON AND DROPPED A
BOMBSHELL.
THE MARRIAGE WAS OVER.
>> SHE CAME TO CHARLESTON AND
PACKED UP HER THINGS AND THEN
LEFT DOUG THIS SCATHING NOTE
ABOUT ALL THE REASONS WHY SHE
DIDN'T WANT TO BE WITH HIM
ANYMORE.
>> IN THE NOTE, ASHLEY CALLED
HIM POSSESSIVE AND CONTROLLING.
SHE WROTE THE INCIDENT WHEN HE'D
FIRED A GUN INTO THE CEILING, AS
WELL AS OTHER UNSAFE BEHAVIOR,
HAD LEFT HER FEARFUL FOR HER
LIFE AND THE SAFETY OF HER
UNBORN CHILD.
>> I COULD SEE THE LOOK IN HIS
FACE WHEN HE READ IT.
I COULD TELL HIS HEART WAS
BROKEN.
>> BUT ASHLEY'S NOTE WAS JUST
THE BEGINNING.
>> HE HAD THIS FAMILY THAT HE
THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE PERFECT
AND HAPPY AND FAITHFUL, AND IT
FELL APART IN THE MOST
SPECTACULAR WAY.
>> WASN'T LONG BEFORE THE
RELATIONSHIP BECAME TRULY TOXIC.
>> SHE THOUGHT DOUG MAY HAVE
POISONED HER.
>>> THIS WAS A PRETTY LONG
LETTER.
SHE SAYS AT THE END, DO NOT
HARASS OR TRY TO FOLLOW ME OR I
WILL CALL THE POLICE.
SHE DOES NOT SEEM LIKE SOMEONE
WHO IS OPEN TO GETTING BACK
TOGETHER.
>> ASHLEY'S SCATHING NOTE TO
DOUG LEFT LITTLE DOUBT ABOUT HER
FEELINGS.
>> I REALLY THINK ASHLEY THOUGHT
THAT WAS GOING TO BE IT.
JUST PACK UP HER STUFF, LEAVE A
NOT AND IT WAS GOING TO BE
OVER.
>> BUT DOUG WASN'T READY TO GIVE
UP.
HE SENT ASHLEY TEXT AFTER TEXT,
BEGGING HER TO RECONSIDER.
ONE OF THEM READ, I AM ON MY
KNEES AND FACE BEFORE GOD ASKING
YOU TO FORGIVE ME.
BUT ASHLEY WAS NOT IN A
FORGIVING MOOD.
SHE DECIDED TO CALL THE
AUTHORITIES ON DOUG.
>> COPS SHOWED UP AT MY HOUSE
AFTER SHE LEFT MY DAD AND HE
WASN'T HOME.
I HAD TO ANSWER THE DOOR.
SHE GOT CHILD PROTECTIVE
SERVICES INVOLVED FROM FLORIDA.
I HADN'T EVEN SEEN HER IN
MONTHS.
>> ASHLEY TOLD POLICE THAT DOUG
HAD ANGER ISSUES AND ALL ABOUT
THE DAY HE FIRED HIS GUN INSIDE
THE HOUSE.
INVESTIGATORS INTERVIEWED EVA.
>> I WAS CONSTANTLY HAVING
PEOPLE COME UP TO MY DOOR AND
ASKING ME IF MY DAD WAS A GOOD
DAD.
IT MADE ME SO ANGRY.
I KEPT HAVING TO REPEAT MYSELF.
MY DAD IS A GOOD DAD.
HE'S NEVER DONE ANYTHING TO HURT
ANYONE.
HE WOULDN'T HURT ANYONE.
>> DOUG WAS INVESTIGATED BY CPS
AND ULTIMATELY CLEARED.
>> HE HAD BEEN EVALUATED BY A
PSYCHOLOGIST, A FULL PSYCH
RE-EVALUATION WHO SAID THERE'S
NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS GUY.
HE'S NOT DANGEROUS.
>> DOUG WAS STRUGGLING ON
ANOTHER FRONT, OVERWHELMED BY
HANDLING THE BALLET COMPANY.
>> BY MID-OCTOBER, WE WERE
NOTIFIED THAT ASHLEY WAS
STEPPING DOWN.
>> DID SHE HAVE JUMP OR WAS SHE
PUSHED?
>> PUSHED.
>> WHY?
>> BECAUSE THERE NEEDED TO BE
LEADERSHIP AND ASHLEY WAS NOT
BEING A LEADER.
>> WISE WAS IN THE ROOM WHEN
DOUG GOT A CALL FROM ASHLEY, WHO
WAS MORE THAN A LITTLE UPSET.
>> THE PHONE RANG.
HE PICKS IT UP AND YOU HEAR
ASHLEY SCREAMING.
YOU TOOK MY BALLET COMPANY AWAY
FROM ME.
>> WITH ASHLEY GONE, DOUG
BROUGHT IN NEW LEADERS WHO MADE
DRASTIC CHANGES.
ON OCTOBER 23rd, 2017, SOME OF
THESE DANCERS INCLUDING EMMANA
WERE CALLED INTO A MEETING, TOLD
TO SIGN NONDISCLOSURE
AGREEMENTS, AND FIRED.
>> AND DOUG WAS OF NO HELP HERE?
>> NO.
DOUG WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND
THAT DAY.
>> JUST LIKE THAT, HALF THE
COMPANY'S DANCERS WERE GONE.
TWO DAYS LATER, ASHLEY POSTED ON
THE BALLET'S SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES,
I AM COMPLETELY DEVASTATED BY
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE, AND THE NEW
LEADERSHIP HAS DESTROYED ALL
THAT WE WORKED SO HARD TO BUILD.
>> WHAT HAPPENED HURT.
IT HELPED TO KNOW THAT SOMEONE
WAS ON OUR SIDE THERE AND THAT,
YOU KNOW, THIS WAS NEVER THE
INTENTION.
>> IT SEEMED LIKE A BEAUTIFUL
IDEA HAD GONE UP IN SMOKE.
WITHIN MONTHS THE AMERICAN
NATIONAL BALLET WAS DONE.
DOUG WAS OUT MORE THAN $100,000.
HIS BALLET NIGHTMARE WAS OVER,
BUT HIS FRIENDS SAY A NEW ONE
WAS JUST BEGINNING.
ASHLEY NOW HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT
DOUG'S FIRST WIFE, EVA'S MOTHER,
RENEE, AND HOW SHE DIED.
ASHLEY TEXTED DOUG, WAIT, WHAT
DID SHE DIE OF AGAIN?
DOUG TOLD HER THAT RENEE HAD A
75% ARTERY BLOCKAGE.
ASHLEY:I THOUGHT I HEARD YOU SAY
SOMETHING ABOUT MEDICATIONS OR
SOMETHING?
LIKE BAD DRUGS?
>> I READ THE AUTOPSY REPORT.
IT'S CLEAR.
DIED OF A HEART ATTACK
ESSENTIALLY.
>> IT SOON BECAME CLEAR WHY
ASHLEY WAS SO INTERESTED IN HOW
RENEE HAD DIED.
SHE TOLD DOUG'S COUSIN TOMMIE
THAT SHE THOUGHT DOUG HAD
POISONED RENEE EVEN THOUGH DOUG
WAS OUT OF TOWN.
>> WHAT?
IT'S OUT OF LEFT FIELD.
>> THE LOCAL POLICE CLOSED THE
CASE IN 2016 AFTER THEY GOT THE
CORONER'S REPORT.
BUT ASHLEY TALKED TO WRITER
ALICE ROBB AND SHADE HER THEORY
AND MADE A SHOCKING ALLEGATION.
>> SHE SAID SHE KNEW HER BODY
WELL AND SHE WAS EVEN MORE
NAUSEOUS THAN SHE WOULD HAVE
EXPECTED AS A PREGNANT WOMAN.
AND SHE SAID THAT SHE HAD BEEN
POISONED.
>> ASHLEY BELIEVED THAT DOUG HAD
BEEN POISONING WHERE WHILE SHE
WAS PREGNANT WITH HER DAUGHTER.
THEY WERE BOTH BIG TEA FANS.
SHE HARKENED BACK TO THE TIMES
DOUG WAS BRINGING HER TEA IN BED
BECAUSE SHE DIDN'T WANT TO GET
OUT OF BED.
>> DOUG, STILL HOPING FOR A
RECONCILIATION, AND HAVING NO
IDEA ABOUT ASHLEY'S SUSPICIONS,
SENT HER A BIRTHDAY GIFT AT THE
END OF NOVEMBER 2017.
>> HE HAD PURCHASED A LOVELY
TEAPOT AND TEACUPS AND SAUCERS
AND A SPECIALTY TEA THAT WAS
SUPPOSED TO BE FOR PREGNANT
WOMEN.
>> THE GIFT IF HE HAD ASHLEY'S
GROWING CONCERNS ABOUT DOUG.
>> SHE TAKES IT TO THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AS HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS AND CLAIMS THAT IT IS
HOW HE'S POISONING HER.
>> WHAT DO THE POLICE MAKE OF
THAT?
>> THEY TREATED IT AT O'AS
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS THAT DAY
THEM TESTED IT AND PROVED OUT IT
WAS NOT ANY POISONOUS MATERIALS.
>> ASHLEY SENT HER HAIR TO BE
TESTED AT AN INDEPENDENT LAB.
IT SHOWED THAT IT WAS HIGHER
THAN NORMAL LEVELS OF ALUMINUM,
ZINC, AND OTHER METALS.
BUT DOUG'S LAWYER DISPUTES THOSE
FINDINGS.
ZBLO IN SOUTH CAROLINA HER LABS
ALL CAME BACK NORMAL.
>> THREE WEEKS BEFORE HER DUE
DATE, WITHOUT DOUG KNOWING,
ASHLEY CHECKED HERSELF INTO THE
HOSPITAL.
>> I DON'T THINK SHE WAS
POISONED BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN
SHE DOESN'T THINK SHE WAS
POISONED.
>> SHE WAS AT TAMPA GENERAL
HOSPITAL CLAIMING THE CHILD HAD
BEEN EXPOSED TO HEAVY METALS IN
UTERO BECAUSE HER HUSBAND HAD
POISONED HER.
>> ASHLEY ALSO CLAIMED, WITHOUT
ANY PROOF, THAT DOUG WAS
PHYSICALLY ABUSIVE AND HAD HELD
HER PRISONER BACK IN CHARLESTON.
SHE SAID HE HAD BEEN STALKING
HER IN FLORIDA.
WITH NO WAY TO KNOW IF WHAT
ASHLEY TOLD THEM WAS TRUE, THE
HOSPITAL TOOK PRECAUTIONS FOR
HER SAFETY AND ASSIGNED HER A
NEW NAME, CHRISTINA.
THREE DAYS LATER, DOCTORS
PERFORMED A C-SECTION.
THE BABY GIRL WAS HEALTHY, BUT
ASHLEY CONTINUED TO WORRY HER
BABY HAD BEEN POISONED.
>> BOTH ASHLEY AND HER DAUGHTER
WERE HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY
RECEIVING TREATMENTS.
>> DO YOU THINK ASHLEY BELIEVED
>>> THE NEWS THAT ASHLEY HAD
GIVEN BIRTH TO A HEALTHY BABY
GIRL IN MARCH 2018 TOOK MORE
THAN A MONTH TO REACH DOUG, SAYS
HIS LAWYER, STEPHANIE MURPHY.
>> THE BABY WAS BORN ABOUT THREE
WEEKS EARLY.
DOUG HAD NO IDEA.
>> BABY EMERSON DID NOT HAVE
DOUG'S LAST NAME AND DOUG WAS
NOT LISTED AS THE FATHER ON THE
ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE.
NO ONE WAS.
>> ASHLEY WANTED TO RAISE HER
DAUGHTER WITH HER MOTHER ALONE.
SHE DIDN'T WANT TO CO-PARENT.
>> AND SHE AT THE PRESENT TIME
PURSUING HER ACCUSATION THAT
DOUG HAD CLEARED RENEE.
>> THEY SUGGESTED TO YOU YOUR
FATHER HAD A PART IN YOUR
MOTHER'S DEATH?
>> RIGHT.
>> WHAT DID THEY SAY TO YOU?
>> THEY SAID WE'RE CONCERNED
ABOUT YOUR SAFETY.
YOUR DAD IS A BAD GUY.
HE DOES BAD THINGS.
I TOLD THEM TO GET AWAY FROM ME.
>> BUT MOTHER AND DAUGHTER DID
NOT GO AWAY.
MONTHS LATER, EVA SAYS, THEY
RENEWED THEIR ACCUSATIONS.
>> WHAT DID THEY SAY THAT TIME?
>> YOUR DAD POISONED YOUR MOM.
>> HOW DID YOU REACT TO THAT?
>> I SAID NO, HE DIDN'T.
I WAS THERE.
I FOUND MY MOM AND THAT CAUSED A
LOT OF EMOTIONAL TRAUMA.
MY DAD WOULDN'T DO THAT.
HE LOVED MY MOM.
>> I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT
SOMETHING.
WAS DOUG EVER CHARGED WITH ANY
CRIME?
>> NO, SIR.
NONE OF THE ALLEGATIONS WERE
TRUE.
>> ASHLEY DID NOT RESPOND TO OUR
REQUEST FOR AN INTERVIEW BUT SHE
APPEARED CONVINCED THAT SHE AND
HER 3-MONTH-OLD BABY HAD BEEN
POISONED.
IN HER SEARCH FOR HELP, ASHLEY
SIGNED THEM UP FOR 26
CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF TREATMENT IN
THIS HYPERBARIC CHAMBER.
>> IT CAN DETOX THE BODY OF
HEAVY METALS AND OTHER TOXINS.
>> THE SAFETY DIRECTOR ROBERT
CEDEROTH SAYS ASHLEY AND HER
DAUGHTER SPENT 40 HOURS IN THIS
12-PERSON CHAMBER THAT LOOKS
MORE NAUTICAL THAN MEDICAL.
>> WE CALL THEM DIVES.
THEY'RE ALMOST SIMULATING
DIVING.
LIKE WHEN DIVERS GO DOWN.
>> ASHLEY'S DAUGHTER IT WAS
YOUNGEST PATIENT EVER TREATED
HERE.
ADULTS WEAR A PLASTIC HOOD WHILE
INSIDE BUT THING WERE TRICKY.
>> WE ENDED UP TAKING THIS RING
AND PUT IT AROUND HER WAIST.
SHE WAS LIKE A LITTLE BALLERINA.
HALF OF HER BODY WAS INSIDE THE
HOOD.
>> IN THE SUMMER OF 2018, THE
POISONING ALLEGATIONS CAME TO A
HEAD WHEN THE BENEFIELDS SQUARED
OFF IN A BRADENTON, FLORIDA,
COURTROOM.
DOUG WANTED TO SEE HIS DAUGHTER
AND ASHLEY WAS REQUESTING AN
INJUNCTION TO KEEP HIM FAR AWAY.
AN AUDIO RECORDING WAS MADE OF
THE PROCEEDING.
HERE, STEPHANIE QUESTIONS ASHLEY
ABOUT THE STATE OF HER
PREGNANCY.
>> YOU ALSO TOLD LAKEWOOD RANCH
OBGYN THAT THE PREGNANCY HAD
BEEN UNCOMPLICATED, CORRECT?
>> IS THERE A PAGE THAT YOU'D
LIKE FLOW REFERENCE?
>> I WOULDN'T SOY IT WAS
UNCOMPLICATED.
MY ENTIRE LIFE HAS BEEN
COMPLICATED FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS.
>> THE OB WROTE PREGNANCY WAS
UNCOMPLICATED.
>> I'M NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT
THE DOCTOR OR THE NURSE WRITES.
>> YOU HAVE ACCUSED YOUR HUSBAND
OF POISONING YOU.
>> YES.
IT IS HEARTBREAKING THAT
SOMEBODY YOU TRUST WOULD DO
SOMETHING TO YOU.
>> BUT THE JUDGE WAS NOT
PERSUADED BY TWO DAYS OF
TESTIMONY AND THE LAB TEST
RESULTS ASHLEY HAD SUBMITTED.
>> THERE IS NOT A SINGLE
SCINTILLA OF CREDIBLE EVIDENCE
THAT MISS BENEFIELD HAS EVER
BEEN POISONED OR SUFFERED FROM
ANY ILLNESS OF ANY POISON.
>> THAT RULING CLEARED THE WAY
FOR DOUG TO FINALLY SEE HIS
DAUGHTER.
DAYS LATER, HE AND ASHLEY MET
OUTSIDE THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE TO
EXCHANGE THE BABY.
TO STEPHANIE'S SURPRISE, ASHLEY
WAS SUDDENLY VERY ACCOMMODATING.
>> SHE THEN IMMEDIATELY WENT
RIGHT UP TO DOUG, HANDED THE
BABY OVER, NICE AS SHE COULD BE.
VERY CORDIAL.
>> SHE EVEN SUGGESTED THAT THE
THREE OF THEM, DOUG, ASHLEY, AND
THE BABY, SPEND TIME TOGETHER.
>> AND DOUG SAID, OKAY, SURE.
DOUG WANTED TO MAKE THE
TRANSITION AS EASY FOR HIS
DAUGHTER AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE TO
HER, HE WAS A STRANGER.
AND I TALKED TO DOUG.
I SAID OKAY.
THAT'S FINE, OF COURSE.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL.
>> FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE
NEXT YEAR, DOUG, ASHLEY, AND
THEIR DAUGHTER SEEMED HAPPY, AT
LEAST ACCORDING TO DOUG.
DOUG EVEN MOVED TO A NEARBY
APARTMENT IN FLORIDA.
>> DOUG THOUGHT THEY WERE BACK
TOGETHER.
THAT THEY WERE DOING WHAT THEY
WERE SUPPOSED TO DO IN THE
BEGINNING, TO SLOWLY GET TO KNOW
EACH OTHER, BE A FAMILY.
I THOUGHT EVERYTHING WAS GOING
TO BE OKAY.
>> BUT IN AUGUST 2019, WHEN HE
MET ASHLEY TO PICK UP HIS
DAUGHTER, DOUG WAS STUNNED TO
SEE WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS AN
ENGAGEMENT RING ON ASHLEY'S
FINGER.
>> DOUG HIRED A PRIVATE
INVESTIGATOR TO FIND OUT WHAT -WAS GOING ON.
>> THE PRIVATE EYE TOLD DOUG
ASHLEY WAS SEEING ANOTHER MAN.
AND IN NOVEMBER 2019, DOUG FILED
FOR DIVORCE.
SOON AFTER, ASHLEY BEGAN LODGING
COMPLAINTS AGAINST DOUG.
>> ASHLEY ACCUSED DOUG OF
SEXUALLY ABUSING HIS DAUGHTER.
SHE ACCUSED HIM OF A WHOLE
LITANY OF THINGS.
>> BYE-BYE!
>> DOUG VEHEMENTLY DENIED
HARMING HIS DAUGHTER AND
AUTHORITIES AGREED THERE WAS NO
EVIDENCE.
DOUG THEN WROTE AN EMAIL IN
MARCH OF 2020 TO THE SHERIFF'S
OFFICE ACCUSING ASHLEY OF HAVING
A SPLIT PERSONALITY.
BUT A FEW MONTHS LATER, DOUG DID
SOMETHING THAT SEEMED
UNTHINKABLE.
IN A HEAD-SPINNING MOVE, HE
ANNOUNCED THAT HE AND ASHLEY
WERE GOING TO TRY AGAIN TO BE A
FAMILY AND WERE RELOCATING TO
MARYLAND.
>> TOMMIE, I KNOW WE KEEP
CIRCLING BACK TO THE SAME
QUESTION AND I'M SORRY.
IT'S JUST, ANY VIEWER OF THIS
HOUR IS GOING TO BE ASKING, WHAT
DID DOUG NEED TO SEE BEFORE HE
WOULD SAY, TIME-OUT, WE'RE DONE.
>> HE IS STILL BELIEVING HE CAN
RESCUE AND SAVE AND HAVE A
MARRIAGE, A LOVING MARRIAGE.
>> AFTER SOMEBODY SAYS YOU'RE
SEXUALLY ABUSING YOUR DAUGHTER,
DON'T YOU CUT AND RUN?
DON'T YOU SAY, I TRIED.
I'M OUT.
>> RIGHT, RIGHT.
YES.
MOST PEOPLE DO.
BUT NOT DOUG.
>> SHE'S STILL PRESENTING TO HIM
AND TO OTHERS THAT THEY'RE GOING
TO PUT ALL THIS BACK TOGETHER
AGAIN.
>> FRIENDS HELD THEIR BREATH BUT
HOPED, FOR DOUG'S SAKE, THAT A
MIRACLE REUNION WAS ABOUT TO
LAMB.
TRIP SAID HE KNEW BETTER THAN TO
TRY TO TALK TO DOUG OUT OF
RECONCILING WITH ASHLEY.
>> THERE'S NOTHING I COULD
POSSIBLY SAY THAT WOULD TURN HIM
AROUND ON THIS.
HE'S GOING TO DO THIS IF IT
KILLS HIM.
>> GO INSIDE THE
>>> HE SAID THAT THEIR
RELATIONSHIP WAS GOING REALLY
WELL AND HE WAS JUST EXCITED FOR
A FRESH START.
>> ON SEPTEMBER 27th, 2020, DOUG
BENEFIELD WAS PREPARING TO BEGIN
HIS NEW LIFE.
HE WAS MOVING WITH ASHLEY, THEIR
YOUNG DAUGHTER, AND ASHLEY'S
MOTHER ALICIA, FROM FLORIDA TO
MARYLAND.
>> SO IT'S SUNDAY NIGHT AND DOUG
IS OVER AT ASHLEY AND ALICIA'S
HOUSE.
DOUG IS FILLING UP THE U-HAUL.
ALICIA DECIDES TO TAKE THE BABY
TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD PARK.
>> ASHLEY STAYED BEHIND WITH
DOUG.
SOON AFTER, A NEIGHBOR HEARD
SCREAMS AND CALLED 911.
>> I HEARD SOMEBODY SCREAMING
OUTSIDE.
>> THEN ASHLEY WALKED TO A
DIFFERENT NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE,
CARRYING HER .45 CALIBER
HANDGUN.
>> SHE WALKS NEXT DOOR, GUN IN
HAND.
TELLS THE NEIGHBOR, I SHOT DOUG
IN SELF-DEFENSE.
THE NEIGHBOR CALLS 911.
>> RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO ME.
SHE CAME OVER.
SHE SAID HE ATTACKED HER AND SHE
SHOT HIM.
>> ASHLEY CAN BE HEARD SOBBING
IN THE BACKGROUND.
>> WHEN THE AMBULANCE ARRIVES,
DOUG WAS STILL BREATHING.
>> POLICE AND EMTs SECOND BASED
DOUG WHO HAD BEEN SHOT TWICE IN
HIS RIGHT LEG AND ARM.
POLICE NOTED THAT THE BULLET
FROM HIS ARM TRAVELED INTO HIS
CHEST CAVITY.
DOUG LIVED FOR AN HOUR, BUT DIED
AT NEARBY DOCTORS HOSPITAL.
ASHLEY WAS NOT ARRESTED THAT
NIGHT AS INVESTIGATORS BEGAN
INVESTIGATING HER CLAIM OF
SELF-DEFENSE.
BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO IT
WITHOUT HER.
>>> SHE DIDN'T SPEAK TO
DETECTIVES AT ALL.
>> BUT ASHLEY'S MOTHER ALICIA
SAID SHE AND HER DAUGHTER WERE
VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE AND
HAD BEEN LIVING IN FEAR OF DOUG
FOR THREE AND A HALF YEARS.
SHE CLAIMED THAT THEY TRIED TO
GET HELP BUT NOBODY WOULD HELP
THEM.
AND ASHLEY'S LAWYER, FAITH
BROWN, TOLD THE DETECTIVE THAT
ASHLEY WAS CREATING AN ESCAPE
PLAN TO GET AWAY FROM DOUG ONCE
AND FOR ALL.
BROWN TOLD THE DETECTIVE ASHLEY
WAS IN DANGER, HAS A
PSYCHOLOGIST, TWO ATTORNEYS AND
A BURNER PHONE.
ASHLEY ALSO HAD A SAFE LOCATION
AND A RENTAL CAR SET-UP.
ASHLEY WAS EXPECTED TO IMPLEMENT
THE PLAN THE VERY NEXT DAY
BECAUSE, AS ASHLEY'S LAWYER TOLD
THE DETECTIVE, SHE WAS VERY
CONCERNED DOUG WAS GETTING WIND
OF THE PLAN.
BUT AS DETECTIVES INVESTIGATED,
ASHLEY'S CLAIM OF SELF-DEFENSE
BECAME PROBLEMATIC.
A DETECTIVE NOTED THAT DOUG HAD
NO GUNS OR WEAPONS ON HIS PERSON
OR NEAR HIM.
>> SHE SHOT AN UNARMED MAN.
>> IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AFTER
THE SHOOTING, ASHLEY DIDN'T
REVEAL WHAT HAPPENED IN THAT
MOMENT.
IN NOVEMBER OF 2020, ASHLEY
BENEFIELD WAS CHARGED WITH
SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.
THE ARREST WARRANT NOTED, IT
APPEARS THAT ASHLEY HAD
EXHAUSTED ALL LEGAL MEANS OF
KEEPING THE CHILD AWAY FROM
DOUGLAS BEFORE THE SHOOTING.
SHE'S PLED NOT GUILTY.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT ASHLEY
BELIEVED.
>> WRITER ALICE ROBB SAID IT IS
DIFFICULT TO KNOW IF ASHLEY WAS
A VICTIM OR A MASTER
MANIPULATOR.
>> WAS SHE GENUINELY AFRAID AND
JUST TRYING TO PROTECT HER BABY
AND SAVE HERSELF?
OR WAS SHE TRYING TO GET DOUG
OUT OF HER LIFE, JUST OUT OF
SPITE, JUST BECAUSE SHE HATED
HIM?
>> I FEEL LIKE SHE, PART OF HER
WANTED TO BELIEVE THAT MY DAD
WAS A GOOD GUY.
BUT THEN THERE WAS PART OF HER
THAT WAS SCARED OF HIM.
I THINK THAT PART TOOK OVER.
>> WHY WAS SHE SCARED OF HIM?
>> I THINK ALL THE ALLEGATIONS
SHE MADE JUST, SHE STARTED TO
BELIEVE THEM A LITTLE TOO MUCH.
>> ASHLEY'S MOTHER, ALICIA
BYERS, WAS GRANTED CUSTODY OF
HER GRANDCHILD.
WHILE AWAITING TRIAL, ASHLEY WAS
FREE ON BOND AND SAW HER
DAUGHTER FREQUENTLY.
>> DO YOU EVER THINK ABOUT HER?
ASHLEY?
>> ALL THE TIME.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> I WANT TO KNOW, WHY WOULD SHE
TAKE AWAY MY FATHER, MY BEST
FRIEND, KNOWING THAT I DON'T
HAVE ANOTHER APPARENTLY?
>> I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG
ONE DAY WHEN HE DIDN'T SEND MAY
GOOD MORNING TEXT.
THEN A COUPLE HOURS LATER I GOT
A CALL THAT SHE SHOT AND KILLED
HIM.
>> OVER THE PAST YEAR, EVA HAS
BEEN EXPLORING HER FEELINGS ON
TIKTOK, USING HER UNIQUE SENSE
OF HUMOR TO SOOTHE HER PAIN.
SHE POSTS FREQUENTLY UNDER THE
NAME EVATHEFREAKINDIVA WHERE SHE
JOKES THAT HER BRAND IS THE GIRL
WITH THE DEAD PARENTS.
>> I USE DARK HUMOR.
IT'S THE WAY MAY BRAIN IS WIRED.
I WOULD RATHER NOT SIT AND SULK.
I WOULD RATHER MAKE LIGHT OF A
SITUATION.
>> THESE DAYS, EVA CHERISHES HER
TIME WITH SULLY, THE DOG THAT
ONCE BELONGED TO HER FATHER.
AND SHE AND TOMMIE STILL GO TO
THE BEACH AT SULLIVAN'S ISLAND
WHERE HER FATHER'S ASHES WERE
SCATTERED.
WHEN WE STAND OUT HERE NOW, ALL
THESE MONTHS LATER, ANY PEACE?
>> I DON'T THINK I'M GOING TO
GET PEACE UNTIL AFTER THE TRIAL
IS OVER.
>> DO YOU EVER DREAM ABOUT YOUR
DAD?
>> A FEW TIMES.
>> WHAT HAPPENS IN THE DREAM?
>> WE'RE IN THIS BIG HOUSE AND
HE ENTERS THE ROOM THROUGH A
DOOR AND HE SAYS, I'VE BEEN IN
HIDING AND I NEED TO YOU HELP
ME.
AND THEN I RUN WITH HIM AND
THERE'S A TUNNEL.
AND THEN I WAKE UP.
>>> COMING UP NEXT --
>> GUESS WHAT.
I KNOW EVERYBODY HAS BEEN
WAITING FOR THE DAY.
NEXT WEEK IS HER FIRST IN-PERSON
HEARING WHICH MEANS I'M GOING TO
SEE HER IN-PERSON FOR THE FIRST
TIME SINCE SHE KILLED MY DAD.
>> A DAUGHTER COMES FACE TO FACE
WITH HER FATHER'S ACCUSED
KILLER.
LEARNING DISTURBING NEW DETAILS.
>> IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT FOR ME
HEARING ABOUT IT OVER AGAIN AND
OVER AGAIN AND OVER AGAIN.
IT'S A LOT.
>> THEY MADE THIS ALL ABOUT
DOUG.
THEY CAST DOUG IN THE WORST
POSSIBLE LIGHT.
>> FOR THE FIRST TIME, ASHLEY
BENEFIELD TAKES THE STAND
CLAIMING DOUG TRIED TO POISON
HER WITH A GIFT.
>> WHEN I OPENED IT, THERE WAS
AN OVERWHELMING DRUG CONNECTION
CAL SMELL.
I GOT A HEADACHE.
>> HE WOULD COME AT ME LIKE HE
WAS GOING TO HIT ME.
HE THREW A CHAIR AT ME.
>> THEN IN TEARS, ASHLEY'S STORY
OF WHAT SHE SAID HAPPENED THAT
NIGHT.
>> HE'S A [ BLEEP ].
I WAS SCARED TO DEATH.
>> SHE'S THE KIND OF PERSON WHO
EVENTUALLY BELIEVES HER OWN
LIES.
BUT JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE
BELIEVES WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
DOESN'T MAKE IT TRUE.
>> THAT'S NEXT ON "48 HOURS."